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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. 191: To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, 192: Though but endevord with sincere intent, 193: Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. 194: And I will place within them as a guide 195: My Umpire CONSCIENCE, whom if they will hear, 196: Light after light well us'd they shall attain, 197: And to the end persisting, safe arrive. 198: This my long sufferance and my day of grace 199: They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; 200: But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more, 201: That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; 202: And none but such from mercy I exclude. 203: But yet all is not don; Man disobeying, 204: Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinns 205: Against the high Supremacie of Heav'n, 206: Affecting God-head, and so loosing all, 207: To expiate his Treason hath naught left, 208: But to destruction sacred and devote, 209: He with his whole posteritie must die, 210: Die hee or Justice must; unless for him 211: Som other able, and as willing, pay 212: The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 213: Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love, 214: Which of ye will be mortal to redeem 215: Mans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save, 216: Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare? 217: He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute, 218: And silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalf 219: Patron or Intercessor none appeerd, 220: Much less that durst upon his own head draw 221: The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. 222: And now without redemption all mankind 223: Must have bin lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell 224: By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 225: In whom the fulness dwels of love divine, 226: His dearest mediation thus renewd. 227: Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace; 228: And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, 229: The speediest of thy winged messengers, 230: To visit all thy creatures, and to all 231: Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought, 232: Happie for man, so coming; he her aide 233: Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost; 234: Attonement for himself or offering meet, 235: Indebted and undon, hath none to bring: 236: Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life 237: I offer, on mee let thine anger fall; 238: Account mee man; I for his sake will leave 239: Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee 240: Freely put off, and for him lastly die 241: Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage; 242: Under his gloomie power I shall not long 243: Lie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess 244: Life in my self for ever, by thee I live, 245: Though now to Death I yeild, and am his due 246: All that of me can die, yet that debt paid, 247: Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave 248: His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soule 249: For ever with corruption there to dwell; 250: But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue 251: My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile; 252: Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop 253: Inglorious, of his mortall sting disarm'd. 254: I through the ample Air in Triumph high 255: Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show 256: The powers of darkness bound. Thou at the sight 257: Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, 258: While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes, 259: Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave: 260: Then with the multitude of my redeemd 261: Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne, 262: Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 263: Of anger shall remain, but peace assur'd, 264: And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more 265: Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire. 266: His words here ended, but his meek aspect 267: Silent yet spake, and breath'd immortal love 268: To mortal men, above which only shon 269: Filial obedience: as a sacrifice 270: Glad to be offer'd, he attends the will 271: Of his great Father. Admiration seis'd 272: All Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tend 273: Wondring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd: 274: O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peace 275: Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou 276: My sole complacence! well thou know'st how dear, 277: To me are all my works, nor Man the least 278: Though last created, that for him I spare 279: Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, 280: By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost. 281: Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme, 282: Thir Nature also to thy Nature joyne; 283: And be thy self Man among men on Earth, 284: Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed, 285: By wondrous birth: Be thou in ADAMS room 286: The Head of all mankind, though ADAMS Son. 287: As in him perish all men, so in thee 288: As from a second root shall be restor'd, 289: As many as are restor'd, without thee none. 290: His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit 291: Imputed shall absolve them who renounce 292: Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, 293: And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 294: Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, 295: Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die, 296: And dying rise, and rising with him raise 297: His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life. 298: So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate, 299: Giving to death, and dying to redeeme, 300: So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate 301: So easily destroy'd, and still destroyes 302: In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 303: Nor shalt thou by descending to assume 304: Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne. 305: Because thou hast, though Thron'd in highest bliss 306: Equal to God, and equally enjoying 307: God-like fruition, quitted all to save 308: A World from utter loss, and hast been found 309: By Merit more then Birthright Son of God, 310: Found worthiest to be so by being Good, 311: Farr more then Great or High; because in thee 312: Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds, 313: Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt 314: With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne; 315: Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt Reigne 316: Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, 317: Anointed universal King; all Power 318: I give thee, reign for ever, and assume 319: Thy Merits; under thee as Head Supream 320: Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce: 321: All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 322: In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell; 323: When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n 324: Shalt in the Skie appeer, and from thee send 325: The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime 326: Thy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Windes 327: The living, and forthwith the cited dead 328: Of all past Ages to the general Doom 329: Shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep. 330: Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge 331: Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sink 332: Beneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full, 333: Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while 334: The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring 335: New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell 336: And after all thir tribulations long 337: See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 338: With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth. 