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 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 hee 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 Waters under Heav'n Into one place and let dry Land appeer Immediately the Mountains 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 〈◊〉 the great command impress'd On the swift slouds 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 waâ—…hie Oose deep Channels wore Easie e're God had bid the ground be drie All but within those 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 yeilding Seed And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth He scarce had said when the bare Earth till then Desert and bare unsightly unadorn'd 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 add 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 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 unlight som first Though of Ethereal Mould then form'd the Moon Globose and everie 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 â—…n 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 his 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 〈◊〉 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 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 Forth with the Sounds and Seas each Creek 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 through Groves Of Coral stray or sporting with quick glance Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold Or
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 Hee seemd or fixt in cogitation deep Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope To find who might direct his wandring flight To Paradise the happie seat of Man His journies end and our beginning woe But first he casts to change his proper shape Which else might work him danger or delay And now a stripling Cherube he appeers Not of the prime yet such as in his face Youth smil'd Celestial and to every Limb Sutable grace diffus'd so well he feignd Under a Coronet his flowing haire In curles on either cheek plaid wings he wore Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold His habit fit for speed succinct and held Before his decent steps a Silver wand He drew not nigh unheard the Angel bright Ere he drew nigh his radiant visage turnd Admonisht by his eare and strait was known Th' Arch Angel Uriel 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 Uriel for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand In sight of Gods 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 â—…o â—…eepest 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 only 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 Uriel 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 Faire Angel thy desire which tends to know The works of God thereby to glorifie 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 heare 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 Flew upward spirited with various forms That rowld 〈◊〉 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 with many an Aerie wheele Nor staid till on Niphates top he lights The End of the Third Book PARADISE LOST BOOK IV. 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 boiles in his tumultuous brest And like a devillish Engine back recoiles Upon himself horror and doubt distract His troubl'd thoughts and from the bottom stirr The Hell within him for within him Hell He brings and round about him nor
let mee serve In Heav'n God ever blessed and his Divine Behests obey worthiest to be obey'd Yet Chains in Hell not Realms expect mean while From mee returnd as erst thou saidst from flight This greeting on thy impious Crest receive So saying a noble stroke he lifted high Which hung not but so swift with tempest fell On the proud Crest of Satan that no sight Nor motion of swift thought less could his Shield Such ruin intercept ten paces huge He back recoild the tenth on bended knee His massie Spear upstaid as if on Earth Winds under ground or waters forcing way Sidelong had push't a Mountain from his seat Half sunk with all his Pines Amazement seis'd The Rebel Thrones but greater rage to see Thus foil'd thir mightiest ours joy filld and shout Presage of Victorie and fierce desire Of Battel whereat Michael bid sound Th'Arch-angel trumpet through the vast of Heav'n It sounded and the faithful Armies rung Hosanna to the Highest nor stood at gaze The adverse Legions nor less hideous joyn'd The horrid shock now storming furie rose And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now Was never Arms on Armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord and the madding Wheeles Of brazen Chariots rag'd dire was the noise Of conflict over head the dismal hiss Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew And flying vaulted either Host with fire Sounder fierie Cope together rush'd Both Battels maine with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage all Heav'n Resounded and had Earth bin then all Eaâ—…h Had to her Center shook What wonder when Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought On either side the least of whom could weild These Elements and arm him with the force Of all thir Regions how much more of Power Armie against Armie numberless to raise Dreadful combustion warring and disturb Though not destroy thir happie Native seat Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent From his strong hold of Heav'n high over rul'd And limited thir might though numberd such As each divided Legion might have seemd A numerous Host in strength each arâ—…ed hand A Legion led in fight yâ—…t Leader seemd Each Warriour single as in Chief expert When to advance or stand or turn the sway Of Battel open when and when to close The ridges of grim Warr no thought of flight None of retreat no unbecoming deed That argu'd fear each on himself reli'd As onely in his arm the moment lay Of victorie deeds of eternal fame Were don but infinite for wide was spred That Warr and various somtimes on firm ground A standing fight then soaring on main wing Tormented all the Air all Air seemd then Conflicting Fire long time in eeven scale The Battel hung till Satan who that day Prodigious power had shewn and met in Armes No equal raunging through the dire attack Of fighting Seraphim confus'd at length Saw where the Sword of Michael smote and fell'd Squadrons at once with huge two-handed sway Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down Wide wasting such destruction to withstand He hasted and oppos'd the rockie Orb Of tenfold Adamant his ample Shield A vast circumference At his approach The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile Surcâ—…'d and glad as hoping here to end Intestine War in Heav'n the arch foe subdu'd Or Captive drag'd in Chains with hostile frown And visage all enflam'd first thus began Author of evil unknown till thy revolt Unnam'd in Heav'n now plenteous as thou seest These Acts of hateful strife hateful to all Though heaviest by just measure on thy self And thy adherents how hast thou disturb'd Heav'ns blessed peace and into Nature brought Miserie uncreated till the crime Of thy Rebellion how hâ—…t thou instill'd Thy malice into thousands once upright And faithful now prov'd false But think not here To trouble Holy Rest Heav'n casts thee out From all her Confines Heav'n the seat of bliss Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. Hence then and evil go with thee along Thy ofspring to the place of evil Hell Thou and thy wicked crew there mingle broiles Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome Or som more sudden vengeance wing'd from God Precipitate thee with augmented paine So spake the Prince of Angels to whom thus The Adversarie Nor think thou with wind Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds Thou canst not Hast thou turnd the least of these To flight or if to fall but that they rise Unvanquisht easier to transact with mee That thou shouldst hope imperious with threats 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 Tâ—…ou fablest here however to dwell free If not to reign mean while thy utmost force And join him nam'd Almightie to thy aid I flie not but have sought thee farr and nigh They ended parle and both addrest 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 expectation 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 spruâ—… Two Planets rushing from asâ—…ect 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 repeaâ—…e 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 halfcut 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 â—…les of waâ—… there they him laid Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame To find himâ—… noâ—… matchless and his pride Humbl'd by such rebuke so farr beneath His confidence to equal God in power Yet
surrounding Fires Till as a signal giv'n th' uplifted Spear Of their great Sultan waving to direct Thir course in even ballance down they light On the firm brimstone and fill all the Plain A multitude like which the populous North Pour'd never from her frozen loyns to pass Rhene or the Danaw when her barbarous Sons Came like a Deluge on the South and spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood Their great Commander Godlike shapes and forms Excelling human Princely Dignities And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones Though of their Names in heav'nly Records now Be no memorial blotted out and ras'd By thir Rebellion from the Books of Life Nor had they yet among the Sons of Eve Got them new Names till wandring ore the Earth Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man By falsities and lyes the greatest part Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake God their Creator and th' invisible Glory of him that made them to transform Oft to the Image of a Brute adorn'd With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold And Devils to adore for Deities Then were they known to men by various Names And various Idols through the Heathen World Say Muse their Names then known who first who last Rous'd from the slumber on that fiery Couch At thir great Emperors call as next in worth Came singly where he stood on the bare strand While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell Roaming to seek their prey on earth durst fix Their Seats long after next the Seat of God Their Altars by his Altar Gods ador'd Among the Nations round and durst abide Jehovah thundring out of Sion thron'd Between the Cherubim yea often plac'd Within his Sanctuary it self their Shrines Abominations and with cursed things His holy Rites and solemn Feasts profan'd And with their darkness durst affront his light First Moloch horrid King besmear'd with blood Of human sacrifice and parents tears Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud Their childrens cries unheard that past through fire To his grim Idol Him the Ammonite Worshipt in Rabba and her watry Plain In Argob and in Basan to the stream Of utmost Arnon Nor content with such Audacious neighbourhood the wisest heart Of Solomon he led by fraud to build His Temple right against the Temple of God On that opprobrious Hill and made his Grove The pleasant Vally of Hinnom Tophet thence And black Gehenna call'd the Type of Hell Next Chemos th' obscene dread of Moabs Sons From Aroer to Nebo and the wild Of Southmost Abarim in Hesebon And Heronaim Seons Realm beyond The flowry Dale of Sibma clad with Vines And Eleale to th' Asphaltick Pool Peor his other Name when he entic'd Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile To do him wanton rites which cost them woe Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd Even to that Hill of scandal by the Grove Of Moloch homicide lust hard by hate Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell With these came they who from the bordring slood Of old Euphrates to the Brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground had general Names Of Baalim and Ashtaroth those male These Feminine For Spirits when they please Can either Sex assume or both so soft And uncompounded is their Essence pure Not ti'd or manacl'd with joynt or limb Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones Like cumbrous flesh but in what shape they choose Dilated or condens't bright or obscure Can execute their aerie purposes And works of love or enmity fulfill For those the Race of Israel oft forsook Their living strength and unfrequented left His righteous Altar bowing lowly down To bestial Gods for which their heads as low Bow'd down in Battel sunk before the Spear Of despicable foes With these in troop Came Astoreth whom the Phoenicians call'd Astarte Queen of Heav'n with crescent Horns To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon Sidonian Virgins paid their Vows and Songs In Sion also not unsung where stood Her Temple on th' offensive Mountain built By that uxorious King whose heart though large Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses fell To Idols foul Thammuz came next behind Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd The Syrian Damsels to lament his fate In amorous dittyes all a Summers day While smooth Adonis from his native Rock Ran purple to the Sea suppos'd with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded the Love-tale Infected Sions daughters with like heat Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch Ezekiel saw when by the Vision led His eye survay'd the dark Idolatries Of alienated Judah Next came one Who mourn'd in earnest when the Captive Ark Maim'd his brute Image head and hands lopt off In his own Temple on the grunsel edge Where he fell flat and sham'd his Worshipers Dagon his Name Sea Monster upward Man And downward Fish yet had his Temple high Rear'd in Azotus dreaded through the Coast Of Palestine in Gath and Ascalon And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds Him follow'd Rimmon whose delightful Seat Was fair Damascus on the fertil Banks Of Abbana and Pharphar lucid streams He also against the house of God was bold A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King Ahaz his sottish Conquerour whom he drew Gods Altar to disparage and displace For one of Syrian mode whereon to burn His odious offrings and adore the Gods Whom he had vanquisht After these appear'd A crew who under Names of old Renown Osiris Isis Orus and their Train With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd Fanatic Egypt and her Priests to seek Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms Rather then human Nor did Israel scape Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd The Calf in Orcb and the Rebel King Doubl'd that sin in Bethel and in Dan Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox Jehovah who in one Night when he pass'd From Egypt marching equal'd with one stroke Both her first born and all her bleating Gods Belial came last then whom a Spirit more lewd Fell not from Heaven or more gross to love Vice for it self To him no Temple stood Or Altar smoak'd yet who more oft then hee In Temples and at Altars when the Priest Turns Atheist as did Ely's Sons who fill'd With lust and violence the house of God In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns And in luxurious Cities where the noyse Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs And injury and outrage And when Night Darkens the Streets then wander forth the Sons Of Belial flown with insolence and wine Witness the Streets of Sodom and that night In Gibeah when hospitable Dores Yielded thir Matrons to prevent worse rape These were the prime in order and in might The rest were long to tell though far renown'd Th' Ionian Gods of Javans Issue held Gods yet confest later then Heav'n and Earth Thir boasted Parents Titan Heav'ns first born With his
