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
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
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
Eve Down drop'd and all the faded Roses shed Speechless he stood and pale till thus at length First to himself he inward silence broke O fairest of Creation last and best Of all Gods Works Creature in whom excell'd Whatever can to sight or thought be formd Holy divine good amiable or sweet How art thou lost how on a sudden lost Defac't deflourd and now to Death devote Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress The strict forbiddance how to violate The sacred Fruit forbidd'n som cursed fraud Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee yet unknown And mee with thee hath ruind for with thee Certain my resolution is to Die How can I live without thee how forgoe Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn Should God create another Eve and I Another Rib afford yet loss of thee Would never from my heart no no I feel The Link of Nature draw me Flesh of Flesh Bone of my Bone thou art and from thy State Mine never shall be parted bliss or woe So having said as one from sad dismay Recomforted and after thoughts disturbd Submitting to what seemd remediless Thus in calme mood his Words to Eve he turnd Bold deed thou hast presum'd adventrous Eve And peril great provok't who thus hast dar'd Had it bin onely coveting to Eye That sacred Fruit sacred to abstinence Much more to taste it under banne to touch But past who can recall or don undoe Not God Omnipotent nor Fate yet so Perhaps thou shalt not Die perhaps the Fact Is not so hainous now forâ—…tasted Fruit Profan'd first by the Serpent by him first Made common and unhallowd ere our taste Nor yet on him found deadly he yet lives Lives as thou saidst and gaines to live as Man Higher degree of Life inducement strong To us as likely tasting to attaine Proportional ascent which cannot be But to be Gods or Angels Demi-gods Nor can I think that God Creator wise Though threatning will in earnest so destroy Us his prime Creatures dignisi'd so high Set over all his Works which in our Fall For us created needs with us must faile Dependent made so God shall uncreate Be frustrate do undo and labour loose Not well conceav'd of God who though his Power Creation could repeate yet would be loath Us to abolish least the Adversary Triumph and say Fickle their State whom God Most Favors who can please him long Mee first He ruind now Mankind whom will he next Matter of scorne not to be given the Foe However I with thee have fixt my Lot Certain to undergoe like doom if Death Consort with thee Death is to mee as Life So forcible within my heart I feel The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne My own in thee for what thou art is mine Our State cannot be severd we are one One Flesh to loose thee were to loose my self So Adam and thus Eve to him repli'd O glorious trial of exceeding Love Illustrious evidence example high Iâ—…gaging me to emulate but short Of thy perfection how shall I attaine Adam from whose deare side I boast me sprung And gladly of our Union heare thee speak One Heart one Soul in both whereof good prooff This day affords declaring theè resolvd Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread Shall separate us linkt in Love so deare To undergoe with mee one Guilt one Crime If any be of tasting this fair Fruit Whose vertue for of good still good proceeds Direct or by occasion hath presented This happie trial of thy Love which else So eminently never had bin known Were it I thought Death menac't would ensue This my attempt I would sustain alone The worst and not perswade thee rather die Deserted then oblige thee with a fact Pernicious to thy Peace chiefly assur'd Remarkably so late of thy so true So faithful Love unequald but I feel Farr otherwise th' event not Death but Life Augmented op'nd Eyes new Hopes new Joyes Taste so Divine that what of sweet before Hath toucht my sense flat seems to this and harsh On my experience Adam freely taste And fear of Death deliver to the Windes So saying she embrac'd him and for joy Tenderly wept much won that he his Love Had so enobl'd as of choice to incurr Divine displeasure for her sake or Death In recompence for such compliance bad Such recompence best merits from the bough She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit With liberal hand he scrupl'd not to eat Against his better knowledge not deceav'd But fondly overcome with Femal charm Earth trembl'd from her entrails as again In pangs and Nature gave a second groan Skie lowr'd and muttering Thunder som sad drops Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin Original while Adam took no thought Eating his fill nor Eve to iterate Her former trespass fear'd the more to soothe Him with her lov'd societie that now As with new Wine intoxicated both They swim in mirth and fansie that they feel Diviniâ—…e within them breeding wings Where with to scorn the Eaâ—…h but that false Fruit Farr other operation first displaid Carnal desire enâ—…ming hee on Eve Began to cast lascivious Eyes she him As want only repaid in Lust they burne Till Adam â—…us â—…gan Eve to dalliance move Eve now I see thou art exact of taste And elegant of Sapience no small part Since to each meaning savour we apply And Palate call judicious I the praise Yeild thee so well this day thou hast purvey'd Much pleasure we have lost while we abstain'd From this delightful Fruit nor known till now True relish tasting if such pleasure be In things to us forbidden it might be wish'd For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten But come so well refresh't now let us play As meet is after such delicious Fare For never did thy Beautie since the day I saw thee first and wedded thee adorn'd With all perfections so enâ—…ame my sense With ardor to enjoy thee â—…airer now Then ever bountie of this vertuous Tree So said he and forbore not glance or toy Of amorous intent well understood Of Eve whose Eye darted contagious Fire Her hand he seis'd and to a shadie bank Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd He led her nothing loath Flours were the Couch Pansies and Violets and Aâ—…phodel And Hyacinth Earths freshâ—…st softest lap There they thir â—…ill of Love and Loves disport Took largely of thir mutual guilt the Seale The â—…olace of thir sin till dewie sleep Oppress'd them wearied with thir amorous play Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit That with exhile rating vapour bland About thir spiâ—…ts had plaid and inmost powers Made erre was now exhal'd and groâ—…er sleep Bred of unkindly fumes with conscious dreams Encumberd now had leâ—…t them up they rose As from unrest and each the other 〈◊〉 Soon found thir Eyes how opâ—…d and thir minds How dark'nd iâ—…ocence that as a vâ—…le Had â—…dow'd them from knowing 〈◊〉 was gon Just confidence