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Literature. John Milton 1608-1674 Paradise Lost (The 10-book first edition, published in 1667) Paradise Lost (1667). Milton, John Scolar Press. Note 1: this text is a copy of the first edition of Milton's Paradise Lost (1667), and will differ in significant ways from the revised version (1674); most obviously, the 1667 version is divided into ten and not twelve books, and lacks certain revisions made in 1674. Users need to remember that this text retains the lexicographical and typographical features of the first edition, including all uses of "vv" for "w", and all the variations in spelling typical of a seventeenth-century edition. Note 2: The Scolar edition is a "hybrid" facsimile: it is neither a diplomatic facsimile of one copy nor an eclectic facsimile of an "ideal" copy. Instead, the Scolar editors have reproduced a copy owned by the press, and the 85 times they came up against legibility problems with their copy, they substituted pages from five different copies held by the British Museum. Commercial use prohibited. Published: 1667 English fiction poetry. Book 1 1: Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit 2: Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast 3: Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, 4: With loss of EDEN, till one greater Man 5: Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, 6: Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top 7: Of OREB, or of SINAI, didst inspire 8: That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed, 9: In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth 10: Rose out of CHAOS: Or if SION Hill 11: Delight thee more, and SILOA'S Brook that flow'd 12: Fast by the Oracle of God; I thence 13: Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song, 14: That with no middle flight intends to soar 15: Above th' AONIAN Mount, while it pursues 16: Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime. 17: And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer 18: Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure, 19: Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first 20: Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread 21: Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss 22: And mad'st it pregnant: What in me is dark 23: Illumine, what is low raise and support; 24: That to the highth of this great Argument 25: I may assert th' Eternal Providence, 26: And justifie the wayes of God to men. 27: Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view 28: Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause 29: Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State, 30: Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off 31: From their Creator, and transgress his Will 32: For one restraint, Lords of the World besides? 33: Who first seduc'd them to that fowl revolt? 34: Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile 35: Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd 36: The Mother of Mankinde, what time his Pride 37: Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host 38: Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring 39: To set himself in Glory above his Peers, 40: He trusted to have equal'd the most High, 41: If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim 42: Against the Throne and Monarchy of God 43: Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud 44: With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power 45: Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie 46: With hideous ruine and combustion down 47: To bottomless perdition, there to dwell 48: In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, 49: Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. 50: Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night 51: To mortal men, he with his horrid crew 52: Lay vanquisht, rowling in the fiery Gulfe 53: Confounded though immortal: But his doom 54: Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought 55: Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 56: Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes 57: That witness'd huge affliction and dismay 58: Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate: 59: At once as far as Angels kenn he views 60: The dismal Situation waste and wilde, 61: A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round 62: As one great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flames 63: No light, but rather darkness visible 64: Serv'd only to discover sights of woe, 65: Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 66: And rest can never dwell, hope never comes 67: That comes to all; but torture without end 68: Still urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed 69: With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd: 70: Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd 71: For those rebellious, here their Prison ordain'd 72: In utter darkness, and their portion set 73: As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n 74: As from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole. 75: O how unlike the place from whence they fell! 76: There the companions of his fall, o'rewhelm'd 77: With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, 78: He soon discerns, and weltring by his side 79: One next himself in power, and next in crime, 80: Long after known in PALESTINE, and nam'd 81: BEELZEBUB. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, 82: And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words 83: Breaking the horrid silence thus began. 84: If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd 85: From him, who in the happy Realms of Light 86: Cloth'd with transcendent brightnes didst outshine 87: Myriads though bright: If he whom mutual league, 88: United thoughts and counsels, equal hope, 89: And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize, 90: Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd 91: In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest 92: From what highth fal'n, so much the stronger provd 93: He with his Thunder: and till then who knew 94: The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those 95: Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage 96: Can else inflict do I repent or change, 97: Though chang'd in outward lustre; that fixt mind 98: And high disdain, from sence of injur'd merit, 99: That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend, 100: And to the fierce contention brought along 101: Innumerable force of Spirits arm'd 102: That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, 103: His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd 104: In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav'n, 105: And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? 106: All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, 107: And study of revenge, immortal hate, 108: And courage never to submit or yield: 109: And what is else not to be overcome? 110: That Glory never shall his wrath or might 111: Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace 112: With suppliant knee, and deifie his power 113: Who from the terrour of this Arm so late 114: Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed, 115: That were an ignominy and shame beneath 116: This downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods 117: And this Empyreal substance cannot fail, 118: Since through experience of this great event 119: In Arms not worse, in foresight much advanc't, 120: We may with more successful hope resolve 121: To wage by force or guile eternal Warr 122: Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe, 123: Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy 124: Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n. 125: So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain, 126: Vaunting aloud, but rackt with deep despare: 127: And him thus answer'd soon his bold Compeer. 128: O Prince, O Chief of many Throned Powers, 129: That led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr 130: Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds 131: Fearless, endanger'd Heav'ns perpetual King; 132: And put to proof his high Supremacy, 133: Whether upheld by strength, or Chance, or Fate, 134: Too well I see and rue the dire event, 135: That with sad overthrow and foul defeat 136: Hath lost us Heav'n, and all this mighty Host 137: In horrible destruction laid thus low, 138: As far as Gods and Heav'nly Essences 139: Can Perish: for the mind and spirit remains 140: Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 141: Though all our Glory extinct, and happy state 142: Here swallow'd up in endless misery. 143: But what if he our Conquerour, (whom I now 144: Of force believe Almighty, since no less 145: Then such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours) 146: Have left us this our spirit and strength intire 147: Strongly to suffer and support our pains, 148: That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, 149: Or do him mightier service as his thralls 150: By right of Warr, what e're his business be 151: Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire, 152: Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep; 153: What can it then avail though yet we feel 154: Strength undiminisht, or eternal being 155: To undergo eternal punishment? 156: Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd. 157: Fall'n Cherube, to be weak is miserable 158: Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure, 159: To do ought good never will be our task, 160: But ever to do ill our sole delight, 161: As being the contrary to his high will 162: Whom we resist. If then his Providence 163: Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, 164: Our labour must be to pervert that end, 165: And out of good still to find means of evil; 166: Which oft times may succeed, so as perhaps 167: Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb 168: His inmost counsels from their destind aim. 169: But see the angry Victor hath recall'd 170: His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit 171: Back to the Gates of Heav'n: The Sulphurous Hail 172: Shot after us in storm, oreblown hath laid 173: The fiery Surge, that from the Precipice 174: Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling, and the Thunder, 175: Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage, 176: Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now 177: To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. 178: Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn, 179: Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. 180: Seest thou yon dreary Plain, forlorn and wilde, 181: The seat of desolation, voyd of light, 182: Save what the glimmering of these livid flames 183: Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend 184: From off the tossing of these fiery waves, 185: There rest, if any rest can harbour there, 186: And reassembling our afflicted Powers, 187: Consult how we may henceforth most offend 188: Our Enemy, our own loss how repair, 189: How overcome this dire Calamity, 190: What reinforcement we may gain from Hope, 191: If not what resolution from despare. 192: Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate 193: With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes 194: That sparkling blaz'd, his other Parts besides 195: Prone on the Flood, extended long and large 196: Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge 197: As whom the Fables name of monstrous size, 198: TITANIAN, or EARTH-BORN, that warr'd on JOVE, 199: BRIARIOS or TYPHON, whom the Den 200: By ancient TARSUS held, or that Sea-beast 201: LEVIATHAN, which God of all his works 202: Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream: 203: Him haply slumbring on the NORWAY foam 204: The Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff, 205: Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell, 206: With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind 207: Moors by his side under the Lee, while Night 208: Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes: 209: So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay 210: Chain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thence 211: Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will 212: And high permission of all-ruling Heaven 213: Left him at large to his own dark designs, 214: That with reiterated crimes he might 215: Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 216: Evil to others, and enrag'd might see 217: How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth 218: Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn 219: On Man by him seduc't, but on himself 220: Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd. 221: Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool 222: His mighty Stature; on each hand the flames 223: Drivn backward slope their pointing spires, & rowld 224: In billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid Vale. 225: Then with expanded wings he stears his flight 226: Aloft, incumbent on the dusky Air 227: That felt unusual weight, till on dry Land 228: He lights, if it were Land that ever burn'd 229: With solid, as the Lake with liquid fire; 230: And such appear'd in hue, as when the force 231: Of subterranean wind transports a Hill 232: Torn from PELORUS, or the shatter'd side 233: Of thundring AETNA, whose combustible 234: And fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire, 235: Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds, 236: And leave a singed bottom all involv'd 237: With stench and smoak: Such resting found the sole 238: Of unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate, 239: Both glorying to have scap't the STYGIAN flood 240: As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, 241: Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 242: Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime, 243: Said then the lost Arch Angel, this the seat 244: That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom 245: For that celestial light? Be it so, since hee 246: Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid 247: What shall be right: fardest from him is best 248: Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream 249: Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields 250: Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail 251: Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell 252: Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings 253: A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time. 254: The mind is its own place, and in it self 255: Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. 