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 Pickaxe 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 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 pretious bane And here let those Who boast in mortal things and wondring tell Of Babel and the works of Memphian Kings Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame And Strength and Art are easily outdone By Spirits reprobate and in an hour What 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 With wondrous Art founded the massie Ore Severing each kinde 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 A non 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 Were set and Doric pillars overlaid With 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 Within 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 With 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 Where 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 Herarchie the Orders bright Nor was his name unheard or unador'd In ancient Greece and in Ausonian land Men call'd him Mulciber and how 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 Lomnos 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 With his industrious 〈◊〉 to build in 〈◊〉 Mean while the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by command Of Sovran power with awful Ceremony And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim A solemn Councel forthwith to be held At 〈◊〉 the high Capital Of Satan and his Peers thir summons 〈◊〉 From every and Band squared Regiment By place or choice the worthiest they anon With hundreds 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 〈◊〉 chair Defi'd the best of 〈◊〉 chivalry To mortal 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 with Lance Thick swarm'd both on the ground and in the air Brusht with the hiss of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As Bees In spring time when the Sun with Taurus rides Poure 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 Baume expatiate and confer Tâ—…ir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So thick the aerie crowd 〈◊〉 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 be sees while over head the Moon Sits Arbitress and neerer to the Earth Wheels her pale course they on thir mirth dance Intent with jocond Music charm his ear At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms Reduc'd thir shapes immense and were at large Though without number still amidst the Hall Of that infernal Court But far within And in thir own dimensions like themselves The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim In close recess and secret conclave â—…at A thousand Demy-Gods on golden seat's Frequent and full After short silence then And summons read the great consult began The End of the First Book PARADISE LOST BOOK II. HIgh on a Throne of Royal State which far Outshon the wealth of Orâ—… and of Ind Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showrs on her Kings Barbaric Pearl Gold Satan exalted sat by merit rais'd To that bad eminence and from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope aspires Beyond thus high insatiate to pursue Vain Warr with Heav'n and by success untaught His proud imaginations thus displaid Powers and Dominions Deities of Heav'n For since no deep within her gulf can hold Immortal vigor though opprest and fall'n I give not Heav'n for lost From this deâ—…nt Celestial vertues rising will appear More glorious and more dread then from no fall Aâ—… trust themselves to fear no second fate Mee though just right and the fixt Laws of Heav'n Did first create your Leader next free choice With what beâ—…ides in Counsel or in Fight Hâ—…th bin 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 yet this loss Thus farr at least recover'd hath much more Establisht in a safe â—…nenvied Tâ—…one Yeilded with full conâ—…ent The 〈◊〉 state In Heav'n which follows dignity might draw Envy from each inferior but who here Will envy whom the highest place exposes Formost to stand against the Thunderers aime Your bulwark and 〈◊〉 to greatest share Of endless pain where there is then no good For which to strive no strife can grow up there From Faction for none sure will claim in hell 〈◊〉 none whose portion is so small Of present pain that with
perhaps thus farr remov'd Not mind us not offending satisfi'd With what is punish't whence these raging fires Will slack'n if his breath stir not thir flames Our purer essenee then will overcome Thir noxious vapour or enur'd not feel Or chang'd at length and to the place conformd In temper and in nature will receive Familiar the fierce heat and void of pain This horror will grow milde this darkness light Besides what hope the never ending flight Of future days maybring what chance what change Worth waiting since our present lot appeers For happy though but ill for ill not worst If we procure not to our â—…lves more woe Thus Belial with words cloath'd in reasons garb Counsel'd ignoble ease and peaceful sloath Not peace and after him thus Mammon spake Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n We warr if warâ—… be best or to regain Our own right lost him to unthrone we then May hope when everlasting Fate shall yeild To fickle Chance and Chaos judge the strife The former vain to hope argues as vain The latter for what place can be for us Within Heav'ns bound unless Heav'ns Lord supream We overpower Suppose he should relent And publish Grace to all on promise made Of new Subjection with what eyes could we Stand in his presence humble and receive Strict Laws impos'd to celebrate his Throne With warbl'd Hymns and to his Godhead sing Forc't Halleluiah's while he Lordly sits Our envied Sovran and his Altar breathes Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers Our servile offerings This must be our task In Heav'n this our delight how wearisom Eternity so spent in worship paid To whom we hate Let us not then pursue By force impossible by leave obtain'd Unacceptable though in Heav'n our state Of splendid vassalage but rather seek Our own good from our selves and from our own Live to our selves though in this vast recess Free and to none accountable preferring Hard liberty before the easie yoke Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear Then most conspicuous when great things of small Useful of hurtful prosperous of adverse We can create and in what place so e're Thrive under evil and work ease out of pain Through labour and endurance This deep world Of darkness do we dread How oft amidst Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire Choose to reside his Glory unobscur'd And with the Majesty of darkness round Covers his Throne from whence deep thunders roar Must'ring thir rage and Heav'n resembles Hell As he our Darkness cannot we his Light Imitate when we please This Desart soile Wants not her hidden lustre Gemms and Gold Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise Magnificence and what can Heav'n shew more Our torments also may in length of time Become our Elements these piercing Fires As soft as now severe our temper chang'd Into their temper which must needs remove The sensible of pain All things invite To peaceful Counsels and the settl'd State Of order how in safety best we may Compose our present evils with regard Of what we are and where dismissing quite All thoughts of Warr ye have what I advise He scarce had finisht when such murmur filld Th' Assembly as when hollow Rocks retain The sound of blustring winds which all night long Had rous'd the Sea now with hoarse cadence lull Sea-faring men orewatcht whose Bark by chance Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay After the Tempest Such applause was heard As Mammon ended and his Sentence pleas'd Advising peace for fuch another Field They dreaded worse then Hell so much the fear Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael Wrought still within them and no less desire To found this nether Empire which might rise By pollicy and long process of time In emulation opposite to Heav'n Which when Bëëlzebub perceiv'd then whom Satan except none higher sat with grave Aspect he rose and in his rising seem'd A Pillar of State deep on his Front engraven Deliberation sat and publick care And Princely counsel in his face yet shon Majestick though in ruin sage he stood With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear The weight of mightiest Monarchies his look Drew audience and attention still as Night Or Summers Noon-tide air while thus he spake Thrones and imperial Powers off-spring of heav'n Ethereal Vertues or these Titles now Must we renounce and changing stile be call'd Princes of Hell for so the popular vote Inclines here to continue and build up here A growing Empire doubtless while we dream And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd This place our dungeon not our safe retreat Beyond his Potent arm to live exempt From Heav'ns high jurisdiction in new League Banded against his Throne but to remaine In strictest bondage though thus far remov'd Under th' inevitable curb reserv'd His captive multitude For he be sure In highth or depth still first and last will Reign Sole King and of his Kingdom loose no part By our revolt but over Hell extend His Empire and with Iron Scepter rule Us here as with his Golden those in Heav'n What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr Warr hath determin'd us and foild with loss Irreparable tearms of peace yet none Voutsaf't or sought for what peace will be giv'n To us enslav'd but custody severe And stripes and arbitrary punishment Inflicted and what peace can we return But to our power hostility and hate Untam'd reluctance and revenge though slow Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least May reap his conquest and may least rejoyce In doing what we most in suffering feel Nor will occasion want nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heav'n whose high walls fear no assault or Siege Or ambush from the Deep What if we find Some easier enterprize There is a place If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n Err not another World the happy seat Of som new Race call'd Man about this time To be created like to us though less In power and excellence but favour'd more Of him who rules above so was his will Pronounc'd among the Gods and by an Oath That shook Heav'ns whol circumference confirm'd Thither let us bend all our thoughts to learn What creatures there inhabit of what mould Or substance how endu'd and what thir Power And where thir weakness how attempted best By force or suttlety Though Heav'n be shut And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength this place may lye expos'd The utmost border of his Kingdom left To their defence who hold it here perhaps Som advantagious act may be achiev'd By sudden onset either with Hell sire To waste his whole Creation or possess All as our own and drive as we were driven The punie habitants or if not drive Seduce them to our Party that thir God May prove thir foe and with repenting hand Abolish his own works This would surpass Common revenge and interrupt his joy In our Confusion and our Joy upraise In his disturbance when his darâ—…ing
Sons Hurl'd headlong to partake with us shall curse Thir frail Originals and faded bliss Faded so soon Advise if this be worth Attempting or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain Empires Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish Counsel first devis'd By Sâ—…tan and in part propos'd for whence But from the Author of all ill could Spring So deep a malice to confound the race Of mankind in one root and Earth with Hell To mingle and involve done all to spite The great Creatour But thir spite still serves His glory to augment The bold design Pleas'd highly those infernal States and joy Sparkl'd in all thir eyes with full assent They vote whereat his speech he thus renews Well have ye judg'd well ended long debate Synod of Gods and like to what ye are Great things resolv'd which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up in spight of Fate Neerer our ancient Seat perhaps in view Of those bright confines whence with neighbâ—…uring Arms And opportune excursion we may chance Re-enter Heav'n or else in some milde Zone Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns fair Light Secure and at the brightning Oâ—…ient beam Purge off this gloom the soft delicious Air To heal the â—…earr of these corrosive Fires Shall breath her balme But first whom shall we send In search of this new world whom shall we find Sufficient who shall tempt with wandring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way or spread his aerie flight Upborn with indefatigable wings Over the vast abrupt ere he arrive The happy I le what strength what art can then Suffice or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick Of Angels watching round Here he had need All circumspection and we now no less Choice in our suffrage for on whom we send The weight of all and our last hope relies This said he sat and expectation held His look suspence awaiting who appeer'd To second or oppose or undertake The perilous attempt but all sat mute Pondering the danger with deep thoughts each In others count'nance red his own dismay Astonisht none among the choice and prime Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found So hardie as to proffer or accept Alone the dreadful voyage till at last Satan whom now 〈◊〉 glory 〈◊〉 Above his fellows with Monarchal pride Conscious of highest worth unmov'd thus spake O Progeny of Heav'n Empyreal Thrones With reason hath deep silence and demurâ—… Seis'd us though undismaid long is the way And hard that out of Hell leads up to Light Our prison strong this huge convex of Fire Outrageous to devour immures us round Ninefold and gates of burning Adamant Barr'd over us prohibit all egress These past if any pass the void profound Of unessential Night receives him next Wide gaping and with utter loâ—…s of being Threatens him plung'd in that abortive gulf If thence he scape into what ever world Or unknown Region what remains him less Then unknown dangers and as hard escape But I should ill become this Throne O Peers And this Imperial Sov'ranty adorn'd With splendor arm'd with power if aught propos'd And judg'd of public moment in the shape Of difficulty or danger could deterre Me from attempting Wherefore do I assume These Royalties and not refuse to Reign Refusing to accept as great a share Of hazard as of honour due alike To him who Reigns and 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 tollerâ—…ble 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 thir vertue least bad men should boast Thir specious deeds on earth which glory excites Or close 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 〈◊〉 peace Yet live in hatred enmitie 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 anow besides That day and night for his destruction waite The Stygian Councel thus dissolv'd and forth In order came the grand 〈◊〉 Peers Midst came thir mighty Paramount and seemd Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n nor less Then 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 〈◊〉 By Haralds voice explain'd the 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 Truce to his restless thoughts and entertain The irksome hours till his great Chief return Part on the Plain or in the Air sublime Upon the wing or in swift race 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 Priâ—… forth the Aerie