256: What matter where, if I be still the same, 257: And what I should be, all but less then hee 258: Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least 259: We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built 260: Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: 261: Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce 262: To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: 263: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n. 264: But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, 265: Th' associates and copartners of our loss 266: Lye thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool, 267: And call them not to share with us their part 268: In this unhappy Mansion, or once more 269: With rallied Arms to try what may be yet 270: Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? 271: So SATAN spake, and him BEELZEBUB 272: Thus answer'd. Leader of those Armies bright, 273: Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld, 274: If once they hear that voyce, their liveliest pledge 275: Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 276: In worst extreams, and on the perilous edge 277: Of battel when it rag'd, in all assaults 278: Their surest signal, they will soon resume 279: New courage and revive, though now they lye 280: Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire, 281: As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd, 282: No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious highth. 283: He scarce had ceas't when the superiour Fiend 284: Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield 285: Ethereal temper, massy, large and round, 286: Behind him cast; the broad circumference 287: Hung on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb 288: Through Optic Glass the TUSCAN Artist views 289: At Ev'ning from the top of FESOLE, 290: Or in VALDARNO, to descry new Lands, 291: Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe. 292: His Spear, to equal which the tallest Pine 293: Hewn on NORWEGIAN hills, to be the Mast 294: Of some great Ammiral, were but a wand, 295: He walkt with to support uneasie steps 296: Over the burning Marle, not like those steps 297: On Heavens Azure, and the torrid Clime 298: Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire; 299: Nathless he so endur'd, till on the Beach 300: Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd 301: His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't 302: Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks 303: In VALLOMBROSA, where th' ETRURIAN shades 304: High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge 305: Afloat, when with fierce Winds ORION arm'd 306: Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew 307: BUSIRIS and his MEMPHIAN Chivalrie, 308: VVhile with perfidious hatred they pursu'd 309: The Sojourners of GOSHEN, who beheld 310: From the safe shore their floating Carkases 311: And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown 312: Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood, 313: Under amazement of their hideous change. 314: He call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep 315: Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates, 316: Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now lost, 317: If such astonishment as this can sieze 318: Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place 319: After the toyl of Battel to repose 320: Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find 321: To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n? 322: Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 323: To adore the Conquerour? who now beholds 324: Cherube and Seraph rowling in the Flood 325: With scatter'd Arms and Ensigns, till anon 326: His swift pursuers from Heav'n Gates discern 327: Th' advantage, and descending tread us down 328: Thus drooping, or with linked Thunderbolts 329: Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulfe. 330: Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n. 331: They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung 332: Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch 333: On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, 334: Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. 335: Nor did they not perceave the evil plight 336: In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; 337: Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd 338: Innumerable. As when the potent Rod 339: Of AMRAMS Son in EGYPTS evill day 340: Wav'd round the Coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 341: Of LOCUSTS, warping on the Eastern Wind, 342: That ore the Realm of impious PHAROAH hung 343: Like Night, and darken'd all the Land of NILE: 344: So numberless were those bad Angels seen 345: Hovering on wing under the Cope of Hell 346: 'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding Fires; 347: Till, as a signal giv'n, th' uplifted Spear 348: Of their great Sultan waving to direct 349: Thir course, in even ballance down they light 350: On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain; 351: A multitude, like which the populous North 352: Pour'd never from her frozen loyns, to pass 353: RHENE or the DANAW, when her barbarous Sons 354: Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread 355: Beneath GIBRALTAR to the LYBIAN sands. 356: Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band 357: The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood 358: Their great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms 359: Excelling human, Princely Dignities, 360: And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones; 361: Though of their Names in heav'nly Records now 362: Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd 363: By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life. 364: Nor had they yet among the Sons of EVE 365: Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth, 366: Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man, 367: By falsities and lyes the greatest part 368: Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake 369: God their Creator, and th' invisible 370: Glory of him, that made them, to transform 371: Oft to the Image of a Brute, adorn'd 372: With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold, 373: And Devils to adore for Deities: 374: Then were they known to men by various Names, 375: And various Idols through the Heathen World. 376: Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who last, 377: Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch, 378: At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth 379: Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, 380: While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof? 381: The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell 382: Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix 383: Their Seats long after next the Seat of God, 384: Their Altars by his Altar, Gods ador'd 385: Among the Nations round, and durst abide 386: JEHOVAH thundring out of SION, thron'd 387: Between the Cherubim; yea, often plac'd 388: Within his Sanctuary it self their Shrines, 389: Abominations; and with cursed things 390: His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan'd, 391: And with their darkness durst affront his light. 392: First MOLOCH, horrid King besmear'd with blood 393: Of human sacrifice, and parents tears, 394: Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud 395: Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire 396: To his grim Idol. Him the AMMONITE 397: Worshipt in RABBA and her watry Plain, 398: In ARGOB and in BASAN, to the stream 399: Of utmost ARNON. Nor content with such 400: Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 401: Of SOLOMON he led by fraud to build 402: His Temple right against the Temple of God 403: On that opprobrious Hill, and made his Grove 404: The pleasant Vally of HINNOM, TOPHET thence 405: And black GEHENNA call'd, the Type of Hell. 406: Next CHEMOS, th' obscene dread of MOABS Sons, 407: From AROER to NEBO, and the wild 408: Of Southmost ABARIM; in HESEBON 409: And HERONAIM, SEONS Realm, beyond 410: The flowry Dale of SIBMA clad with Vines, 411: And ELEALE to th' ASPHALTICK Pool. 412: PEOR his other Name, when he entic'd 413: ISRAEL in SITTIM on their march from NILE 414: To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 415: Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd 416: Even to that Hill of scandal, by the Grove 417: Of MOLOCH homicide, lust hard by hate; 418: Till good JOSIAH drove them thence to Hell. 419: With these came they, who from the bordring flood 420: Of old EUPHRATES to the Brook that parts 421: EGYPT from SYRIAN ground, had general Names 422: Of BAALIM and ASHTAROTH, those male, 423: These Feminine. For Spirits when they please 424: Can either Sex assume, or both; so soft 425: And uncompounded is their Essence pure, 426: Not ti'd or manacl'd with joynt or limb, 427: Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, 428: Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose 429: Dilated or condens't, bright or obscure, 430: Can execute their aerie purposes, 431: And works of love or enmity fulfill. 432: For those the Race of ISRAEL oft forsook 433: Their living strength, and unfrequented left 434: His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down 435: To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low 436: Bow'd down in Battel, sunk before the Spear 437: Of despicable foes. With these in troop 438: Came ASTORETH, whom the PHOENICIANS call'd 439: ASTARTE, Queen of Heav'n, with crescent Horns; 440: To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon 441: SIDONIAN Virgins paid their Vows and Songs, 442: In SION also not unsung, where stood 443: Her Temple on th' offensive Mountain, built 444: By that uxorious King, whose heart though large, 445: Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses, fell 446: To Idols foul. THAMMUZ came next behind, 447: Whose annual wound in LEBANON allur'd 448: The SYRIAN Damsels to lament his fate 449: In amorous dittyes all a Summers day, 450: While smooth ADONIS from his native Rock 451: Ran purple to the Sea, suppos'd with blood 452: Of THAMMUZ yearly wounded: the Love-tale 453: Infected SIONS daughters with like heat, 454: Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch 455: EZEKIEL saw, when by the Vision led 456: His eye survay'd the dark Idolatries 457: Of alienated JUDAH. Next came one 458: Who mourn'd in earnest, when the Captive Ark 459: Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopt off 460: In his own Temple, on the grunsel edge, 461: Where he fell flat, and sham'd his Worshipers: 462: DAGON his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man 463: And downward Fish: yet had his Temple high 464: Rear'd in AZOTUS, dreaded through the Coast 465: Of PALESTINE, in GATH and ASCALON, 466: And ACCARON and GAZA's frontier bounds. 467: Him follow'd RIMMON, whose delightful Seat 468: Was fair DAMASCUS, on the fertil Banks 469: Of ABBANA and PHARPHAR, lucid streams. 470: He also against the house of God was bold: 471: A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King, 472: AHAZ his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew 473: Gods Altar to disparage and displace 474: For one of SYRIAN mode, whereon to burn 475: His odious offrings, and adore the Gods 476: Whom he had vanquisht. After these appear'd 477: A crew who under Names of old Renown, 478: OSIRIS, ISIS, ORUS and their Train 479: With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd 480: Fanatic EGYPT and her Priests, to seek 481: Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms 482: Rather then human. Nor did ISRAEL scape 483: Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd 484: The Calf in OREB: and the Rebel King 485: Doubl'd that sin in BETHEL and in DAN, 486: Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox, 487: JEHOVAH, who in one Night when he pass'd 488: From EGYPT marching, equal'd with one stroke 489: Both her first born and all her bleating Gods. 490: BELIAL came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd 491: Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 492: Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood 493: Or Altar smoak'd; yet who more oft then hee 494: In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest 495: Turns Atheist, as did ELY'S Sons, who fill'd 496: With lust and violence the house of God. 497: In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns 498: And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse 499: Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs, 500: And injury and outrage: And when Night 501: Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons 502: Of BELIAL, flown with insolence and wine. 503: Witness the Streets of SODOM, and that night 504: In GIBEAH, when hospitable Dores 505: Yielded thir Matrons to prevent worse rape. 506: These were the prime in order and in might; 507: The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, 508: Th' IONIAN Gods, of JAVANS Issue held 509: Gods, yet confest later then Heav'n and Earth 510: Thir boasted Parents; TITAN Heav'ns first born 511: With his enormous brood, and birthright seis'd 512: By younger SATURN, he from mightier JOVE 513: His own and RHEA'S Son like measure found; 514: So JOVE usurping reign'd: these first in CREET 515: And IDA known, thence on the Snowy top 516: Of cold OLYMPUS rul'd the middle Air 517: Thir highest Heav'n; or on the DELPHIAN Cliff, 518: Or in DODONA, and through all the bounds 519: Of DORIC Land; or who with SATURN old 520: Fled over ADRIA to th' HESPERIAN Fields, 521: And ore the CELTIC roam'd the utmost Isles. 