Death ready stands to interpose his dart Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might But what ow I to his commands above Who hates me and hath hither thrust me down Into this gloom of Tartarus profound To sit in hateful Office here confin'd Inhabitant of Heav'n and heav'nlie-born Here in perpetual agonie and pain With terrors and with clamors compasst round Of mine own brood that on my bowels feed Thou art my Father thou my Author thou My being gav'st me whom should I obey But thee whom follow thou wilt bring me soon To that new world of light and bliss among The Gods who live at ease where I shall Reign At thy right hand voluptuous as beseems Thy daughter and thy darling without end Thus saying from her side the fatal Key Sad instrument of all our woe she took And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew Which but her self not all the 〈◊〉 powers Could once have mov'd thâ—… in the key-hole turns Th' intricate wards and every Bolt and Bar Of massie Iron or sollid Rock with ease Unfast'ns on a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Th' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and on 〈◊〉 great Harsh Thunder that the lowest bottom shook Of Erebus She op'nd but to shut Excel'd her power the Gates wide op'n stood That with extended wings a Bannerd Host Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array So wide they stood and like a Furnace mouth Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame Before thir eyes in sudden view appear The secrets of the hoarie deep a dark Illimitable Ocean without bound Without dimension where length breadth and highth And time and place are lost where eldest Night And Chaos Ancestors of Nature hold Eternal Anarchie amidst the noise Of endless warrs and by confusion stand For hot cold moist and dry four Champions sierce Strive here for Maistrie and to Battel 〈◊〉 Thir embryon Atoms they around the flag Of each his faction in thir several Clanâ—…s Light-arm'd or heavy sharp smooth swift or slow Swarm populous unnumber'd as the Sands Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil Levied to side with warring Winds and poise Thir lighter wings To whom these most adhere Hee rules a moment Chaos Umpire sits And by decision more imbroiles the fray By which he Reigns next him high Arbiter Chance governs all Into this wilde Abyss The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave Of neither Sea nor Shore nor Air nor Fire But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt Confus'dly and which thus must ever sight Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain His dark materials to create more Worlds Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiend Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while Pondering his Voyage for no narrow frith He had to cross Nor was his eareless peal'd With noises loud and ruinous to compare Great things with small then when Bellona storms With all her battering Engines bent to rase Som Capital City or less then if this frame Of Heav'n were falling and these Elements In mutinie had from her Axle torn The stedfast Earth At last his Sail-broad Vannes He spreads for flight and in the surging smoak Uplisted spurns the ground thence many a League As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides Audacious but that seat soon failing meets A vast vacuitie 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Might in that noise reside of whom to ask Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes Bordering on light when strait behold the Throne Of Chaos and his 〈◊〉 Pavilion â—…pread 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 〈◊〉 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 comeno Spie 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 â—…om 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 Standerd 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 With 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 herd Keep residence if all I can will serve That little which is left so to defend Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles Weakning the Scepter of old Night first Hell Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath Now lately Heaven and Earth another World 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 goe 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 With 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 〈◊〉 Rocks Or when 〈◊〉 on the Larbord 〈◊〉 Charybdis and by th' other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 after him a broad and beat'n way Over the dark 〈◊〉 whose boiling Gulf Taâ—…ely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe Of this frail World by which the Spirits perverse With easie intercourse pass to and â—…ro 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'n foe With tumult less and with less hostile din That Satan with less toil and now with ease Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds Gladly the Port though Shrouds and Tackle torn Or in the emptier waste resembling Air Weighs his spread wings at leasure to be hold Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n extended wide In circuit undetermind square or round With 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. HAil holy light ofspring 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 esfluence 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 sojourn 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 â—…eel 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 herds or human face divine But cloud in stead and ever during dark Surrounds me from the chearful waies 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 plant eyes all mist from thence Purge and disperse that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal fight 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 â—…ransports 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 desperat revenge 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 som false guile pervert and shall pervert For man will heark'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 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 sovâ—… 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 lovâ—…d thy youngest Son Fall circumâ—…ented thus by fraud though joynd With his own folly that be from thee farr That â—…rr be froâ—… thee Father who art Judge Of all things made and judgest onely right Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain His end and frustrate thine shall he fulfill His malice and thy goodness bring to naught Or proud return though to his heavier doom Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell Draw after him the whole Race of mankind By him corrupted or wilt thou thy self Abolish thy Creation and unmake For him what for thy glorie thou hast made So should thy goodness and thy greatness both Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd O Son in whom my Soul hath chief delight Son of my bosom Son who art alone My word my wisdom and effectual might All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are all As my Eternal purpose hath decreed Man shall not quite be lost but sav'd who will Yet not of will in him but grace in me Freely voutsaft once more I will renew His lapsed powers though forfeit and enthrall'd By sin to foul exorbitant desires Upheld by me yet once more he shall stand On even ground against his mortal foe By me upheld that he may know how frail His fall'n condition is and to me ow All his deliv'rance and to none but me Some I have chosen of peculiar grace Elect above the rest so is my will The rest shall hear me call and oft be warnd Thir sinful state and to appease betimes Th' incensed Deitie while offerd grace Invites for I will cleer thir senses dark What may suffice and soft'n stonie hearts To pray repent and bring obedience due To prayer repentance and obedience due Though but endevord with sincere intent Mine eare shall not be slow mine eye not shut And I will place within them as a guide My Umpire Conscience whom if they will hear Light after light well us'd they shall attain And to the end persisting safe arrive This my long sufferance and my day of grace They who neglect and scorn shall never taste But hard be hard'nd blind be blinded more That they may stumble on and deeper fall And none but such from mercy I exclude But yet all is not don Man disobeying Disloyal breaks his fealtie and sinns Against the high Supremacie of Heav'n Affecting God-head and so loosing all To expiate his Treason hath naught left But to destruction sacred and devote He with his whole posteritie must die Die hee or Justice must unless for him Som other able and as willing pay The rigid satisfaction death for death Say Heav'nly Powers where shall we find such love Which of ye will be mortal to redeem Mans mortal crime and just th' unjust to save Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare He ask'd but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute And silence was in Heav'n on mans behalf Patron or Intercessor none appeerd Much less that durst upon his own head draw The deadly forfeiture and ransom set And now without redemption all mankind Must have bin lost adjudg'd to Death and Hell By doom severe had not the Son of God In whom the fulness dwels of love divine His dearest mediation thus renewd Father thy word is past man shall find grace And shall grace not find means that finds her way The speediest of thy winged messengers To visit all thy creatures and to all Comes unprevented unimplor'd unsought Happie for man so coming he her aide Can never seek once dead in sins and lost Attonement for himself or offering meet Indebted and undon hath none to bring Behold mee then mee for him life for life I offer on mee let thine anger fall Account mee man I for his sake will leave Thy bosom and this glorie next to thee Freely put off and for him lastly die Well pleas'd on me let Death wreck all his rage Under his gloomie power I shall not long Lie vanquisht thou hast givn me to possess Life in my self for ever by thee I live Though now to Death I yeild and am his due All that of me can die yet that debt paid Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave His prey nor suffer my unspotted Soule For ever with corruption there to dwell But I shall rise Victorious and subdue My Vanquiâ—…r spoild of his vanted spoile Death his deaths wound shall then receive stoop Inglorious of his mortall sting disarm'd I through the ample Air in Triumph high Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell and show The powers of darkness bound Thou at the sight Pleas'd out of Heaven shalt look down and smile While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes Death last and with his Carcass glut the Grave Then with the multitude of my redeemd Shall enter Heaven long absent and returne Father to see thy face wherein no cloud Of anger shall remain but peace assur'd And reconcilement wrauth shall be no more Thenceforth but in thy presence Joy entire His words here ended but his meek aspect Silent yet spake and breath'd immortal love To mortal men above which only shon Filial obedience as a sacrifice Glad to be offer'd he attends the will Of his great Father Admiration seis'd All Heav'n what this might mean whither tend Wondring but sooâ—… th' 〈◊〉 thus reply'd O thou in Heav'n and Eaâ—…h the only peace Found out for mankind under wrauth O thou My sole complacence well thou know'st how dear To me are all my works nor Mâ—… the least Though last created that for him I spare Thee from my bosom and right hand to save By loosing thee a while the whole Race lost Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme Thir Nature also to
thy Nature joyne And be thy self Man among men on Earth Made flesh when time shall be of Virgin seed By wondrous birth Be thou in Adams room The Head of all mankind though Adams Son As in him perish all men so in thee As from a second root shall be restor'd As many as are restor'd without thee none His crime makes guiltie all his Sons thy merit Imputed shall absolve them who renounce Thir own both righteous and uâ—…righteous deeds And live in thee transplanted and fâ—…om thee Receive new life So Man as iâ—…â—…ost â—…st Shall satisfie for Man be judg'd and die And dying rise and rising with him raise His Brethren ransomd with his own dear life So Heav'nly love shal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hellisâ—… hate Giving to death and dying to redâ—… So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate So easily destroy'd and still destroyes In those who when they may accept not grace Nor shalt thou by descending to assâ—…me Mans Nature less'n or degrade thine owne Because thou hast though Thron'd in highest bliss Equal to God and equally enjoying God-like fruition quitted all to save A World from utter loss and hast been found By Merit more then Birthright Son of God Found worthiest to be so by being Good Farr more then Great or High because in thee Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne Here shalt thou sit incarnate here shalt Reigne Both God and Man Son both of God and 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 Skie 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 fill'd Th' eternal Regions lowly reverent Towards either Throne they bow 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 their 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 flâ—…ming Chariot wheels that shook Heav'ns ever lasting Frame while o're the necks Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime Thee only exâ—…old 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 â—…clin'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 fat 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 Spâ—…ear Thir happie hours in joy and 〈◊〉 spent Mean while upon the â—…irm 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 farâ—… 〈◊〉 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 fide 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 â—…he of Lambs or yeanling Kids On 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 Câ—…ineses 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
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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 hil 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 〈◊〉 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 Uriel 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 cours 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 Uriel no wonder if thy perfet sight Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst 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 oreleapt 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 telst by morrow dawning I shall know So promis'd hee and Uriel 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 walks 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 with dew nor fragrance after showers Nor grateful Evening mild nor silent Night With this her solemn Bird nor walk by Moon Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet But wherfore all night long shine these for whom This glorious sight when
sleep hath shut all eyes To whom our general Ancestor repli'd Daughter of God and Man accomplisht Eve Those have thir course to finish round the Earth By morrow Eevning and from Land to Land In order though to Nations yet unborn Ministring light prepar'd they set and rise Least total darkness should by Night regaine Her old possession and extinguish life In Nature and all things which these soft fires Not only enlighten but with kindly heate Of various influence foment and warme Temper or nourish or in part shed down Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow On Earth made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray. These then though unbeheld in deep of night Shine not in vain nor think though men were none That heav'n would want spectators God want praise Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth Unseen both when we wake and when we sleep All these with ceasless praise his works behold Both day and night how often from the steep Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air Sole or responsive each to others note Singing thir great Creator oft in bands While they keep watch or nightly rounding walk With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number joind thir songs Divide the night and lift our thoughts to Heaven Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd On to thir blissful Bower it was a place Chos'n by the sovran Planter when he fram'd All things to mans delightful use the roofe Of thickest covert was inwoven shade Laurel and Mirtle and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf on either side Acanthus and each odorous bushie shrub Fenc'd up the verdant wall each beauteous flour wrought Iris all hues Roses and Gessamin Rear'd high thir flourisht heads between and Mosaic underfoot the Violet Crocus and Hyacinth with rich inlay Broiderd the ground more colour'd then with stone Of costliest Emblem other Creature here Beast Bird Insect or Worm durst enter none Such was thir awe of man In shadier Bower More sacred and sequesterd though but feignd Pan or Silvanus never slept nor Nymph Nor Faunus haunted Here in close recess With Flowers Garlands and sweet-smelling Herbs Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed And heav'nly Quires the Hymenaean sung What day the genial Angel to our Sire Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd More lovely then Pandora whom the Gods Endowd with all thir gifts and O too like In sad event when to the unwiser Son Of Japhet brought by Hermes she ensnar'd Mankind with her faire looks to be aveng'd On him who had stole Joves authentic fire Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd bâ—…th stood Both turnd and under op'n Skie adoâ—…'d The God that made both Skie Air Earth Heav'n Which they beheld the Moons resplendent Globe And starrie Pole Thou also mad'st the Night Maker Omnipotent and thou the Day Which we in our appointed work imployd Have finisâ—…t happie in our mutual help And mutual love the Crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by thee and this delicious place For us too large where thy abundance wants Partakers and uncropt falls to the ground But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race To fill the Earth who shall with us extoll Thy goodness infinite both when we wake And when we seek as now thy gift of sleep This said unanimous and other Rites Observing none but adoration pure Which God likes best into thir inmost bower Handed they went and eas'd the putting off These troublesom disguises which wee wear Strait side by side were â—…aid nor turnd I weene Adam from his fair Spouse nor Eve the Rites Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk Of puritie and place and innocence Defaming as impure what God declares Pure and commands to som leaves free to all Our Maker bids increase who bids abâ—…ain But our Destroyer foe to God and Man Haile wedded Love mysterious Law true sourse Of human ofspring sole proprietie In Paradise of all things common else By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men Among the bestial herds to raunge by thee Founded in Reason Loyal Just and Pure Relations dear and all the Charities Of Father Son and Brother first were known Farr be it that I should write thee sin or blame Or think thee unbeâ—…tting holiest place Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets Whose Bed is undefil'd and chast pronounc't Present or past as Saints and Patriarchs us'd Here Love his golden shafts imploies here lights His constant Lamp and waves his purple wings Reigns here and revels not in the bought smile Of Harlots loveless joyless unindeard Casual fruition nor in Court Amours Mixt Dance or wanton Mask or Midnight Bal Or Serenate which the starv'd Lover sings To his proud fair best quitted with disdain These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof Showrd Roses which the Morn repair'd Sleep on Blest pair and O yet happiest if ye seek No happier state and know to know no more Now had night measur'd with her shaddowieCone Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim Forth issuing at th'accustomd hour stood armd To thir night watches in warlike Parade When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake Uzziel half these draw off and coast the South With strictest watch these other wheel the North Our circuit meets full West As flame they part Half wheeling to the Shield half to the Spear From these two strong and suttle Spirits he calld That neer him stood and gave them thus in charge Ithuriel and Zephon with wingd speed Search through this Garden leav unsearcht no nook But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harâ—…e This Eevning from the Sun 's decline arriv'd Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen Hitherward bent who could have thought escap'd The barrs of Hell on errand bad no doubt Such where ye find seise fast and hither bring So saying on he led his radiant Files Daz'ling the Moon these to the Bower direct In search of whom they sought him there they found Squat like a Toad close at the eare of Eve Assaying by his Devilish art to reach The Organs of her Fancie and with them forge Illusions as he list Phantasms and Dreams Or if inspiring venom he might taint Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arise Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure thence raise At least distemperd discontented thoughts Vain hopes vain aimes inordinate desires Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear Touch'd lightly for no falshood can endure Touch of Celestial temper but returns Of sorce to its own likeness up he starts Discoverd and surpriz'd As when a spark Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder laid Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store Against a rumord Warr the Smuttie graine With sudden blaze diffus'd inflames the Aire So started
up in his own shape the Fiend Back stept those two fair Angels hâ—…lf amaz'd So sudden to behold the grieslie King Yet thus unmovd with fear accost him soon Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell Com'st thou escap'd thy prison and transform'd Why satst thou like an enemie in waite Here watching at the head of these that sleep Know ye not then said Satan filld with scorn Know ye not me ye knew me once no mate For you there sitting where ye durst not soare Not to know mee argue your selves unknown The lowest of your throng or if ye know Why ask ye and superfluous begin Your message like to end as much in vain To whom thus Zephon answering scorn with scorn Think not revolted Spirit thy shâ—…pe the same Or undiminisht brightness to be known As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure That Glorie then when thou no more wast good Departed from thee and thou resembl'st now Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule But come for thou besure shalt give account To him who sent us whose charge is to keep This place inviolable and these from harm So spake the Cherube and his grave rebuke Severe in youthful beautie added grace Invincible abasht the Devil stood And felt how awful goodness is and saw Vertue in her shape how lovly saw and pin'd His loss but chiefly to find here observd His lustre visibly impar'd yet seemd Undaunted If I must contend said he Best with the best the Sender not the sent Or all at once more glorie will be wonn Or less be lost Thy fear said Zephon bold Will save us trial what the least can doe Single against thee wicked and thence weak The Fiend repli'd not overcome with rage But like a proud Steed reind went hautie on Chaumping his iron curb to strive or flie He held it vain awe from above had quelld His heart not else dismai'd Now drew they nigh The western point where those half-rounding guards Just met closing stood in squadron joind Awaiting next command To whom thir Chief Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud O friends I hear the tread of nimble fêet Hasting this way and now by glimps discerne Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade And with them comes a third of Regal port But faded splendor wan who by his gate And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell Not likely to part hence without câ—…test Stand firm for in his look defiance lours He scarce had ended when those two approachd And brief related whom they brought wher found How busied in what form and posture coucht To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake Why hast thou Satan broke the bounds prescrib'd To thy transgressions and disturbd the charge Of others who approve not to transgress By thy example but have power and right To question thy bold entrance on this place Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow Gabriel thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise And such I held thee but this question askt Puts me in doubt Lives ther who loves his pain Who would not finding way break loose from Hell Though thither doomd Thou wouldst thy self no doubt And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain where thou migâ—…tsti hope to change Torment with ease soonest recompence Dole with delight which in this place I sought To thee no reason who knowst only good But evil hast not tri'd and wilt object His will who bound us let him surer barr His Iron Gates if he intends our stay In that dark durance thus much what was askt The rest is true they found me where they say But that implies not violence or harme Thus hee in scorn The warlike Angel mov'd Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise Since Satan fell whom follie overthrew And now returns him from his prison scap't Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not who ask what boldness brought him hither Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd So wise he judges it to sly from pain However and to sĉape his punishment So judge thou still presumptuous till the wrauth Which thou incurr'st by flying meet thy flight Seavenfold and scourge that wisdom back to Hell Which taught thee yet no better that no pain Can equal anger infinite provok't But wherefore thou alone wherefore with thee Came not all Hell broke loose is pain to them Less pain less to be fled or thou then they Less hardie to endure courageous Chief The first in flight from pain had'st thou alleg'd To thy deserted host this cause of flight Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive To which the â—…iend thus answerd frowning stern Not that I less endure or shrink from pain Insulting Angel well thou knowst I stood Thy fiercest when in Battel to thy aide The blasting volied Thunder made all speed And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear But still thy words at random as before Argue thy inexperience what behooves From hard assaies and ill successes past A faithful Leader not to hazard all Through wayes of danger by himself untri'd I therefore I alone first undertook To wing the desolate Abyss and spie This new created World whereof in Hell Fame is not silent here in hope to find Better abode and my afflicted Powers To settle here on Earth or in mid Aire Though for possession put to try once more What thou and thy gay Legions dare against Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord High up in Heav'n with songs to hymne his Throne And practis'd distances to cringe not fight To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd To say and strait unsay pretending first Wise to flie pain professing next the Spie Argues no Leader but a lyar trac't Satan and couldst thou faithful add O name O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd Faithful to whom to thy rebellious crew Armie of Fiends fit body to fit head Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd Your military obedience to dissolve Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power supream And thou sly hypocrite who now wouldst seem Patron of liberty who more then thou Once fawn'd and cring'd and servilly ador'd Heav'ns awful Monarch wherefore but in hope To dispossess him and thy self to reigne But mark what I arreede thee now avant Flie thither whence thou fledst if from this houre Within these hallowd limits thou appeer Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind And Seale thee so as henceforth not to scorne The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd So threatn'd hee but Satan to no threats Gave heed but waxing more in rage repli'd Then when I am thy 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 Collâ—…cting 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 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 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 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 my 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 shap'd 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 Gods 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 livethere 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 can 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 refts Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes To imitate 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
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 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 understanding 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 wee want obedience then To him or possibly his love desert Who formd us from the dust and plac'd us here Full to the â—…tmost 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 theâ—… when Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills Aereal Music send nor knew I not To be both will and deed created free Yet that we never shall forget to love Our maker and obey him whose command Single is yet so just my constant thoughts Assur'd me and still assure though what thou tellst Hath past in Heav'n som doubt within me move But more desire to hear if thou consent The full relation which must needs be strange Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard And we have yet large day for scarce the Sun Hath finisht half his journey and scarce begins His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n Thus Adam made request and Raphael After short pause assenting thus began High matter thou injoinst me O prime of men Sad task and hard for how shall I relate To human sense th' invisible exploits Of warring Spirits how without remorse The ruin of so many glorious once And perfet while they stood how last unfould The secrets of another world perhaps Not lawful to reveal yet for thy good This is dispenc't and what surmounts the reach Of human sense I shall delineate so By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms As may express them best though what if Earth Be but the shaddow of Heav'n and things therein Each to other like more then on earth is thought As yet this world was not and Chaos wilde Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl where Earth now rests Upon her Center pois'd when on a day For Time though in Eternitie appli'd To motion measures all things durable By present past and future on such day As Heav'ns great Year brings forth th'Empyreal Host Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne Forth with 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 A midst as from a flaming Mount
soon he heard for Spirits that live throughout Vital in 〈◊〉 part not as 〈◊〉 man In Entrailes Heart or Head Liver or Reines Cannot but by 〈◊〉 die Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound Receive no more then can the fluid Aire All 〈◊〉 thâ—… lâ—…ve 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 iâ—… other parts like deeds deservd Memorial where the might of Gabriel â—…ought And with 〈◊〉 Ensignes pierc'd the deep array Of Moloc 〈◊〉 King who him defi'd And at his 〈◊〉 wheeles to drag him bound Threatn'd nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One of Heav'n Refrein'd his tongue 〈◊〉 but anon Down clov'n to the waste with shatterd Armes And uncouth paine sled bellowing On each wing Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe Though huge and in a Rock of Diamond Armd Vanquish'd Adramelec and Aâ—…adai 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 blasâ—… 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 Orewearied 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 sinne 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 forme 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 perhapâ—… 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 Enjoyment of our right as Gods yet hard For Gods and too unequal work we find Against unequal armes to fight in paine Against unpaind impassive from which evil Ruin must needs ensue for what availes Valour or strength though matchless quelld with pain Which all subdues and makes remiss the hands Of Mightiest Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps and not repine But live content which is the calmest life But pain is perfet miserie the worst Of evils and excessive overtuâ—… All patience He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded Enemies or arme Our selves with like defence to mee desâ—…ves No less then for delivâ—…ce what wâ—… owe Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd Not uninvented that which thou aright Beleivst so main to our success I bring Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this Etheâ—…us mould whâ—…on we stand This continent of spacious Heav'n adornd With Plant Fruit Flour Ambrosial Geâ—…s Gold Whose Eye so superficially surveyes These things as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground materials dark and crude Of spiritous and fierie spume till toucht With Heav'ns ray and tempeâ—…d they shoot forth So beauteous op'ning to the ambient light These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep Shall yeild us pregnant wiâ—… infernal flame Which into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and round Thick-rammd at th' other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate shall send forth From far with tâ—…dring noise among our â—…oes Such impâ—…nts of miâ—…chief 〈◊〉 shaalâ—… 〈◊〉 To pieces and oâ—…whelm whatâ—… stands Adverse that they shall fear we have disarmd The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt Nor long shall be 〈◊〉 labour yet 〈◊〉 dawne Effect shall 〈◊〉 our wish Mean while revive Abandon fear 〈◊〉 strength anâ—… câ—…sel joâ—…d Think nothing hard much less to be â—…spaird He ended and his words thir drooping chere Enlightn'd and thir languisht hope reviv'd Th' invention all admiâ—…d and each how hee To be 〈◊〉 inventer miss'd so easie it â—…eemd Once found which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible yet haply of thy Race In future dayes if Malice should abound Some one intent on mischief or inspir'd With dev'lish machination might devise Like instrument to plague the Sons of men For sin on warr and mutual slaughter bent Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew None arguing stood â—…numerable hands Were ready in a moment up they turnd Wide the Celestial â—…oile and saw beneath Th' originals