522: All these and more came flocking; but with looks 523: Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appear'd 524: Obscure som glimps of joy, to have found thir chief 525: Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 526: In loss it self; which on his count'nance cast 527: Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride 528: Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore 529: Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd 530: Their fainted courage, and dispel'd their fears. 531: Then strait commands that at the warlike sound 532: Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard 533: His mighty Standard; that proud honour claim'd 534: AZAZEL as his right, a Cherube tall: 535: Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld 536: Th' Imperial Ensign, which full high advanc't 537: Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind 538: With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz'd, 539: Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while 540: Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds: 541: At which the universal Host upsent 542: A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond 543: Frighted the Reign of CHAOS and old Night. 544: All in a moment through the gloom were seen 545: Ten thousand Banners rise into the Air 546: With Orient Colours waving: with them rose 547: A Forrest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms 548: Appear'd, and serried Shields in thick array 549: Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move 550: In perfect PHALANX to the Dorian mood 551: Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as rais'd 552: To highth of noblest temper Hero's old 553: Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage 554: Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd 555: With dread of death to flight or foul retreat, 556: Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage 557: With solemn touches, troubl'd thoughts, and chase 558: Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain 559: From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they 560: Breathing united force with fixed thought 561: Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes that charm'd 562: Thir painful steps o're the burnt soyle; and now 563: Advanc't in view they stand, a horrid Front 564: Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise 565: Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield, 566: Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief 567: Had to impose: He through the armed Files 568: Darts his experienc't eye, and soon traverse 569: The whole Battalion views, thir order due, 570: Thir visages and stature as of Gods, 571: Thir number last he summs. And now his heart 572: Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength 573: Glories: For never since created man, 574: Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these 575: Could merit more then that small infantry 576: Warr'd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood 577: Of PHLEGRA with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd 578: That fought at THEB'S and ILIUM, on each side 579: Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds 580: In Fable or ROMANCE of UTHERS Son 581: Begirt with BRITISH and ARMORIC Knights; 582: And all who since, Baptiz'd or Infidel 583: Jousted in ASPRAMONT or MONTALBAN, 584: DAMASCO, or MAROCCO, or TREBISOND, 585: Or whom BISERTA sent from AFRIC shore 586: When CHARLEMAIN with all his Peerage fell 587: By FONTARABBIA. Thus far these beyond 588: Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd 589: Thir dread Commander: he above the rest 590: In shape and gesture proudly eminent 591: Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost 592: All her Original brightness, nor appear'd 593: Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess 594: Of Glory obscur'd: As when the Sun new ris'n 595: Looks through the Horizontal misty Air 596: Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon 597: In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds 598: On half the Nations, and with fear of change 599: Perplexes Monarchs. Dark'n'd so, yet shon 600: Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face 601: Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care 602: Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes 603: Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride 604: Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast 605: Signs of remorse and passion to behold 606: The fellows of his crime, the followers rather 607: (Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd 608: For ever now to have their lot in pain, 609: Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't 610: Of Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung 611: For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood, 612: Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire 613: Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines, 614: With singed top their stately growth though bare 615: Stands on the blasted Heath. He now prepar'd 616: To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend 617: From Wing to Wing, and half enclose him round 618: With all his Peers: attention held them mute. 619: Thrice he assayd, and thrice in spite of scorn, 620: Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 621: Words interwove with sighs found out their way. 622: O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers 623: Matchless, but with th' Almighty, and that strife 624: Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, 625: As this place testifies, and this dire change 626: Hateful to utter: but what power of mind 627: Foreseeing or presaging, from the Depth 628: Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd, 629: How such united force of Gods, how such 630: As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 631: For who can yet beleeve, though after loss, 632: That all these puissant Legions, whose exile 633: Hath emptied Heav'n, shall faile to re-ascend 634: Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat. 635: For me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n, 636: If counsels different, or danger shun'd 637: By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns 638: Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one secure 639: Sat on his Throne, upheld by old repute, 640: Consent or custome, and his Regal State 641: Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd, 642: Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. 643: Henceforth his might we know, and know our own 644: So as not either to provoke, or dread 645: New warr, provok't; our better part remains 646: To work in close design, by fraud or guile 647: What force effected not: that he no less 648: At length from us may find, who overcomes 649: By force, hath overcome but half his foe. 650: Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife 651: There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long 652: Intended to create, and therein plant 653: A generation, whom his choice regard 654: Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven: 655: Thither, if but to prie, shall be perhaps 656: Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere: 657: For this Infernal Pit shall never hold 658: Caelestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abysse 659: Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts 660: Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird, 661: For who can think Submission? Warr then, Warr 662: Open or understood must be resolv'd. 663: He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew 664: Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs 665: Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 666: Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd 667: Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's 668: Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war, 669: Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n. 670: There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top 671: Belch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire 672: Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign 673: That in his womb was hid metallic Ore, 674: The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed 675: A numerous Brigad hasten'd. As when bands 676: Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe arm'd 677: Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field, 678: Or cast a Rampart. MAMMON led them on, 679: MAMMON, the least erected Spirit that fell 680: From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks & thoughts 681: Were always downward bent, admiring more 682: The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold, 683: Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'd 684: In vision beatific: by him first 685: Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 686: Ransack'd the Center, and with impious hands 687: Rifl'd the bowels of thir mother Earth 688: For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 689: Op'nd into the Hill a spacious wound 690: And dig'd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire 691: That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best 692: Deserve the pretious bane. And here let those 693: Who boast in mortal things, and wondring tell 694: Of BABEL, and the works of MEMPHIAN Kings, 695: Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame, 696: And Strength and Art are easily outdone 697: By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour 698: What in an age they with incessant toyle 699: And hands innumerable scarce perform 700: Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar'd, 701: That underneath had veins of liquid fire 702: Sluc'd from the Lake, a second multitude 703: With wondrous Art founded the massie Ore, 704: Severing each kinde, and scum'd the Bullion dross: 705: A third as soon had form'd within the ground 706: A various mould, and from the boyling cells 707: By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook, 708: As in an Organ from one blast of wind 709: To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths. 710: Anon out of the earth a Fabrick huge 711: Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound 712: Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet, 713: Built like a Temple, where PILASTERS round 714: Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid 715: With Golden Architrave; nor did there want 716: Cornice or Freeze, with bossy Sculptures grav'n, 717: The Roof was fretted Gold. Not BABILON, 718: Nor great ALCAIRO such magnificence 719: Equal'd in all thir glories, to inshrine 720: BELUS or SERAPIS thir Gods, or seat 721: Thir Kings, when AEGYPT with ASSYRIA strove 722: In wealth and luxurie. Th' ascending pile 723: Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores 724: Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide 725: Within, her ample spaces, o're the smooth 726: And level pavement: from the arched roof 727: Pendant by suttle Magic many a row 728: Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed 729: With Naphtha and ASPHALTUS yeilded light 730: As from a sky. The hasty multitude 731: Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise 732: And some the Architect: his hand was known 733: In Heav'n by many a Towred structure high, 734: Where Scepter'd Angels held thir residence, 735: And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King 736: Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, 737: Each in his Herarchie, the Orders bright. 