of Nature in thir crude Conception Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame They found they mingl'd and with suttle Art Concocted and adusted they reduc'd To blackest graâ—… and into store conveyd Part hidd'n veins diggd up nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike of Mineral and Stone Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin part incentive reed Provide pernicious with one touch to fire So all ere day spring under conscious Night Secret they finish'd and in order set With silent circumspection unespi'd Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd Up rose the Victor Angels and to Arms The matin Trumpet Sung in Arms they stood Of Golden Panoplie refulgent Host Soon banded others from the dawning Hills Lookd round and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure Each quarter to descrie the distant foe Where lodg'd or whither fled or if for fight In motion or in alt him soon they met Under spred Enfignes moving nigh in slow But firm Battalion back with speediest Sail Zophiel of Cherubim the swiftest wing Came flying and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd Arme Warriours Arme for â—…ght the foe at hand Whom fled we thought will save us long pursuit This day fear not his flight so thick a Cloud He comes and settl'd in his face I see Sad resolution and secure let each His Adamantine coat gird well and each Fit well his Helme gripe fast his orbed Shield Born eevn or high for this day will pour down If I conjecture aught no drizling showr But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire So warnd he them aware themselves and sooâ—… In order quit of all impediment Instant without disturb they took Allarm And onward move Embattelld when behold Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe Approaching gross and huge in hollow Cube Training his devilish Enginrie impal'd On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep To hide the fraud At interview both stood A while but suddenly at head appeerd Satan And thus was heard Commanding loud Vangard to Right and Left the Front unfould That all may see who hate us how we seek Peace and composure and with open brest Stand readie to receive them if they like Our overture and turn not back perverse But that I doubt however witness Heaven Heav'n witness thou anon while we discharge Freely our part yee who appointed stand Do as you have in charge and briefly touch What we propound and loud that all may hear So scoffing in ambiguous words he scarce Had ended when to Right and Left the Front Divided and to either Flank retir'd Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid On Wheels for like to Pillars most they seem'd Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr With branches lopt in Wood or Mountain fell'd Brass Iron Stonie mould had not thir mouthes With hideous orifice gap't on us wide Portending hollow truce at each behind A Seraph stood and in his hand a Reed Stood waving tipt with fire while we suspense Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd Not long for sudden all at once thir Reeds Put forth and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch Immediate in a flame But soon obscur'd with smoak all Heav'n appeerd From those deep-throated Engins belcht whose roar Emboweld with outragious noise the Air And all her entrails tore disgorging foule Thir devillish glut chaind Thunderbolts and Hail Of Iron Globes which on the Victor Host Level'd with such impetuous furie smote That whom they hit none on thir feet might stand Though standing else as Rocks but down they fell By thousands Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd The sooner for thir Arms unarm'd they might Have easily as Spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove but now Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files What should they do if on they rusht repulse Repeated and indecent overthrow Doubl'd would render them yet more despis'd And to thir foes a laughter for in view Stood rankt of Seraphim another row In posture to displode thir second tire Of Thunder back defeated to return They worse abhorr'd Satan beheld thir plight And to his Mates thus in derision call'd O Friends why come not on these Victors proud Ere while they fierce were coming and when wee To entertain them fair with open Front And Brest what could we more propounded terms Of composition strait they chang'd thir minds Flew off and into strange vagaries fell As they would 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 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 pluokt 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 whelmd 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 brus'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 gone to wrack with ruin overspred Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure
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 wish'd 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 left 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 〈◊〉 flock together throngd Drove them before him Thunder-struck pursu'd With terrors and with suries to the bounds And Chrystall 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 themselvs they threw Dòwn 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 〈◊〉 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 rejoie'd and soon repaird Her mural breach returning whence it rowld Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes Messiah his triumphal Chaâ—…iot 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 Heire 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 DEscend from Heav'n Urania by that name If rightly thou art call'd whose Voice divine Following above th' Olâ—…mpian 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 Celestiul Song Up led by thee Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd An 〈◊〉 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 rouud And solitude yet not alone while thou Visit'st my slumbers Nightly or when Morn Purples the East still govern thou my Song Urania 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'n lie shee an empty dreame Say Goddess what ensu'd when Raphael The affable Arch-angel had forewarn'd Adam by dire example to beware Apostafie 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 tasts 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 thirthought 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 conspicuous 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 sinâ—…e 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 râ—…late 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 unappâ—…rent 〈◊〉 Or if the Starâ—… of Eevning and the 〈◊〉 Haste to thy audience Night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 illustrous Guest be sought And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde This also thy request with caution askt Obtaine though 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 〈◊〉 own inventions hope Things not reveal'd which th' invisible King Onely Omnisciâ—…nt hath suppresâ—… in Night To none communicable in Earth or Heaven Anough is left besides to search and know But Knowledge is as food 〈◊〉 needs no less Her Temperance over Appetite to know In measure what the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well contain Oppresses else with 〈◊〉 and soon turns Wisdom to Folly as Nourishment to Winde Know then thaâ—… 〈◊〉 Lucifer from Heav'n So call him brighter once amidst the Host Of Angles then that Starr the Starrs among Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep Into his place and the great 〈◊〉 returnd Victorious with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eternal Father 〈◊〉 his Throne be held Thir multitude and to his Son thus spake At least 〈◊〉 envious 〈◊〉 hath fail'd who thought All like himself 〈◊〉 by â—…hose â—…id This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—…rength the 〈◊〉 Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us 〈◊〉 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 Heavn 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 my self retire And put not forth my goodness which is free To act or not Necessitie and Chance Approach not meâ—… 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 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' 〈◊〉 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 bâ—…hold 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 Circumferenâ—…e 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 〈◊〉 spred And vital 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Throughout 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but downward purg'd The black 〈◊〉 cold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 Sojourn'd the while God saw the Light was good And light from
in thir Pearlie shells at ease attend Moist nutriment or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch on smooth the Seale And bended Dolphins play part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie enormous in thir Gate Tempest the Ocean there Leviathan Hugest of living Creatures on the Deep Strâ—…tcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes And seems a moving Land and at his Gilles Draws in and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea Mean while the tepid Caves and Fens and shoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch from the Egg that soon Buâ—…sting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Thir callow young but featherd soon and fledge They summ'd thir Penns and soaring th' air sublime With clang despis'd the ground under a cloud In prospect there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build Part loosly wing the Region part more wise In common rang'd in figure wedge thir way Intelligent of seasons and set forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's Flying and over Lands with mutual wing Easing thir flight so â—…tears the prudent Crane Her annual Voiage born on Windes the Aire Floats as they pass fann'd with unnumber'd plumes From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song Solac'd the Woods and spred thir painted wings Till Ev'n nor then the solemn Nightingal Ceas'd warbling but all night tun'd her soft layes Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd Thir downie Brest the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly Rowes Her state with Oarie feet yet oft they quit The Dank and rising on stiff Pennons towre The mid Aereal Skie Others on ground Walk'd firm the erested Cock whose clarion sounds The silent hours and th' other whose gay Traine Adorns him colour'd with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes The Waters thus With Fish replenisht and the Aire with Fowle Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fiâ—…t day The Sixt and of Creation last arose With Eevning Harps and 〈◊〉 when God said Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde Cattel and Creeping things and Beast of the Earth Each in their kinde The Earth obey'd and strait Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures perfet formes Limb'd and full 〈◊〉 out of the ground up rose As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns In Forrest wilde in Thicket Brake or Den Among the Trees in Pairs they rose they walk'd The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green Those rare and solitarie these in flocks Pasturing at once and in broad Herds upsprung The grassie Clods now Calv'd now half appeer'd The Tawnie Lion pawing to get free His hinder parts then springs as broke from Bonds And Rampant shakes his Brinded main the Ounce The Libbard and the Tyger as the Moale Rising the crumbl'd Earth above them threw In Hillocks the swift Stag from under ground Bore up his branching head scarfe from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose As Plants ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Horse and scalie Crocodile At once came forth whatever creeps the ground Insect or Worme those wav'd thir limber fans For wings and smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With spots of Gold and Purple azure and green These as a line thir long dimension drew Streaking the ground with sinuous trace not all Minims of Nature some of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd Thir Snakie foulds and added wings First crept The Parsimonious Emmet provident Of future in small room large heart enclos'd Pattern of just equalitie perhaps Hereafter join'd in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie swarming next appeer'd The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone Deliciously and builds her waxen Cells With Honey stor'd the rest are numberless Aâ—…d thou thir Natures know'st and gav'st them Names Needlest to thee repeaed nor unknown The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field Of huge extent somtimes with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific though to thee Not noxious but obedient at thy call Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon and rowld Her motions as the great first-Movers haâ—…d First wheeld thir course Earth in her rich attire Consummate lovly smil'd Aire Water Earth By Fowl Fish Beast was flown was swum was walkt Frequent and of the Sixt day yet remain'd There wanted yet the Master work the end Of all yet don a Creature who not prone And Brute as other Creatures but endu'd With Sanctitie of Reason might erect His Stature and upright with Front serene Govern the rest self-knowing and from thence Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends thither with heart and voice and eyes Directed in Devotion to adore And worship God Supream who made him chief Of all his works therefore the Omnipotent Eternal Father For where is not hee Present thus to his Son audibly spake Let us make now Man in our image Man In our similitude and let them rule Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire Beast of the Field and over all the Earth And every creeping thing that creeps the ground This said he 〈◊〉 thee Adam thee O Man Dust of the ground and in thy nostrils breath'd The breath of Life in his own Image hee Created thee in the Image of God Express and thou becam'st a living Soul Male he created thee but thy consort Femal for Race then bless'd Mankinde and said Be fruitful multiplie and fill the Earth Subdue it and throughout Dominion hold Over Fish of the Sea and Fowle of the Aire And every living thing that moves on the Earth Wherever thus created for no place Is yet distinct by name thence as thou know'st He brought thee into this delicious Grove This Garden planted with the Trees of God Delectable both to behold and taste And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food Gave thee all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds Varietie without end but of the Tree Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil Thou mai'st not in the day thou eat'st thou di'st Death is the penaltie impos'd beware And govern well thy appetiâ—…e least sin Surprise thee and her black attendant Death Here finish'd hee and all that he had made View'd and behold all was entirely good So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day Yet not till the Creator from his work Desisting though unwearied up returnd Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode Thence to behold this new created World Th' addition of his Empire how it shew'd In prospect from his Throne how good how faire Answering his great Idea Up he rode Followd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd Angelic harmonies the Earth the Aire Resounded thou remember'st for thou heardst The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant Open ye everlasting Gates they sung Open ye Heav'ns your living dores
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 Seaventh 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 forever firm and sure The Filial Power arriv'd and sate him down With his great Father for he 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 〈◊〉 Had work and 〈◊〉 not the solemn â—…ipe And Dulcimer all Organs of sweet stop All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire Temper'd 〈◊〉 Tunings intermixt with Voice Choral or Unison of incense Clouds Fuming from Golden Câ—…nsers 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 〈◊〉 but to 〈◊〉 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 To whom thus Adam 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 VVith wonder but delight and as is due With glorie attributed to the high Creator some thing yet of doubt remaines VVhich onely thy solution can resolve VVhen I behold this goodly Frame this VVorld 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 â—…er 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 went 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 intermix 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 unattended 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 Days 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 vigor 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 ere mid-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 and other 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 beâ—…rs 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 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 vaine 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 Abundantly 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 lowd lament and furious 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 thywords 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