738: Nor was his name unheard or unador'd 739: In ancient Greece; and in AUSONIAN land 740: Men call'd him MULCIBER; and how he fell 741: From Heav'n, they fabl'd, thrown by angry JOVE 742: Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn 743: To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve, 744: A Summers day; and with the setting Sun 745: Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, 746: On LEMNOS th' AEGAEAN Ile: thus they relate, 747: Erring; for he with this rebellious rout 748: Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now 749: To have built in Heav'n high Towrs; nor did he scape 750: By all his Engins, but was headlong sent 751: With his industrious crew to build in hell. 752: Mean while the winged Haralds by command 753: Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony 754: And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim 755: A solemn Councel forthwith to be held 756: At PANDAEMONIUM, the high Capital 757: Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call'd 758: From every and Band squared Regiment 759: By place or choice the worthiest; they anon 760: With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 761: Attended: all access was throng'd, the Gates 762: And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall 763: (Though like a cover'd field, where Champions bold 764: Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair 765: Defi'd the best of Panim chivalry 766: To mortal combat or carreer with Lance) 767: Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air, 768: Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees 769: In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides, 770: Poure forth thir populous youth about the Hive 771: In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers 772: Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank, 773: The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel, 774: New rub'd with Baume, expatiate and confer 775: Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd 776: Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n, 777: Behold a wonder! they but now who seemd 778: In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons 779: Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room 780: Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race 781: Beyond the INDIAN Mount, or Faerie Elves, 782: Whose midnight Revels, by a Forrest side 783: Or Fountain fome belated Peasant sees, 784: Or dreams he sees, while over head the Moon 785: Sits Arbitress, and neerer to the Earth 786: Wheels her pale course, they on thir mirth & dance 787: Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear; 788: At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. 789: Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms 790: Reduc'd thir shapes immense, and were at large, 791: Though without number still amidst the Hall 792: Of that infernal Court. But far within 793: And in thir own dimensions like themselves 794: The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim 795: In close recess and secret conclave sat 796: A thousand Demy-Gods on golden seat's, 797: Frequent and full. After short silence then 798: And summons read, the great consult began. Book 2 1: High on a Throne of Royal State, which far 2: Outshon the wealth of ORMUS and of IND, 3: Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 4: Showrs on her Kings BARBARIC Pearl & Gold, 5: Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd 6: To that bad eminence; and from despair 7: Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 8: Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 9: Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught 10: His proud imaginations thus displaid. 11: Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n, 12: For since no deep within her gulf can hold 13: Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall'n, 14: I give not Heav'n for lost. From this descent 15: Celestial vertues rising, will appear 16: More glorious and more dread then from no fall, 17: And trust themselves to fear no second fate: 18: Mee though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n 19: Did first create your Leader, next, free choice, 20: With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight, 21: Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss 22: Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more 23: Establisht in a safe unenvied Throne 24: Yeilded with full consent. The happier state 25: In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw 26: Envy from each inferior; but who here 27: Will envy whom the highest place exposes 28: Formost to stand against the Thunderers aime 29: Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share 30: Of endless pain? where there is then no good 31: For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 32: From Faction; for none sure will claim in hell 33: Precedence, none, whose portion is so small 34: Of present pain, that with ambitious mind 35: Will covet more. With this advantage then 36: To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord, 37: More then can be in Heav'n, we now return 38: To claim our just inheritance of old, 39: Surer to prosper then prosperity 40: Could have assur'd us; and by what best way, 41: Whether of open Warr or covert guile, 42: We now debate; who can advise, may speak. 43: He ceas'd, and next him MOLOC, Scepter'd King 44: Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit 45: That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair: 46: His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd 47: Equal in strength, and rather then be less 48: Car'd not to be at all; with that care lost 49: Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse 50: He reckd not, and these words thereafter spake. 51: My sentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles, 52: More unexpert, I boast not: them let those 53: Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. 54: For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, 55: Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait 56: The Signal to ascend, sit lingring here 57: Heav'ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place 58: Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame, 59: The Prison of his Tyranny who Reigns 60: By our delay? no, let us rather choose 61: Arm'd with Hell flames and fury all at once 62: O're Heav'ns high Towrs to force resistless way, 63: Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms 64: Against the Torturer; when to meet the noise 65: Of his Almighty Engin he shall hear 66: Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see 67: Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 68: Among his Angels; and his Throne it self 69: Mixt with TARTAREAN Sulphur, and strange fire, 70: His own invented Torments. But perhaps 71: The way seems difficult and steep to scale 72: With upright wing against a higher foe. 73: Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench 74: Of that forgetful Lake benumme not still, 75: That in our proper motion we ascend 76: Up to our native seat: descent and fall 77: To us is adverse. Who but felt of late 78: When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear 79: Insulting, and pursu'd us through the Deep, 80: With what compulsion and laborious flight 81: We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easie then; 82: Th' event is fear'd; should we again provoke 83: Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 84: To our destruction: if there be in Hell 85: Fear to be worse destroy'd: what can be worse 86: Then to dwell here, driv'n out from bliss, condemn'd 87: In this abhorred deep to utter woe; 88: Where pain of unextinguishable fire 89: Must exercise us without hope of end 90: The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge 91: Inexorably, and the torturing houre 92: Calls us to Penance? More destroy'd then thus 93: We should be quite abolisht and expire. 94: What fear we then? what doubt we to incense 95: His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd, 96: Will either quite consume us, and reduce 97: To nothing this essential, happier farr 98: Then miserable to have eternal being: 99: Or if our substance be indeed Divine, 100: And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 101: On this side nothing; and by proof we feel 102: Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n, 103: And with perpetual inrodes to Allarme, 104: Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne: 105: Which if not Victory is yet Revenge. 106: He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd 107: Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous 108: To less then Gods. On th' other side up rose 109: BELIAL, in act more graceful and humane; 110: A fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd 111: For dignity compos'd and high exploit: 112: But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue 113: Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear 114: The better reason, to perplex and dash 115: Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low; 116: To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds 117: Timorous and slothful: yet he pleas'd the eare, 118: And with perswasive accent thus began. 119: I should be much for open Warr, O Peers, 120: As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd 121: Main reason to perswade immediate Warr, 122: Did not disswade me most, and seem to cast 123: Ominous conjecture on the whole success: 124: When he who most excels in fact of Arms, 125: In what he counsels and in what excels 126: Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair 127: And utter dissolution, as the scope 128: Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 129: First, what Revenge? the Towrs of Heav'n are fill'd 130: With Armed watch, that render all access 131: Impregnable; oft on the bordering Deep 132: Encamp thir Legions, or with obscure wing 133: Scout farr and wide into the Realm of night, 134: Scorning surprize. Or could we break our way 135: By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise 136: With blackest Insurrection, to confound 137: Heav'ns purest Light, yet our great Enemie 138: All incorruptible would on his Throne 139: Sit unpolluted, and th' Ethereal mould 140: Incapable of stain would soon expel 141: Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire 142: Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope 143: Is flat despair: we must exasperate 144: Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage, 145: And that must end us, that must be our cure, 146: To be no more; sad cure; for who would loose, 147: Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 148: Those thoughts that wander through Eternity, 149: To perish rather, swallowd up and lost 150: In the wide womb of uncreated night, 151: Devoid of sense and motion? and who knows, 152: Let this be good, whether our angry Foe 153: Can give it, or will ever? how he can 154: Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. 155: Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, 156: Belike through impotence, or unaware, 157: To give his Enemies thir wish, and end 158: Them in his anger, whom his anger saves 159: To punish endless? wherefore cease we then? 160: Say they who counsel Warr, we are decreed, 161: Reserv'd and destin'd to Eternal woe; 162: Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, 163: What can we suffer worse? is this then worst, 164: Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in Arms? 165: What when we fled amain, pursu'd and strook 166: With Heav'ns afflicting Thunder, and besought 167: The Deep to shelter us? this Hell then seem'd 168: A refuge from those wounds: or when we lay 169: Chain'd on the burning Lake? that sure was worse. 170: What if the breath that kindl'd those grim fires 171: Awak'd should blow them into sevenfold rage 172: And plunge us in the Flames? or from above 173: Should intermitted vengeance Arme again 174: His red right hand to plague us? what if all 175: Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament 176: Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire, 177: Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall 178: One day upon our heads; while we perhaps 179: Designing or exhorting glorious Warr, 180: Caught in a fierie Tempest shall be hurl'd 181: Each on his rock transfixt, the sport and prey 182: Of racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk 183: Under yon boyling Ocean, wrapt in Chains; 184: There to converse with everlasting groans, 185: Unrespited, unpitied, unrepreevd, 186: Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse. 187: Warr therefore, open or conceal'd, alike 188: My voice disswades; for what can force or guile 189: With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 190: Views all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth 191: All these our motions vain, sees and derides; 192: Not more Almighty to resist our might 193: Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 194: Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n 195: Thus trampl'd, thus expell'd to suffer here 196: Chains & these Torments? better these then worse 197: By my advice; since fate inevitable 198: Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree, 199: The Victors will. To suffer, as to doe, 200: Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust 201: That so ordains: this was at first resolv'd, 202: If we were wise, against so great a foe 203: Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. 204: I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold 205: And vent'rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear 206: What yet they know must follow, to endure 207: Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain, 208: The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now 209: Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, 210: Our Supream Foe in time may much remit 211: His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd 212: Not mind us not offending, satisfi'd 213: With what is punish't; whence these raging fires 214: Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames. 215: Our purer essence then will overcome 216: Thir noxious vapour, or enur'd not feel, 217: Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd 218: In temper and in nature, will receive 219: Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 220: This horror will grow milde, this darkness light, 221: Besides what hope the never-ending flight 222: Of future days may bring, what chance, what change 223: Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers 224: For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 225: If we procure not to our selves more woe. 226: Thus BELIAL with words cloath'd in reasons garb 227: Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath, 228: Not peace: and after him thus MAMMON spake. 