is Man But in degree the cause of his desire By conversation with his like to help Or solace his defects No need that thou Shouldst propagat already infinite And through all numbers absolute though One Bâ—…t Man by number is to manifest His single imperfection and beget Like of his like his Image multipli'd In unitie defective which requires Collateral love and deerest amitie Thou in thy secresie although alone Best with thy self accompanied seek'st not Social communication yet so pleas'd Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt Of Union or Communion deifi'd I by conversing cannot these erect From prone nor in thir wayes complacence find Thus I embold'nd spake and freedom us'd Permissive and acceptance found which gain'd This answer from the gratious voice Divine Thus farr to try thee Adam I was pleas'd And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone Which thou hast rightly nam'd but of thy self Expressing well the spirit within thee free My Image not imparted to the Brute Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike And be so minded still I ere thou spak'st Knew it not good for Man to be alone And no such companie as then thou saw'st Intended thee for trial onely brought To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet What next I bring shall please thee be assur'd Thy likeness thy fit help thy other self Thy wish exactly to thy hearts desire Hee ended or I heard no more for now My earthly by his Heav'nly overpowerd Which it had long stood under streind to the highth In that celestial Colloquie sublime As with an object that excels the sense Dazl'd and spent sunk down and sought repair Of sleep which instantly fell on me call'd By Nature as in aide and clos'd mine eyes Mine eyes he clos'd but op'n left the Cell Of Fancie my internal sight by which Abstract as in a transe methought I saw Though sleeping where I lay and saw the shape Still glorious before whom awake I stood Who stooping op'nd my left side and took From thence a Rib with cordial spirits warme And Life-blood streaming fresh wide was the wound But suddenly with flesh fill'd up heal'd The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands Under his forming hands a Creature grew Manlike but different sex so lovly faire That what seemd fair in all the World seemd now Mean or in her summd up in her containd And in her looks which from that time infus'd Sweetness into my heart unfelt before And into all things from her Aire inspir'd The spirit of love and amorous delight She disappeerd and left me dark I wak'd To find her or for ever to deplore Her loss and other pleasures all abjure When out of hope behold her not farr off Such as I saw her in my dream adornd With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow To make her amiable On she came Led by her Heav'nly Maker though unseen And guided by his voice nor uninformd Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites Grace was in all her steps Heav'n in her Eye In every gesture dignitie and love I overjoyd could not forbear aloud This turn hath made amends thou hast fulfill'd Thy words Creator bounteous and benigne Giver of all things faire but fairest this Of all thy gifts nor enviest I now see Bone of my Bone Flesh of my Flesh my Self Before me Woman is her Name of Man Extracted for this cause he shall forgoe Father and Mother and to his Wife adhere And they shall be one Flesh one Heart one Soule She heard me thus and though divinely brought Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie Her vertue and the conscience of her worth That would be woo'd and not unsought be won Not obvious not obtrusive but retir'd The more desirable or to say all Nature herself though pure of sinful thought Wrought in her so that seeing me she turn'd I follow'd her she what was Honour knew And with obsequious Majestie approv'd My pleaded reason To the Nuptial Bowre I led her blushing like the Morn all Heav'n And happie Constellations on that houre Shed thir selectest influence the Earth Gave sign of gratulation and each Hill Joyous the Birds fresh Gales and gentle Aires Whisper'd it to the Woods and from thir wings Flung Rose flung Odours from the spicie Shrub Disporting till the amorous Bird of Night Sung Spousal and bid haste the Eevning Starr On his Hill top to light the bridal Lamp Thus I have told thee all my State and brought My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss Which I enjoy and must confess to find In all things else delight indeed but such As us'd or not works in the mind no change Nor vehement desire these delicacies I mean of Taste Sight Smell Herbs Fruits Flours Walks and the melodie of Birds but here Farr otherwise transported I behold Transported touch here passion first I felt Commotion strange in all enjoyments else Superiour and unmov'd here onely weake Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance Or Nature faild in mee and left some part Not proof enough such Object to sustain Or from my side subducting took perhaps More then enough at least on her bestow'd Too much of Ornament in outward shew Elaborate of inward less exact For well I understand in the prime end Of Nature her th' inferiour in the mind And inward Faculties which most excell In outward also her resembling less His Image who made both and less expressing The character of that Dominion giv'n O're other Creatures yet when I approach Her loveliness so absolute she seems And in her self compleat so well to know Her own that what she wills to do or say Seems wisest vertuousest discreetest best All higher knowledge in her presence falls Degraded Wisdom in discourse with her Looses discount'nanc't and like folly shewes Authoritie and Reason on her waite As one intended first not after made Occasionally and to consummate all Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat Build in her loveliest and create an awe About her as a guard Angelic plac't To whom the Angel with contracted brow Accuse not Nature she hath don her part Do thou but thine and be not diffident Of Wisdom she deserts thee not if thou Dismiss not her when most thou needst her nigh By attributing overmuch to things Less excellent as thou thy self perceav'st For what admir'st thou what transports thee so An outside fair no doubt and worthy well Thy cherishing thy honouring and thy love Not thy subjection weigh with her thy self Then value Oft times nothing profits more Then self-esteem grounded on just and right Well manag'd of that skill the more thou know'st The more she will acknowledge thee her Head And to realities yeild all her shows Made so adorn for thy delight the more So awful that with honour thou maist love Thy mate who sees when thou art seen least wise But if the sense of touch whereby mankind Is propagated seem such dear delight Beyond all other
suttletie Proceeding which in other Beasts observ'd Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r Active within beyond the sense of brute Thus he resolv'd but first from inward griefe His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd O Earth how like to Heav'n if not preferr'd More justly Seat worthier of Gods as built With second thoughts reforming what was old For what God after better worse would build Terrestrial Heav'n danâ—…'t round by other Heav'ns That shine yet bear thir bright officious Lamps Light above Light for thee alone as seems In thee concentring all thir precious beams Of sacred influence As God in Heav'n Is Center yet extends to all so thou Centring receav'st from all those Orbs in thee Not in themselves all thir known vertue appeers Productive in Herb Plant and nobler birth Of Creatures animate with gradual life Of Growth Sense Reason all summ'd up in Man With what delight could I have walkt thee round If I could joy in aught sweet interchange Of Hill and Vallie Rivers Woods and Plaines Now Land now Sea Shores with Forrest crownd Rocks Dens and Caves but I in none of these Find place or refuge and the more I see Pleasures about me so much more I feel Torment within me as from the hateful siege Of contraries all good to me becomes Bane and in Heav'n much worâ—…e would be my state But neither here seek I no nor in Heav'n To dwell unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame Nor hope to be my self less miserable By what I seek but others to make such As I though thereby worse to me redound For onely in destroying I finde ease To my relentless thoughts and him destroyd Or won to what may work his utter loss For whom all this was made all this will soon Follow as to him linkt in weal or woe In wo then that destruction wide may range To mee shall be the glorie sole among The infernal Powers in one day to have marr'd What he Almightie styl'd six Nights and Days Continu'd making and who knows how long Before had bin contriving though perhaps Not longer then since I in one Night freed From servitude inglorious welnigh half Th' Angelic Name and thinner left the throng Of his adorers hee to be aveng'd And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd Whether such vertue spent of old now faild More Angels to Create if they at least Are his Created or to spite us more Determin'd to advance into our room A Creature form'd of Earth and him endow Exalted from so base original With Heav'nly spoils our spoils What he decreed He effected Man he made and for him built Magnificent this World and Earth his seat Him Lord pronounc'd and O indignitie Subjected to his service Angel wings And flaming Ministers to watch and tend Thir earthie Charge Of these the vigilance I dread and to elude thus wrapt in mist Of midnight vapor glide obscure and prie In every Bush and Brake where hap may finde The Serpent sleeping in whose mazie foulds To hide me and the dark intent I bring O foul descent that I who erst contended With Gods to sit the highest am now constraind Into a Beast and mixt with bestial slime This essence to incarnate and imbrute That to the hight of Deitie aspir'd But what will not Ambition and Revenge Descend to who aspires must down as low As high he soard obnoxious first or last To basest things Revenge at first though sweet Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles Let it I reck not so it light well aim'd Since higher I fall short on him who next Provokes my envie this new Favorite Of Heav'n this Man of Clay Son of despite Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd From dust spite then with spite is best repaid So saying through each Thicket Danck or Drie Like a black mist low creeping he held on His midnight search where soonest he might finde The Serpent him fast sleeping soon he found In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowld His head the midst well stor'd with suttle wiles Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den Not nocent yet but on the grassie Herbe Fearless unfeard he slept in at his Mouth The Devil enterd and his brutal sense In heart or head possessing soon inspir'd With act intelligential but his sleep Disturbd not waiting close th' approach of Morn Now whenas sacred Light began to dawne In Eden on the humid Flours that breathd Thir morning Incense when all things that breath From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise To the Creator and his Nostrils fill With gratefull Smell forth came the human pair And joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire Of Creatures wanting voice that done partake The season prime for sweetest Sents and Aires Then commune how that day they best may ply Thir growing work for much thir work outgrew The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide And Eve first to her Husband thus began Adam well may we labour still to dress This Garden still to tend Plant Herb and Flour Our pleasant task enjoyn'd but till more hands Aid us the work under our labour grows Luxurious by restraint what we by day Lop overgrown or prune or prop or bind One night or two with wanton growth derides Tending to wilde Thou therefore now advise Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present Let us divide our labours thou where choice Leads thee or where most needs whether to wind The Woodbine round this Arbour or direct The clasping Ivie where to climb while I In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt With Myrtle find what to redress till Noon For while so near each other thus all day Our task we choose what wonder if so near Looks intervene and smiles or object new Casual discourse draw on which intermits Our dayes work brought to little though begun Early and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd Sole Eve Associate sole to me beyond Compare above all living Creatures deare Well hast thou motion'd wel thy thoughts imployd How we might best fulfill the work which here God hath assign'd us nor of me shalt pass Unprais'd for nothing lovelier can be found In woman then to studie houshold good And good workes in her Husband to promote Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd Labour as to debarr us when we need Resreshment whether food or talk between Food of the mind or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles for smiles from Reason flow To brute deni'd and are of Love the food Love not the lowest end of human life Fâ—…r not to irksom toile but to delight He made us and delight to Reason joyn'd Thâ—…se paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt hands Will keep from Wilderness with ease as wide As we need walk till younger hands ere long Assist us But if much converse perhaps Thee satiate to short absence I could yeild For solitude somtimes is best societie And short retirement urges sweet returne But other doubt