229: Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n 230: We warr, if warr be best, or to regain 231: Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then 232: May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yeild 233: To fickle Chance, and CHAOS judge the strife: 234: The former vain to hope argues as vain 235: The latter: for what place can be for us 236: Within Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord supream 237: We overpower? Suppose he should relent 238: And publish Grace to all, on promise made 239: Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we 240: Stand in his presence humble, and receive 241: Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne 242: With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing 243: Forc't Halleluiah's; while he Lordly sits 244: Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes 245: Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers, 246: Our servile offerings. This must be our task 247: In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom 248: Eternity so spent in worship paid 249: To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue 250: By force impossible, by leave obtain'd 251: Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state 252: Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek 253: Our own good from our selves, and from our own 254: Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, 255: Free, and to none accountable, preferring 256: Hard liberty before the easie yoke 257: Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear 258: Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, 259: Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse 260: We can create, and in what place so e're 261: Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain 262: Through labour and endurance. This deep world 263: Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst 264: Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire 265: Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur'd, 266: And with the Majesty of darkness round 267: Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar 268: Must'ring thir rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell? 269: As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light 270: Imitate when we please? This Desart soile 271: Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold; 272: Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise 273: Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more? 274: Our torments also may in length of time 275: Become our Elements, these piercing Fires 276: As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd 277: Into their temper; which must needs remove 278: The sensible of pain. All things invite 279: To peaceful Counsels, and the settl'd State 280: Of order, how in safety best we may 281: Compose our present evils, with regard 282: Of what we are and where, dismissing quite 283: All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise. 284: He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld 285: Th' Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain 286: The sound of blustring winds, which all night long 287: Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 288: Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance 289: Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay 290: After the Tempest: Such applause was heard 291: As MAMMON ended, and his Sentence pleas'd, 292: Advising peace: for such another Field 293: They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear 294: Of Thunder and the Sword of MICHAEL 295: Wrought still within them; and no less desire 296: To found this nether Empire, which might rise 297: By pollicy, and long process of time, 298: In emulation opposite to Heav'n. 299: Which when BEELZEBUB perceiv'd, then whom, 300: SATAN except, none higher sat, with grave 301: Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd 302: A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven 303: Deliberation sat and publick care; 304: And Princely counsel in his face yet shon, 305: Majestick though in ruin: sage he stood 306: With ATLANTEAN shoulders fit to bear 307: The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look 308: Drew audience and attention still as Night 309: Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake. 310: Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n, 311: Ethereal Vertues; or these Titles now 312: Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd 313: Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote 314: Inclines, here to continue, and build up here 315: A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream, 316: And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd 317: This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 318: Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt 319: From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League 320: Banded against his Throne, but to remaine 321: In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, 322: Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd 323: His captive multitude: For he, be sure, 324: In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign 325: Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part 326: By our revolt, but over Hell extend 327: His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule 328: Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n. 329: What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr? 330: Warr hath determin'd us, and foild with loss 331: Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none 332: Voutsaf't or sought; for what peace will be giv'n 333: To us enslav'd, but custody severe, 334: And stripes, and arbitrary punishment 335: Inflicted? and what peace can we return, 336: But to our power hostility and hate, 337: Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow, 338: Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least 339: May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce 340: In doing what we most in suffering feel? 341: Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 342: With dangerous expedition to invade 343: Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege, 344: Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find 345: Some easier enterprize? There is a place 346: (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n 347: Err not) another World, the happy seat 348: Of som new Race call'd MAN, about this time 349: To be created like to us, though less 350: In power and excellence, but favour'd more 351: Of him who rules above; so was his will 352: Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath, 353: That shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd. 354: Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 355: What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, 356: Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power, 357: And where thir weakness, how attempted best, 358: By force or suttlety: Though Heav'n be shut, 359: And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure 360: In his own strength, this place may lye expos'd 361: The utmost border of his Kingdom, left 362: To their defence who hold it: here perhaps 363: Som advantagious act may be achiev'd 364: By sudden onset, either with Hell fire 365: To waste his whole Creation, or possess 366: All as our own, and drive as we were driven, 367: The punie habitants, or if not drive, 368: Seduce them to our Party, that thir God 369: May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand 370: Abolish his own works. This would surpass 371: Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 372: In our Confusion, and our Joy upraise 373: In his disturbance; when his darling Sons 374: Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse 375: Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss, 376: Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth 377: Attempting, or to sit in darkness here 378: Hatching vain Empires. Thus BEELZEBUB 379: Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd 380: By SATAN, and in part propos'd: for whence, 381: But from the Author of all ill could Spring 382: So deep a malice, to confound the race 383: Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell 384: To mingle and involve, done all to spite 385: The great Creatour? But thir spite still serves 386: His glory to augment. The bold design 387: Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy 388: Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full assent 389: They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews. 390: Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 391: Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, 392: Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep 393: Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate, 394: Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view 395: Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms 396: And opportune excursion we may chance 397: Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some milde Zone 398: Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns fair Light 399: Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam 400: Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air, 401: To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires 402: Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send 403: In search of this new world, whom shall we find 404: Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet 405: The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss 406: And through the palpable obscure find out 407: His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight 408: Upborn with indefatigable wings 409: Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 410: The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then 411: Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe 412: Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick 413: Of Angels watching round? Here he had need 414: All circumspection, and we now no less 415: Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send, 416: The weight of all and our last hope relies. 417: This said, he sat; and expectation held 418: His look suspence, awaiting who appeer'd 419: To second, or oppose, or undertake 420: The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, 421: Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each 422: In others count'nance red his own dismay 423: Astonisht: none among the choice and prime 424: Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found 425: So hardie as to proffer or accept 426: Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last 427: SATAN, whom now transcendent glory rais'd 428: Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride 429: Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake. 430: O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones, 431: With reason hath deep silence and demurr 432: Seis'd us, though undismaid: long is the way 433: And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light; 434: Our prison strong, this huge convex of Fire, 435: Outrageous to devour, immures us round 436: Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant 437: Barr'd over us prohibit all egress. 438: These past, if any pass, the void profound 439: Of unessential Night receives him next 440: Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being 441: Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf. 442: If thence he scape into what ever world, 443: Or unknown Region, what remains him less 444: Then unknown dangers and as hard escape. 445: But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers, 446: And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd 447: With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd 448: And judg'd of public moment, in the shape 449: Of difficulty or danger could deterre 450: Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 451: These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign, 452: Refusing to accept as great a share 453: Of hazard as of honour, due alike 454: To him who Reigns, and so much to him due 455: Of hazard more, as he above the rest 456: High honourd sits? Go therfore mighty powers, 457: Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, 458: While here shall be our home, what best may ease 459: The present misery, and render Hell 460: More tollerable; if there be cure or charm 461: To respite or deceive, or slack the pain 462: Of this ill Mansion: intermit no watch 463: Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad 464: Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek 465: Deliverance for us all: this enterprize 466: None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose 467: The Monarch, and prevented all reply, 468: Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd 469: Others among the chief might offer now 470: (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they feard; 471: And so refus'd might in opinion stand 472: His rivals, winning cheap the high repute 473: Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they 474: Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice 475: Forbidding; and at once with him they rose; 476: Thir rising all at once was as the sound 477: Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 478: With awful reverence prone; and as a God 479: Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n: 480: Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 481: That for the general safety he despis'd 482: His own: for neither do the Spirits damn'd 483: Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast 484: Thir specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, 485: Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal. 486: Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark 487: Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief: 488: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds 489: Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread 490: Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element 491: Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or showre; 492: If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet 493: Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive, 494: The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds 495: Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings. 496: O shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd 497: Firm concord holds, men onely disagree 498: Of Creatures rational, though under hope 499: Of heavenly Grace: and God proclaiming peace, 500: Yet live in hatred, enmitie, and strife 501: Among themselves, and levie cruel warres, 502: Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy: 503: As if (which might induce us to accord) 504: Man had not hellish foes anow besides, 505: That day and night for his destruction waite. 