and naâ—…ve righteousness And honour from about them naked left To guiltie shame hee cover'd but his Robe Uncover'd more So rose the Daniâ—…e strong Herculean Samson from the Harlot-lap Of Philistean Dalilâ—… and wak'd Shorn of his strength They destitute and bare Of all thir vertue silent and in face Confounded long they sate as struck'n mute Till Adam though not less then Eve abasht At length gave utterance to these words constraind O Eve in evil â—…our thou didst give eare To that 〈◊〉 Wâ—…rm of whomsoever taught To counterfet Mans voice true in our Fall False in our promis'd Rising since our Eyes Op'nd we find indeed and find we know Both Good and Evil Good lost and Evil got Bad Fruit of Knowledge if this be to know Which leaves us naked thus of Honour void Of Innocence of Faith of Puritie Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind And in our Faces evident the signes Of foul concupiscence whence evil store Even shame the last of evils of the first Be sure then How shall I be hold the face Hencefâ—…th of God or Angel earst with joy And rapture so oft beheld those heav'nly shapes Will dazle now this earthly with thir blaze Insufferably bright O might I here In solitude live savage in some glade Obscur'd where highest Woods impenetrable To Starr or Sun-light spread thir umbrage broad And brown as Evening Coâ—…er me ye Pines Ye Cedars with innumerable boughs Hide me where I may never see them more But let us now as in bad plight devise What best may for the present serve to hide The Parts of each from other that seem most To shame obnoxious and unseemliest seen Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd And girded on our loyns may cover round Those middle parts that this new commer Shame There sit not and reproach us as unclean So counsel'd hee and both together went Into the thickest Wood there soon they chose The Figtree not that kind for Frâ—…it renown'd But such as at this day to Indians known In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes Braunching so broad and long that in the ground The bended Twigs take root and Daughters grow About the Mother Tree a Pillard shade High overarch't and echoing Walks between There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heate Shelters in coole and tends his pasturing Herds At Loopholes cut through thickest shade Those Leaves They gatherd broad as Amazonian Targe And with what skill they had together sowd To gird thir waste vain Covering if to hide Thir guilt and dreaded shame O how unlike To that first naked Glorie Such of late Columbus found th' American so girt With featherd Cincture naked else and wilde Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores Thus fenc't and as they thought thir shame in part Coverd but not at rest or ease of Mind They sate them down to weep nor onely Teares Raind at thir Eyes but high Winds worse within Began to rise high Passions Anger Hate Mistrust Suspicion Discord and shook sore Thir inward State of Mind calme Region once And full of Peace now tost and turbulent For Understanding rul'd not and the Will Heard not her lore both in subjection now To sensual Appetite who from beneathe Usurping over sovran Reason claimd Superior sway From thus distemperd brest Adam estrang'd in look and alterd stile Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words stai'd With me as I besought thee when that strange Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn I know not whence possessd thee we had then Remaind still happie not as now despoild Of all our good sham'd naked miserable Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve The Faith they owe when earnestly they seek Such proof conclude they then begin to faile To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus Eve What words have past thy Lips Adam severe Imput'st thou that to my default or will Of wandering as thou call'st it which who knows But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by Or to thy self perhaps hadst thou bin there Or here th' attempt thou couldst not have discernd Fraud in the Serpent speaking as he spake No ground of enmitie between us known Why hee should mean me ill or seek to harme Was I to have never parted from thy side As good have grown there still a liveless Rib. Being as I am why didst not thou the Head Command â—…e absolutely not to go Going into such danger as thou saidst Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay Nay didst permit approve and fair dismiss Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent Neither had I transgress'd nor thou with mee To whom then first incenst Adam repli'd Is this the Love is this the recompence Of mine to thee ingrateful Eve exprest Immutable when thou wert lost not I Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee And am I now upbraided as the cause Of thy transgressing not enough severe It seems in thy restraint what could I more I warn'd thee I admonish'd thee foretold The danger and the lurking Enemie That lay in wait beyond this had bin force And force upon free Will hath here no place But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger or to finde Matter of glorious trial and perhaps I also err'd in overmuch admiring What seemd in thee so perfet that I thought No evil durst attempt thee but I rue That errour now which is become my crime And thou th' accuser Thus it shall befall Him who to worth in Women overtrusting Lets her Will rule restraint she will not brook And left to her self if evil thence ensue Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours but neither self-condemning And of thir vain contest appeer'd no end The end of the Eighth Book PARADISE LOST BOOK IX MEanwhile the hainous and despightfull act Of Satan done in Paradise and how Hee in the Serpent had perverted Eve Her Husband shee to taste the fatall fruit Was known in Heav'n for what can scape the Eye Of God All-seeing or deceave his Heart Omniscient who in all things wise and just Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde Of Man with strength entire and free Will arm'd Complete to have discover'd and repulst Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend For still they knew and ought to have still remember'd The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit Whoever tempted which they not obeying Incurr'd what could they less the penaltie And manifold in sin deserv'd to fall Up into Heav'n from Paradise in hast Th' Angelic Guards ascended mute and sad For Man for of his state by this they knew Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln Entrance unseen Soon as th' unwelcome news From 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
and spare His Armes clung to his Ribs his Leggs entwining Each other till supplanted down he fell A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone Reluctant but in vaine a greater power Now rul'd him punisht in the shape he sin'd According to his doom he would have spoke But hiss for hiss returnd with forked tongue To forked tongue for now were all transform'd Alike to Serpents all as accessories To his bold Riot dreadful was the din Of hissing through the Hall thick swarming now With complicated monsters head and taile Scorpion and Asp and Amphisbaenâ—… dire Cerastes hornd Hydrus and Ellops drear And Dipsas Not so thick swarm'd once the Soil Bedropt with blood of Gorgon or the Isle Ophiusa but still greatest hee the midst Now Dragon grown larger then whom the Sun Ingenderd in the Pythian Vale on slime Huge Python and his Power no less he seem'd Above the rest still to retain they all Him follow'd issuing forth to th' open Field Where all yet left of that revolted Rout Heav'n-fall'n in station stood or just array Sublime with expectation when to see In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief They saw but other sight instead a crowd Of ugly Serpents horror on them fell And horrid sympathie for what they saw They felt themselvs now changing down thir arms Down fell both Spear and Shield down they as fast And the dire hiss renew'd and the dire form Catcht by Contagion like in punishment As in thir crime Thus was th' applause they meant Turnd to exploding hiss triumph to shame Cast on themselves from thir own mouths There stood A Grove hard by sprung up with this thir change His will who reigns above to aggravate Thir penance laden with fair Fruit like that VVhich grew in Paradise the bait of Eve Us'd by the Tempter on that prospect strange Thir earnest eyes they fix'd imagining For one forbidden Tree a multitude Now ris'n to work them furder woe or shame Yet parcht with scalding thurst and hunger 〈◊〉 Though to delude them sent could not abstain But on they rould in heaps and up the Trees Climbing sat thicker then the snakie locks That curld Megaera greedily they pluck'd The Frutage fair to sight like that which grew Neer that bituminous Lake where Sodom flam'd This more delusive not the touch but taste Deceav'd they fondly thinking to allay Thir appetite with gust instead of Fruit Chewd bitter Ashes which th' offended taste VVith spattering noise rejected oft they assayd Hunger and thirst constraining drugd as oft VVith hatefullest disrelish writh'd thir jaws VVith soot and cinders fill'd so oft they fell Into the same illusion not as Man Whom they triumph'd once lapst Thus were they plagu'd And worn with Famin long and ceasless hiss Till thir lost shape permitted they resum'd Yearly enjoynd some say to undergo This annual humbling certain number'd days To dash thir pride and joy for Man seduc't However some tradition they dispers'd Among the Heathen of thir purchase got And Fabl'd how the Serpent whom they calld Ophion with Eurynome the wide Encroaching Eve perhaps had first the rule Of high Olympus thence by Saturn driv'n And Ops ere yet Dictaean Jove was born Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair Too soon arriv'd Sin there in power before Once actual now in body and to dwell Habitual habitant behind her Death Close following pace for pace not mounted yet On his pale Horse to whom Sin thus began Second of Satan sprung all conquering Death What thinkst thou of our Empire now though earnd With travail difficult not better farr Then stil at Hels dark threshold to have sate watch Unnam'd undreaded and thy self half starv'd Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answerd soon To mee who with eternal Famin pine Alike is Hell or Paradise or Heaven There best where most with ravin I may meet Which here though plenteous all too little seems To stuff this Maw this vast unhide-bound Corps To whom th' incestuous Mother thus repli'd Thou therefore on these Herbs and Fruits Flours Feed first on each Beast next and Fish and Fowle No homely morsels and whatever thing The 〈◊〉 of Time mowes down devour unspar'd Till I in Man residing through the Race His thoughts his looks words actions all infect And 〈◊〉 him thy last and sweetest prey This said they both betook them several wayes Both to destroy 〈◊〉 unimmortal make All kinds and for destruction to mature Sooner or later which th' Almightie seeing From his transcendent Seat the Saints among To those bright Orders utterd thus his voice See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance To waste and havoc yonder VVorld which I So fair and good created and had still Kept in that state had not the folly of Man Let in these wastful Furies who impute Folly to mee so doth the Prince of Hell And his Adherents that with so much ease I suffer them to enter and possess A place so heav'nly and conniving seem To gratifie my scornful Enemies That laugh as if transported with some fit Of Passion I to them had quitted all At random yeilded up to their misrule And know not that I call'd and drew them thither My Hell-hounds to lick up the draff and filth Which mans polluting Sin with taint hath shed On what was pure till cramm'd and gorg'd nigh burst With suckt and glutted offal at one sling Of thy victorious Arm well-pleasing Son Both Sin and Death and yawning Grave at last Through Chaos hurld obstruct the mouth of Hell For ever and seal up his ravenous Jawes Then Heav'n and Earth renewd shall be made pure To sanctitie that shall receive no staine Till then the Curse pronounc't on both precedes Hee ended and the heav'nly Audience loud Sung Halleluia as the sound of Seas Through multitude that sung Just are thy ways Righteous are thy Decrees on all thy Works Who can extenuate thee Next to the Son Destin'd restorer of Mankind by whom New Heav'n and Earth shall to the Ages rise Or down from Heav'n descend Such was thir song While the Creator calling forth by name His mightie Angels gave them several charge As sorted best with present things The Sun Had first his precept so to move so shine As might affect the Earth with cold and heat Scarce tollerable and from the North to call Decrepit Winter from the South to bring Solstitial summers heat To the blanc Moone Her office they prescrib'd to th' other five Thir planetarie motions and aspects In Sextile Square and Trine and Opposite Of noxious efficacie and when to joyne In Synod unbenigne and taught the fixt Thir influence malignant when to showre Which of them rising with the Sun or falling Should prove tempestuous To the Winds they set Thir corners when with bluster to confound Sea Aire and Shoar the Thunder when to rowle With terror through the dark Aereal Hall Some say he bid his Angels turne ascanse The Poles of Earth twice ten degrees and more From the Suns Axle
that Paradise to dwell The Law I gave to Nature him forbids Those pure immortal Elements that know No gross no unharmoneous mixture foule Eject him tainted now and purge him off As a distemper gross to aire as gross And mortal food as may dispose him best For dissolution wrought by Siâ—… that first Distemperd all things and of incorrupt Corrupted I at first with two fair gifts Created him endowd with Happiness And Immortalitie that fondly lost This other serv'd but to eternize woe Till I provided Death so Death becomes His final remedie and after Life Tri'd in sharp tribulation and refin'd By Faith and faithful works to second Life Wak't in the renovation of the just Resignes him up with Heav'n and Earth renewd But let us call to Synod all the Blest Through Heav'ns wide bounds from them I will not hide My judgments how with Mankind I proceed As how with peccant Angels late they saw And in thir state though firm stood more confirmd He ended and the Son gave signal high To the bright Minister that watchd hee blew His Trumpet heard in Oreb since perhaps When God descended and perhaps once more To sound at general doom Th' Angelic blast Filld all the Regions from thir blissful Bowrs Of Amarantin Shade Fountain or Spring By the waters of Life where ere they sate In fellowships of joy the Sons of Light Hasted resorting to the Summons high And took thir Seats till from his Throne supream Th' Almighty thus pronounc'd his sovran Will. O Sons like one of us Man is become To know both Good and Evil since his taste Of that defended Fruit but let him boast His knowledge of Good lost and Evil got Happier had it suffic'd him to have known Good by it self and Evil not at all He sorrows now repents and prayes contrite My motions in him longer then they move His heart I know how variable and vain Self-left Least therefore his now bolder hand Reach also of the Tree of Life and eat And live for ever dream at least to live For ever to remove him I decree And send him from the Garden forth to Till The Ground whence he was taken fitter soile Michael this my behest have thou in charge Take to thee from among the Cherubim Thy choice of flaming warriours least the Fiend Or in behalf of Man or to invade Vacant possession som new trouble raise Hast thee and from the Paradise of God Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair From hallowd ground th' unholie and denounce To them and to thir Progenie from thence Perpetual baniâ—…ent Yet least they faint At the sad Sentence rigorously urg'd For I behold theâ—… soâ—…nd and with tears Bewailing thir excess all terror hide If patiently thy bidding they obey Dismiss them not disconsolate reveale To Adam what shall come in future dayes As I shall thee enlighten intermix My Cov'nant in the Womans seed renewd So send them forth though sorrowing yet in peace And on the East side of the Garden place Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbes Cherubic watch and of a Sword the flame Wide waving all approach farr off to fright And guard all passage to the Tree of Life Least Paradise a receptacle prove To Spirits foule and all my Trees thir prey With whose stol'n Fruit Man once more to delude He ceas'd and th' Archangelic Power prepar'd For swist descent with him the Cohort bright Of watchful Cherubim four faces each Had like a double Janus all thir shape Spangl'd with eyes more numerous then those Of Argus and more wakeful then to drouze Charm'd with Arcadian Pipe the Pastoral Reed Of Hermes or his opiate Rod. Mean while To resalute the World with sacred Light Lâ—…cothea wak'd and with fresh dews imbalmd The Earth wâ—…en Adam and first Matron Eve Had ended now thir Orisons and found Strength added from above new hope to spring Out of despaire joy but with fear yet linkâ—… Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewd Eve easily may Faith admit that all The good which we enjoy from Heav'n descends But that from us ought should ascend to Heav'n So prevalent as to concerne the mind Of God high-blest or to incline his will Hard to belief may 〈◊〉 yet this will Prayer Or one short sigh of 〈◊〉 breath up-borne Ev'n to the Seat of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I saught By Prayer th' offended Deitie co appease Kneel'd and before him humbl'd all my heart Methought I saw him placable and milâ—… Bending hiâ—…â—…are perswasion in me grew That I was heard with favour peace returnd Home to my brest and to my memorie His promise that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe Which then not minded in dismay yet now Assures me that the bitterness of death Is past and we shall live Whence Haile to thee Eve rightly call'd Mother of all Mankind Mother of all things living since by thee Man is to live and all things live for Man To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek Ill worthie I such title should belong To me transgressour who for thee ordaind A help became thy sâ—…are to mee reproach Rather belongs distrust and all dispraise But infinite in pardon was my Judge That I who first brought Death on all am grac't The sourse of life next favourable tâ—…u Who highly thus to entitle me voutsat 〈◊〉 Farr otheâ—… name deserving But the Field To labour calls us now with sweat impos'd Though after sleepless Night for see the Morn All unconcern'd with our unrest begins Her rosie progress smiling let us â—…orth I never from thy side henceforth to stray Wherere our days work lies though now enjoind Laborious till day droop while herâ—… we dwell What can be toilsom in these pleasâ—…nt Walkes Here let us live though in fall'n state câ—…ntent So spake so wish'd much-humbl'd Eve but Fate Subscrib'd not Nature first gave Signs imprest On Bird Beast Aire Aire suddenly eclips'd After short blush of Morn nigh in her sight The Bird of Jove stoopt from his aerie tour Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods First Hunter then pursu'd a gentle brace Goodliest of all the Forrest Hart and Hinde Direct to th' Eastern Gate was bent thir flight Adam observ'd and with his Eye the chase Pursuing not unmov'd to Eve thus spake O Eve some furder change awaits us nigh Which Heav'n by these mute signs in Nature shews Forerunners of his purpose or to warn Us haply too secure of our discharge From penaltie because from death releast Sâ—…e days how long and what till then our life Who knows or more then this that we are dust And thither must return and be no more VVhy else this double object in our sight Of slight pursu'd in th' Air and ore the ground One way the self-same hour why in the East Darkness ere Dayes mid-course and Morning light More orient in yon VVestern Cloud that draws O're the blew Firmament a radiant white And slow descends with