506: The STYGIAN Councel thus dissolv'd; and forth 507: In order came the grand infernal Peers, 508: Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd 509: Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less 510: Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream, 511: And God-like imitated State; him round 512: A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd 513: With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms. 514: Then of thir Session ended they bid cry 515: With Trumpets regal sound the great result: 516: Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 517: Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie 518: By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss 519: Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell 520: With deafning shout, return'd them loud acclaim. 521: Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais'd 522: By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers 523: Disband, and wandring, each his several way 524: Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 525: Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find 526: Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 527: The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. 528: Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime 529: Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, 530: As at th' Olympian Games or PYTHIAN fields; 531: Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal 532: With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form. 533: As when to warn proud Cities warr appears 534: Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rush 535: To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van 536: Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears 537: Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms 538: From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. 539: Others with vast TYPHOEAN rage more fell 540: Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air 541: In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar. 542: As when ALCIDES from OEALIA Crown'd 543: With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore 544: Through pain up by the roots THESSALIAN Pines, 545: And LICHAS from the top of OETA threw 546: Into th' EUBOIC Sea. Others more milde, 547: Retreated in a silent valley, sing 548: With notes Angelical to many a Harp 549: Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall 550: By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate 551: Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance. 552: Thir song was partial, but the harmony 553: (What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) 554: Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment 555: The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet 556: (For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,) 557: Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd, 558: In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high 559: Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate, 560: Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 561: And found no end, in wandring mazes lost. 562: Of good and evil much they argu'd then, 563: Of happiness and final misery, 564: Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame, 565: Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie: 566: Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm 567: Pain for a while or anguish, and excite 568: Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured brest 569: With stubborn patience as with triple steel. 570: Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands, 571: On bold adventure to discover wide 572: That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps 573: Might yeild them easier habitation, bend 574: Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks 575: Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge 576: Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams; 577: Abhorred STYX the flood of deadly hate, 578: Sad ACHERON of sorrow, black and deep; 579: COCYTUS, nam'd of lamentation loud 580: Heard on the ruful stream; fierce PHLEGETON 581: Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 582: Farr off from these a slow and silent stream, 583: LETHE the River of Oblivion roules 584: Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks, 585: Forthwith his former state and being forgets, 586: Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. 587: Beyond this flood a frozen Continent 588: Lies dark and wilde, beat with perpetual storms 589: Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land 590: Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 591: Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, 592: A gulf profound as that SERBONIAN Bog 593: Betwixt DAMIATA and mount CASIUS old, 594: Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air 595: Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of Fire. 596: Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd, 597: At certain revolutions all the damn'd 598: Are brought: and feel by turns the bitter change 599: Of fierce extreams, extreams by change more fierce, 600: From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice 601: Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine 602: Immovable, infixt, and frozen round, 603: Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire. 604: They ferry over this LETHEAN Sound 605: Both to and fro, thir sorrow to augment, 606: And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 607: The tempting stream, with one small drop to loose 608: In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, 609: All in one moment, and so neer the brink; 610: But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt 611: MEDUSA with GORGONIAN terror guards 612: The Ford, and of it self the water flies 613: All taste of living wight, as once it fled 614: The lip of TANTALUS. Thus roving on 615: In confus'd march forlorn, th' adventrous Bands 616: With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast 617: View'd first thir lamentable lot, and found 618: No rest: through many a dark and drearie Vaile 619: They pass'd, and many a Region dolorous, 620: O're many a Frozen, many a Fierie Alpe, 621: Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens, and shades of death, 622: A Universe of death, which God by curse 623: Created evil, for evil only good, 624: Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, 625: Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 626: Abominable, inutterable, and worse 627: Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd, 628: GORGONS and HYDRA'S, and CHIMERA'S dire. 629: Mean while the Adversary of God and Man, 630: SATAN with thoughts inflam'd of highest design, 631: Puts on swift wings, and toward the Gates of Hell 632: Explores his solitary flight; som times 633: He scours the right hand coast, som times the left, 634: Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soares 635: Up to the fiery concave touring high. 636: As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd 637: Hangs in the Clouds, by AEQUINOCTIAL Winds 638: Close sailing from BENGALA, or the Iles 639: Of TERNATE and TIDORE, whence Merchants bring 640: Thir spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood 641: Through the wide ETHIOPIAN to the Cape 642: Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole. So seem'd 643: Farr off the flying Fiend: at last appeer 644: Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof, 645: And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass 646: Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock, 647: Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire, 648: Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there sat 649: On either side a formidable shape; 650: The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair, 651: But ended foul in many a scaly fould 652: Voluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'd 653: With mortal sting: about her middle round 654: A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'd 655: With wide CERBEREAN mouths full loud, and rung 656: A hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep, 657: If aught disturb'd thir noyse, into her woomb, 658: And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'd 659: Within unseen. Farr less abhorrd then these 660: Vex'd SCYLLA bathing in the Sea that parts 661: CALABRIA from the hoarce TRINACRIAN shore: 662: Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'd 663: In secret, riding through the Air she comes 664: Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance 665: With LAPLAND Witches, while the labouring Moon 666: Eclipses at thir charms. The other shape, 667: If shape it might be call'd that shape had none 668: Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb, 669: Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, 670: For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, 671: Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 672: And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his head 673: The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on. 674: SATAN was now at hand, and from his seat 675: The Monster moving onward came as fast, 676: With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode. 677: Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd, 678: Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except, 679: Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd; 680: And with disdainful look thus first began. 681: Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, 682: That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance 683: Thy miscreated Front athwart my way 684: To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass, 685: That be assur'd, without leave askt of thee: 686: Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 687: Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n. 688: To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd, 689: Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee, 690: Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith, till then 691: Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious Arms 692: Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons 693: Conjur'd against the highest, for which both Thou 694: And they outcast from God, are here condemn'd 695: To waste Eternal daies in woe and pain? 696: And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n, 697: Hell-doomd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, 698: Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more, 699: Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment, 700: False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, 701: Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue 702: Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart 703: Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before. 704: So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape, 705: So speaking and so threatning, grew ten fold 706: More dreadful and deform: on th' other side 707: Incenc't with indignation SATAN stood 708: Unterrifi'd, and like a Comet burn'd, 709: That fires the length of OPHIUCUS huge 710: In th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair 711: Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head 712: Level'd his deadly aime; thir fatall hands 713: No second stroke intend, and such a frown 714: Each cast at th' other, as when two black Clouds 715: With Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling on 716: Over the CASPIAN, then stand front to front 717: Hov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blow 718: To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air: 719: So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell 720: Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood; 721: For never but once more was either like 722: To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds 723: Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, 724: Had not the Snakie Sorceress that sat 725: Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key, 726: Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. 