somthing heav'nly fraught He err'd not for by this the heav'nly Bands Down from a Skie of Jasper lighted now In Paradise and on a Hill made alt A glorious Apparition had not doubt And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adams eye Not that more glorious when the Angels met Jacob in Mahanaim where he saw The sield Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd In Dothan cover'd with a Camp of Fire Against the Sâ—…rian King who to surprize One man Assassin-like had levied Warr Warr unproclam'd The Princely Hierarch In thir bright stand there left his Powers to seise Possession of the Gardâ—…n hee alone To finde where Adam shelterd took his way Not unperceav'd of Adam who to Eve While the great Visitant approachd thus spake Eve now expect great tidings which perhaps Of us will soon determin or impose New Laws to be observ'd fâ—…r I descrie From yonder blazing Cloud â—…hat veils the Hill One of the heav'nly Host and by his Gate None of the meanest some great Potentate Or of the Thrones above such Majestie Invests him coming yet not terrible That I should fear nor sociably mild As Raphael that I should much confide But solemn and sublime whom not to offend With reverence I must meet and thou retire He ended and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh Not in his shape Celestial but as Man Clad to meet Man over his lucid Armes A militarie Vest of purple flowd Livelier then Meliboean or the graine Of Sarra worn by Kings and Hero's old In time of Truce Iris had dipt the wooff His starrie Helme unbuckl'd shew'd him prime In Manhood where Youth ended by his side As in a glistering Zodiac hung the Sword Satans dire dread and in his hand the Spear Adam bowd low hee Kingly from his State Inclin'd not but his coming thus declar'd Adam Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard and Death Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress Defeated of his seisure many dayes Giv'n thee of Grace wherein thou may'st repent And one bad act with many deeds well done Mayst cover well may then thy Lord appeas'd Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claime But longer in this Paradise to dwell Permits not to remove thee I am come And send thee from the Garden forth to till The ground whence thou wast tak'n fitter Soile He added not for Adam at the newes Heart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow stood That all his senses bound Eve who unseen Yet all had heard with audible lament Discover'd soon the place of her retire O unexspected stroke worse then of Death Must I thus leave thee Paradise thus leave Thee Native Soile these happie Walks and Shades Fit haunt of Gods where I had hope to spend Quiet though sad the respit of that day That must be mortal to us both O flours That never will in other Climate grow My early visitation and my last At Eev'n which I bred up with tender hand From the first op'ning bud and gave ye Names Who now shall reare ye to the Sun or ranke Your Tribes and water from th' ambrosial Fount Thee lastly nuptial Bowre by mee adornd With what to sight or smell was sweet from thee How shall I part and whither wander down Into a lower World to this obscure And wilde how shall we breath in other Aire Less pure accustomd to immortal Fruits Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde Lament not Eve but patiently resigne What justly thou hast lost nor set thy heart Thus over fond on that which is not thine Thy going is not lonely with thee goes Thy Husband him to follow thou art bound Where he abides think there thy native soile Adam by this from the cold sudden damp Recovering and his scatterd spirits returnd To Michael thus his humble words addressd Celestial whether among the Thrones or nam'd Of them the Highest for such of shape may seem Prince above Princes gently hast thou tould Thy message which might else in telling wound And in performing end us what besides Of sorrow and dejection and despair Our frailtie can sustain thy tidings bring Departure from this happy place our sweet Recess and onely consolation left Familiar to our eyes all places else In hospitable appeer and desolate Nor knowing us nor known and if by prayer Incessant I could hope to change the will Of him who all things can I would not cease To wearie him with my assiduous cries But prayer against his absolute Decree No more availes then breath against the winde Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth Therefore to his great bidding I submit This most aâ—…icts â—…e that departing hence As from his face I shall be hid deprivd His blessed count'nance here I could frequent With worship place by place where he voutsaf'd Presence Divine and to my Sons relate On this Mount he appeerd under this Tree Stood visible among these Pines his voice I heard here with him at this Fountain talk'd So many grateful Altars I would reare Of grassie Terfe and pile up every Stone Of lustre from the brook in memorie Or monument to Ages and thereon Offer sweet smelling Gumms Fruits and Flours In yonder nether World where shall I seek His bright appearances or footstep trace For though I fled him angrie yet recall'd To life prolongd and promisd Race I now Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts Of glory and farr off his steps adore To whom thus Michael with regard benigne Adam thou know'st Heav'n his and all the Earth Not this Rock onely his Omnipresence fills Land Sea and Aire and every kinde that lives Fomented by his virtual power and warmd All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule No despicable gift surmiâ—… not then His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd Of Paradise or Eden this had been Perhaps thy Capital Seate from whence had spred All generations and had hither come From all the ends of th' Earth to celebrate And reverence thee thir great Progenitor But this praeeminence thou hast lost brought dowâ—… To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine God is as here and will be found alike Present and of his presence many a â—…gne Still following thee still compassing thâ—…e round With goodness and paternal Love his Face Express and of his steps the track Divine Which that thou mayst beleeve and be confirmd Ere thou from hence depart know I am sent â—…o shew thee what shall come in future dayes â—…o thee and to thy Ofspring good with bad Expect to hear supernal Grace contending With sinfulness of Men thereby to learn True patience and to temper joy with fear And pious sorrow equally enur'd By moderation either â—…ate to beare Prosperous or adverse so shalt thou lead Safest thy life and best prepar'd endure Thy mortal passage when it comes Ascend This Hillâ—… let Eve for I have drencht her eyes Here sleep â—…elow while
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 surer 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 that 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 Man deprav'd Griev'd at his heart when looking down he saw The whole Earth â—…ill'd with violence and all flesh Corrupting each thirway yet those remoov'd Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight That he relents not to blot out mankind And makes a Covenant never to destroy The Earth again by flood nor let the Sea Surpass his bounds nor Rain to drown the World With Man therein or Beast but when he brings Over the Earth a Cloud will therein set His triple-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 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 Winé-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 not 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 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 but Man over men He made not Lord such title to himself Reserving human left from human free But this Usurper his encroachment proud Stayes not on Man to God his Tower intends Siege and defiance Wretched man what food Will he convey up thither to sustain Himself and his rash Armie where thin Aire Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gross And famish him of Breath if not of Bread To whom thus Michael Justly thou abhorr'st That Son who on the quiet state of men Such trouble brought affecting to subdue Rational Libertie yet know withall Since thy original lapse true Libertie Is lost which alwayes with right Reason dwells Twinn'd and from her hath no dividual being Reason in man obscur'd or not obeyd Immediately inordinate desires And upstart Passions caâ—…ch the Government From Reason and to fervitude reduce Man till then free Therefore since hee permits Within himself unworthie Powers to reign Over free Reason God in Judgement just Subjects him from without to violent Lords Who oft as undeservedly enthrall His outward freedom Tyrannie must be Though to the Tyrant thereby no excuse Yet somtimes Nations will decline so low From vertue which is reason that no wrong But Justice and some fatal curse annext Deprives them of thir outward libertie Thir inward lost Witness th' irreverent Son Of him who built the Ark who for the shame Don to his Father heard this heavie curse Servant of Servants on his vitious Race Thus will this latter as the former World Still tend from bad to worse till God at last Wearied with their iniquities withdraw His presence from among them and avert His holy Eyes resolving from thenceforth To leave them to thir own polluted wayes And one peculiar Nation to select From all the rest of whom to be invok'd A Nation from one faithful man to spring Him on this side Euphrates yet residing Bred
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 refide 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 Proclaming 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 But 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
enormous brood and birthright seis'd By younger Saturn he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's Son like measure found So Jove usurping reign'd these first in Creet And Ida known thence on the Snowy top Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle 〈◊〉 Thir highest Heav'n or on the Delphian Cliff Or in Dodona and through all the bounds Of Doric Land or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian Fields And ore the Celtic roam'd the utmost Isles All these and more came flocking but with looks Down cast and damp yet such wherein appear'd Obscure som glimps of joy to have found thir chief Not in despair to have found themselves not lost In loss it self which on his count'nance cast Like doubtful hue but he his wonted pride Soon recollecting with high words that bore Semblance of worth not substance gently rais'd Their fainted courage and dispel'd their fears Then strait commands that at the warlike sound Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard His mighty Standard that proud honour claim'd Azazel as his right a Cherube tall Who forth with from the glittering Staff unfurld Th' Imperial Ensign which full high advanc't Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz'd Seraphic arms and Trophies all the while Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds At which the universal Host upsent A shout that tore Hells Concave and beyond Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night All in a moment through the gloom were seen Ten thousand Banners rise into the Air With Orient Colours waving with them rose A Forrest huge of Spears and thronging Helms Appear'd and serried Shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable Anon they move In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood Of Flutes and soft Recorders sueh as rais'd To highth of noblest temper Hero's old Arming to Battel and in stead of rage Deliberate valour breath'd firm and unmov'd With dread of death to flight or foul retreat Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage With solemn touches troubl'd thoughts and chase Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain From mortal or immortal minds Thus they Breathing united force with fixed thought Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes that charm'd Thir painful steps o're the burnt soyle and now Advanc't in view they stand a horrid Front Of dreadful length and dazling Arms in guise Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief Had to impose He through the armed Files Darts his experienc't eye and soon traverse The whole Battalion views thir order due Thir visages and stature as of Gods Thir number last he summs And now his heart Distends with pride and hardning in his strength Glories For never since created man Met such imbodied force as nam'd with these Could merit more then that small infantry Warr'd on by Cranes though all the Giant brood Of Phlegra with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd That fought at Theb's and Ilium on each side Mixt with auxiliar Gods and what resounds In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son Begirt with British and Armoric Knights And all who since Baptiz'd or Infidel Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban 〈◊〉 or Marocco or Trebisond Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore When Charlemain with all his Peerage fell By Fontarabbia Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess yet observ'd Thir dread Commander he above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent Stood like a Towr his form had yet not lost All her Original brightness nor appear'd Less then Arch Angel ruind and th' excess Of Glory obscur'd As when the Sun new ris'n Looks through the Horizontal misty Air Shorn of his Beams or from behind the Moon In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds On half the Nations and with fear of change Perplexes Monarchs Dark'n'd so yet shon Above them all th' Arch Angel but his face Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht and care Sat on his faded cheek but under Browes Of dauntless courage and considerate Pride Waiting revenge cruel his eye but cast Signs of remorse and passion to behold The fellows of his crime the followers rather Far other once beheld in bliss condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't Of Heav'n and from Eternal Splendors flung For his revolt yet faithfull how they stood Thir Glory witherd As when Heavens Fire Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks or Mountain Pines With singed top their stately growth though bare Stands on the blasted Heath He now prepar'd To speak whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend From Wing to Wing and half enclose him round With all his Peers attention held them mute Thrice he assayd and thrice in spite of scorn Tears such as Angels weep burst forth at last Words interwove with sighs found out their way O Myriads of immortal Spirits O Powers Matchless but with th' Almighty and that strife Was not inglorious though th' event was dire As this place testifies and this dire change Hateful to utter but what power of mind Foreseeing or presaging from the Depth Of knowledge past or present 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 faile to re-ascend Self-rais'd and repossess their native seat For me 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 Worlds whereof so rife There went a fame in Heay'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 prie shall be perhaps Our first eruption thither or elsewhere For this Infernal Pit shall never hold Caelestial Spirits in Bondage nor th' Abysse Long under darkness cover But these thoughts Full Counsel must mature Peace is despaird For who can think Submission Warr then Warr 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 arm 's Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top