727: O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, 728: Against thy only Son? What fury O Son, 729: Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart 730: Against thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom; 731: For him who sits above and laughs the while 732: At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute 733: What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids, 734: His wrath which one day will destroy ye both. 735: She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest 736: Forbore, then these to her SATAN return'd: 737: So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange 738: Thou interposest, that my sudden hand 739: Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds 740: What it intends; till first I know of thee, 741: What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why 742: In this infernal Vaile first met thou call'st 743: Me Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son? 744: I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 745: Sight more detestable then him and thee. 746: T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd; 747: Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem 748: Now in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fair 749: In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight 750: Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd 751: In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King, 752: All on a sudden miserable pain 753: Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm 754: In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast 755: Threw forth, till on the left side op'ning wide, 756: Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, 757: Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd 758: Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seis'd 759: All th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraid 760: At first, and call'd me SIN, and for a Sign 761: Portentous held me; but familiar grown, 762: I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won 763: The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft 764: Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing 765: Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st 766: With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd 767: A growing burden. Mean while Warr arose, 768: And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind 769: (For what could else) to our Almighty Foe 770: Cleer Victory, to our part loss and rout 771: Through all the Empyrean: down they fell 772: Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down 773: Into this Deep, and in the general fall 774: I also; at which time this powerful Key 775: Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep 776: These Gates for ever shut, which none can pass 777: Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat 778: Alone, but long I sat not, till my womb 779: Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown 780: Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 781: At last this odious offspring whom thou seest 782: Thine own begotten, breaking violent way 783: Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain 784: Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew 785: Transform'd: but he my inbred enemie 786: Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart 787: Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH; 788: Hell trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'd 789: From all her Caves, and back resounded DEATH. 790: I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems, 791: Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far, 792: Me overtook his mother all dismaid, 793: And in embraces forcible and foule 794: Ingendring with me, of that rape begot 795: These yelling Monsters that with ceasless cry 796: Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'd 797: And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 798: To me, for when they list into the womb 799: That bred them they return, and howle and gnaw 800: My Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth 801: Afresh with conscious terrours vex me round, 802: That rest or intermission none I find. 803: Before mine eyes in opposition sits 804: Grim DEATH my Son and foe, who sets them on, 805: And me his Parent would full soon devour 806: For want of other prey, but that he knows 807: His end with mine involvd; and knows that I 808: Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane, 809: When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd. 810: But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun 811: His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope 812: To be invulnerable in those bright Arms, 813: Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint, 814: Save he who reigns above, none can resist. 815: She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his lore 816: Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth. 817: Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire, 818: And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge 819: Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys 820: Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 821: Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know 822: I come no enemie, but to set free 823: From out this dark and dismal house of pain, 824: Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly Host 825: Of Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'd 826: Fell with us from on high: from them I go 827: This uncouth errand sole, and one for all 828: My self expose, with lonely steps to tread 829: Th' unfounded deep, & through the void immense 830: To search with wandring quest a place foretold 831: Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now 832: Created vast and round, a place of bliss 833: In the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac't 834: A race of upstart Creatures, to supply 835: Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd, 836: Least Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitude 837: Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught 838: Then this more secret now design'd, I haste 839: To know, and this once known, shall soon return, 840: And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 841: Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen 842: Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'd 843: With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd 844: Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey. 845: He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and Death 846: Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear 847: His famine should be fill'd, and blest his mawe 848: Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'd 849: His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire. 850: The key of this infernal Pit by due, 851: And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful King 852: I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 853: These Adamantine Gates; against all force 854: Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 855: Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might. 856: But what ow I to his commands above 857: Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 858: Into this gloom of TARTARUS profound, 859: To sit in hateful Office here confin'd, 860: Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born, 861: Here in perpetual agonie and pain, 862: With terrors and with clamors compasst round 863: Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed: 864: Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou 865: My being gav'st me; whom should I obey 866: But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon 867: To that new world of light and bliss, among 868: The Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign 869: At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 870: Thy daughter and thy darling, without end. 871: Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key, 872: Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; 873: And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train, 874: Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew, 875: Which but her self not all the STYGIAN powers 876: Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns 877: Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar 878: Of massie Iron or sollid Rock with ease 879: Unfast'ns: on a sudden op'n flie 880: With impetuous recoile and jarring sound 881: Th' infernal dores, and on thir hinges great 882: Harsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 883: Of EREBUS. She op'nd, but to shut 884: Excel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood, 885: That with extended wings a Bannerd Host 886: Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through 887: With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array; 888: So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouth 889: Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame. 890: Before thir eyes in sudden view appear 891: The secrets of the hoarie deep, a dark 892: Illimitable Ocean without bound, 893: Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth, 894: And time and place are lost; where eldest Night 895: And CHAOS, Ancestors of Nature, hold 896: Eternal ANARCHIE, amidst the noise 897: Of endless warrs and by confusion stand. 898: For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierce 899: Strive here for Maistrie, and to Battel bring 900: Thir embryon Atoms; they around the flag 901: Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns, 902: Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow, 903: Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the Sands 904: Of BARCA or CYRENE'S torrid soil, 905: Levied to side with warring Winds, and poise 906: Thir lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, 907: Hee rules a moment; CHAOS Umpire sits, 908: And by decision more imbroiles the fray 909: By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter 910: CHANCE governs all. Into this wilde Abyss, 911: The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave, 912: Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire, 913: But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt 914: Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight, 915: Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain 916: His dark materials to create more Worlds, 917: Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiend 918: Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while, 919: Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith 920: He had to cross. Nor was his eare less peal'd 921: With noises loud and ruinous (to compare 922: Great things with small) then when BELLONA storms, 923: With all her battering Engines bent to rase 924: Som Capital City, or less then if this frame 925: Of Heav'n were falling, and these Elements 926: In mutinie had from her Axle torn 927: The stedfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad Vannes 928: He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoak 929: Uplifted spurns the ground, thence many a League 930: As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides 931: Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets 932: A vast vacuitie: all unawares 933: Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops 934: Ten thousand fadom deep, and to this hour 935: Down had been falling, had not by ill chance 936: The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud 937: Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him 938: As many miles aloft: that furie stay'd, 939: Quencht in a Boggie SYRTIS, neither Sea, 940: Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares, 941: Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 942: Half flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile. 943: As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness 944: With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale, 945: Pursues the ARIMASPIAN, who by stelth 946: Had from his wakeful custody purloind 947: The guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiend 948: Ore bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, 949: With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way, 950: And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes: 951: At length a universal hubbub wilde 952: Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd 953: Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare 954: With loudest vehemence: thither he plyes, 955: Undaunted to meet there what ever power 956: Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss 957: Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 958: Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes 959: Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne 960: Of CHAOS, and his dark Pavilion spread 961: Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'd 962: Sat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things, 963: The consort of his Reign; and by them stood 964: ORCUS and ADES, and the dreaded name 965: Of DEMOGORGON; Rumor next and Chance, 966: And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild, 967: And Discord with a thousand various mouths. 968: T' whom SATAN turning boldly, thus. Ye Powers 969: And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss, 970: CHAOS and ANCIENT NIGHT, I come no Spie, 971: With purpose to explore or to disturb 972: The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint 973: Wandring this darksome desart, as my way 974: Lies through your spacious Empire up to light, 975: Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek 976: What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds 977: Confine with Heav'n; or if som other place 978: From your Dominion won, th' Ethereal King 979: Possesses lately, thither to arrive 980: I travel this profound, direct my course; 981: Directed, no mean recompence it brings 982: To your behoof, if I that Region lost, 983: All usurpation thence expell'd, reduce 984: To her original darkness and your sway 985: (Which is my present journey) and once more 986: Erect the Standerd there of ANCIENT NIGHT; 987: Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge. 988: Thus SATAN; and him thus the Anarch old 989: With faultring speech and visage incompos'd 990: Answer'd. I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 991: That mighty leading Angel, who of late 992: Made head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown. 993: I saw and heard, for such a numerous host 994: Fled not in silence through the frighted deep 995: With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, 996: Confusion worse confounded; and Heav'n Gates 997: Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands 998: Pursuing. I upon my Frontieres here 999: Keep residence; if all I can will serve, 1000: That little which is left so to defend 1001: Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles 1002: Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell 1003: Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath; 1004: Now lately Heaven and Earth, another World 1005: Hung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden Chain 1006: To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell: 1007: If that way be your walk, you have not farr; 1008: So much the neerer danger; goe and speed; 1009: Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain. 1010: He ceas'd; and SATAN staid not to reply, 1011: But glad that now his Sea should find a shore, 1012: With fresh alacritie and force renew'd 1013: Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire 1014: Into the wilde expanse, and through the shock 1015: Of fighting Elements, on all sides round 1016: Environ'd wins his way; harder beset 1017: And more endanger'd, then when ARGO pass'd 1018: Through BOSPORUS betwixt the justling Rocks: 1019: Or when ULYSSES on the Larbord shunnd 1020: CHARYBDIS, and by th' other whirlpool steard. 1021: So he with difficulty and labour hard 1022: Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee; 1023: But hee once past, soon after when man fell, 1024: Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain 1025: Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n, 1026: Pav'd after him a broad and beat'n way 1027: Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling Gulf 1028: Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length 1029: From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe 1030: Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 1031: With easie intercourse pass to and fro 1032: To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 1033: God and good Angels guard by special grace. 1034: But now at last the sacred influence 1035: Of light appears, and from the walls of Heav'n 1036: Shoots farr into the bosom of dim Night 1037: A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins 1038: Her fardest verge, and CHAOS to retire 1039: As from her outmost works a brok'n foe 1040: With tumult less and with less hostile din, 1041: That SATAN with less toil, and now with ease 1042: Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light 1043: And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds 1044: Gladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn; 1045: Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air, 1046: Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to behold 1047: Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide 1048: In circuit, undetermind square or round, 1049: With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd 1050: Of living Saphire, once his native Seat; 1051: And fast by hanging in a golden Chain 1052: This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr 1053: Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon. 1054: Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge, 1055: Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies. Book 3 1: Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born, 2: Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam 3: May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, 4: And never but in unapproached light 5: Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee, 6: Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 7: Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream, 8: Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun, 9: Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice 10: Of God, as with a Mantle didst invest 11: The rising world of waters dark and deep, 12: Won from the void and formless infinite. 13: Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, 14: Escap't the STYGIAN Pool, though long detain'd 15: In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight 16: Through utter and through middle darkness borne 17: With other notes then to th' ORPHEAN Lyre 18: I sung of CHAOS and ETERNAL NIGHT, 19: Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down 20: The dark descent, and up to reascend, 21: Though hard and rare: thee I revisit safe, 22: And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou 23: Revisit'st not these eyes, that rowle in vain 24: To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; 25: So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs, 26: Or dim suffusion veild. Yet not the more 27: Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt 28: Cleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill, 29: Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief 30: Thee SION and the flowrie Brooks beneath 31: That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow, 32: Nightly I visit: nor somtimes forget 33: Those other two equal'd with me in Fate, 34: So were I equal'd with them in renown, 35: Blind THAMYRIS and blind MAEONIDES, 36: And TIRESIAS and PHINEUS Prophets old. 37: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move 38: Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird 39: Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid 40: Tunes her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year 41: Seasons return, but not to me returns 42: Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn, 43: Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose, 44: Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; 45: But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark 46: Surrounds me, from the chearful waies of men 47: Cut off, and for the book of knowledg fair 48: Presented with a Universal blanc 49: Of Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd, 50: And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out. 51: So much the rather thou Celestial light 52: Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers 53: Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence 54: Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 55: Of things invisible to mortal sight. 56: Now had the Almighty Father from above, 57: From the pure Empyrean where he sits 58: High Thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye, 59: His own works and their works at once to view: 60: About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 61: Stood thick as Starrs, and from his sight receiv'd 62: Beatitude past utterance; on his right 63: The radiant image of his Glory sat, 64: His onely Son; On Earth he first beheld 65: Our two first Parents, yet the onely two 66: Of mankind, in the happie Garden plac't, 67: Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, 68: Uninterrupted joy, unrivald love 69: In blissful solitude; he then survey'd 70: Hell and the Gulf between, and SATAN there 71: Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night 72: In the dun Air sublime, and ready now 73: To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet 74: On the bare outside of this World, that seem'd 75: Firm land imbosom'd without Firmament, 76: Uncertain which, in Ocean or in Air. 77: Him God beholding from his prospect high, 78: Wherein past, present, future he beholds, 79: Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake. 80: Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage 81: Transports our adversarie, whom no bounds 82: Prescrib'd, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chains 83: Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss 84: Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems 85: On desperat revenge, that shall redound 86: Upon his own rebellious head. And now 87: Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way 88: Not farr off Heav'n, in the Precincts of light, 89: Directly towards the new created World, 90: And Man there plac't, with purpose to assay 91: If him by force he can destroy, or worse, 92: By som false guile pervert; and shall pervert; 93: For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes, 94: And easily transgress the sole Command, 95: Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall 96: Hee and his faithless Progenie: whose fault? 97: Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of mee 98: All he could have; I made him just and right, 99: Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 100: Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 101: And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild; 102: Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 103: Not free, what proof could they have givn sincere 104: Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love, 105: Where onely what they needs must do, appeard, 106: Not what they would? what praise could they receive? 107: What pleasure I from such obedience paid, 108: When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice) 109: Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild, 110: Made passive both, had servd necessitie, 111: Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd, 112: So were created, nor can justly accuse 113: Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate; 114: As if Predestination over-rul'd 115: Thir will, dispos'd by absolute Decree 116: Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed 117: Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew, 118: Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 119: Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown. 120: So without least impulse or shadow of Fate, 121: Or aught by me immutablie foreseen, 122: They trespass, Authors to themselves in all 123: Both what they judge and what they choose; for so 124: I formd them free, and free they must remain, 125: Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change 126: Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree 127: Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain'd 128: Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall. 129: The first sort by thir own suggestion fell, 130: Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd 131: By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, 132: The other none: in Mercy and Justice both, 133: Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel, 134: But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine. 135: Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 136: All Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits elect 137: Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd: 138: Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 139: Most glorious, in him all his Father shon 140: Substantially express'd, and in his face 141: Divine compassion visibly appeerd, 142: Love without end, and without measure Grace, 143: Which uttering thus he to his Father spake. 144: O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd 145: Thy sovran sentence, that Man should find grace; 146: For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extoll 147: Thy praises, with th' innumerable sound 148: Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne 149: Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 150: For should Man finally be lost, should Man 151: Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest Son 152: Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd 153: With his own folly? that be from thee farr, 154: That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge 155: Of all things made, and judgest onely right. 156: Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain 157: His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill 158: His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught, 159: Or proud return though to his heavier doom, 160: Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell 161: Draw after him the whole Race of mankind, 162: By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy self 163: Abolish thy Creation, and unmake, 164: For him, what for thy glorie thou hast made? 165: So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 166: Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence. 167: To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd. 168: O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight, 169: Son of my bosom, Son who art alone 170: My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 171: All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all 172: As my Eternal purpose hath decreed: 173: Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will, 174: Yet not of will in him, but grace in me 175: Freely voutsaft; once more I will renew 176: His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd 177: By sin to foul exorbitant desires; 178: Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 179: On even ground against his mortal foe, 180: By me upheld, that he may know how frail 181: His fall'n condition is, and to me ow 182: All his deliv'rance, and to none but me. 183: Some I have chosen of peculiar grace 184: Elect above the rest; so is my will: 185: The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd 186: Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes 187: Th' incensed Deitie, while offerd grace 188: Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark, 189: What may suffice, and soft'n stonie hearts 190: To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. <