339: Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by, 340: For regal Scepter then no more shall need, 341: God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods, 342: Adore him, who to compass all this dies, 343: Adore the Son, and honour him as mee. 344: No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all 345: The multitude of Angels with a shout 346: Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 347: As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung 348: With Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's fill'd 349: Th' eternal Regions: lowly reverent 350: Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground 351: With solemn adoration down they cast 352: Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold, 353: Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once 354: In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life 355: Began to bloom, but soon for mans offence 356: To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows, 357: And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life, 358: And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn 359: Rowls o're ELISIAN Flours her Amber stream; 360: With these that never fade the Spirits Elect 361: Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams, 362: Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright 363: Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon 364: Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd. 365: Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took, 366: Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side 367: Like Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet 368: Of charming symphonie they introduce 369: Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high; 370: No voice exempt, no voice but well could joine 371: Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n. 372: Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent, 373: Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 374: Eternal King; thee Author of all being, 375: Fountain of Light, thy self invisible 376: Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st 377: Thron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st 378: The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud 379: Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine, 380: Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer, 381: Yet dazle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim 382: Approach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes. 383: Thee next they sang of all Creation first, 384: Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, 385: In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud 386: Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines, 387: Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee 388: Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides, 389: Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests. 390: Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein 391: By thee created, and by thee threw down 392: Th' aspiring Dominations: thou that day 393: Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare, 394: Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels, that shook 395: Heav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're the necks 396: Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid. 397: Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime 398: Thee only extold, Son of thy Fathers might, 399: To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, 400: Not so on Man; him through their malice fall'n, 401: Father of Mercie and Grace, thou didst not doome 402: So strictly, but much more to pitie encline: 403: No sooner did thy dear and onely Son 404: Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man 405: So strictly, but much more to pitie enclin'd, 406: He to appease thy wrauth, and end the strife 407: Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd, 408: Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee sat 409: Second to thee, offerd himself to die 410: For mans offence. O unexampl'd love, 411: Love no where to be found less then Divine! 412: Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy Name 413: Shall be the copious matter of my Song 414: Henceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praise 415: Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine. 416: Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear, 417: Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent. 418: Mean while upon the firm opacous Globe 419: Of this round World, whose first convex divides 420: The luminous inferior Orbs, enclos'd 421: From CHAOS and th' inroad of Darkness old, 422: SATAN alighted walks: a Globe farr off 423: It seem'd, now seems a boundless Continent 424: Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night 425: Starless expos'd, and ever-threatning storms 426: Of CHAOS blustring round, inclement skie; 427: Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'n 428: Though distant farr som small reflection gaines 429: Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud: 430: Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field. 431: As when a Vultur on IMAUS bred, 432: Whose snowie ridge the roving TARTAR bounds, 433: Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey 434: To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids 435: On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs 436: Of GANGES or HYDASPES, INDIAN streams; 437: But in his way lights on the barren plaines 438: Of SERICANA, where CHINESES drive 439: With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light: 440: So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend 441: Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey, 442: Alone, for other Creature in this place 443: Living or liveless to be found was none, 444: None yet, but store hereafter from the earth 445: Up hither like Aereal vapours flew 446: Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin 447: With vanity had filld the works of men: 448: Both all things vain, and all who in vain things 449: Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame, 450: Or happiness in this or th' other life; 451: All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits 452: Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal, 453: Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find 454: Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds; 455: All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, 456: Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, 457: Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 458: Till final dissolution, wander here, 459: Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd; 460: Those argent Fields more likely habitants, 461: Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold 462: Betwixt th' Angelical and Human kinde: 463: Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born 464: First from the ancient World those Giants came 465: With many a vain exploit, though then renownd: 466: The builders next of BABEL on the Plain 467: Of SENNAAR, and still with vain designe 468: New BABELS, had they wherewithall, would build: 469: Others came single; hee who to be deemd 470: A God, leap'd fondly into AETNA flames, 471: EMPEDOCLES, and hee who to enjoy 472: PLATO'S ELYSIUM, leap'd into the Sea, 473: CLEOMBROTUS, and many more too long, 474: Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers 475: White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie. 476: Here Pilgrims roam, that stray'd so farr to seek 477: In GOLGOTHA him dead, who lives in Heav'n; 478: And they who to be sure of Paradise 479: Dying put on the weeds of DOMINIC, 480: Or in FRANCISCAN think to pass disguis'd; 481: They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixt, 482: And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs 483: The Trepidation talkt, and that first mov'd; 484: And now Saint PETER at Heav'ns Wicket seems 485: To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot 486: Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe 487: A violent cross wind from either Coast 488: Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry 489: Into the devious Air; then might ye see 490: Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost 491: And flutterd into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads, 492: Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, 493: The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft 494: Fly o're the backside of the World farr off 495: Into a LIMBO large and broad, since calld 496: The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown 497: Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod; 498: All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd, 499: And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame 500: Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste 501: His travell'd steps; farr distant hee descries 502: Ascending by degrees magnificent 503: Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high, 504: At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd 505: The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate 506: With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold 507: Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes 508: The Portal shon, inimitable on Earth 509: By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn. 510: The Stairs were such as whereon JACOB saw 511: Angels ascending and descending, bands 512: Of Guardians bright, when he from ESAU fled 513: To PADAN-ARAM in the field of LUZ, 514: Dreaming by night under the open Skie, 515: And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav'n. 516: Each Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 517: There alwaies, but drawn up to Heav'n somtimes 518: Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flow'd 519: Of Jasper, or of liquid Pearle, whereon 520: Who after came from Earth, sayling arriv'd, 521: Wafted by Angels, or flew o're the Lake 522: Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds. 523: The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare 524: The Fiend by easie ascent, or aggravate 525: His sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss. 526: Direct against which op'nd from beneath, 527: Just o're the blissful seat of Paradise, 528: A passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide, 529: Wider by farr then that of after-times 530: Over Mount SION, and, though that were large, 531: Over the PROMIS'D LAND to God so dear, 532: By which, to visit oft those happy Tribes, 533: On high behests his Angels to and fro 534: Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard 535: From PANEAS the fount of JORDANS flood 536: To BEERSABA, where the HOLY LAND 537: Borders on AEGYPT and the ARABIAN shoare; 538: So wide the op'ning seemd, where bounds were set 539: To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave. 540: SATAN from hence now on the lower stair 541: That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate 542: Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 543: Of all this World at once. As when a Scout 544: Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone 545: All night; at last by break of chearful dawne 546: Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill, 547: Which to his eye discovers unaware 548: The goodly prospect of some forein land 549: First-seen, or some renownd Metropolis 550: With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd, 551: Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams. 552: Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen, 553: The Spirit maligne, but much more envy seis'd 554: At sight of all this World beheld so faire. 555: Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood 556: So high above the circling Canopie 557: Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point 558: Of LIBRA to the fleecie Starr that bears 559: ANDROMEDA farr off ATLANTICK Seas 560: Beyond th' HORIZON; then from Pole to Pole 561: He views in bredth, and without longer pause 562: Down right into the Worlds first Region throws 563: His flight precipitant, and windes with ease 564: Through the pure marble Air his oblique way 565: Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon 566: Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds, 567: Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles, 568: Like those HESPERIAN Gardens fam'd of old, 569: Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales, 570: Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there 571: He stayd not to enquire: above them all 572: The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven 573: Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends 574: Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe 575: By center, or eccentric, hard to tell, 576: Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie 577: Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick, 578: That from his Lordly eye keep distance due, 579: Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move 580: Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute 581: Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing Lamp 582: Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd 583: By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms 584: The Univers, and to each inward part 585: With gentle penetration, though unseen, 586: Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep: 587: So wondrously was set his Station bright. 588: There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 589: Astronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe 590: Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw. 591: The place he found beyond expression bright, 592: Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone; 593: Not all parts like, but all alike informd 594: Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire; 595: If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer; 596: If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite, 597: Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon 598: In AARONS Brest-plate, and a stone besides 599: Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen, 600: That stone, or like to that which here below 601: Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 602: In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde 603: Volatil HERMES, and call up unbound 604: In various shapes old PROTEUS from the Sea, 605: Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme. 606: What wonder then if fields and regions here 607: Breathe forth ELIXIR pure, and Rivers run 608: Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch 609: Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote 610: Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixt 611: Here in the dark so many precious things 612: Of colour glorious and effect so rare? 613: Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 614: Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands, 615: For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 616: But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon 617: Culminate from th' AEQUATOR, as they now 618: Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 619: Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire, 620: No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray 621: To objects distant farr, whereby he soon 622: Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand, 623: The same whom JOHN saw also in the Sun: 624: His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid; 625: Of beaming sunnie Raies, a golden tiar 626: Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind 627: Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings 628: Lay waving round; on som great charge imploy'd 629: Hee seemd, or fixt in cogitation deep. 630: Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope 631: To find who might direct his wandring flight 632: To Paradise the happie seat of Man, 633: His journies end and our beginning woe. 634: But first he casts to change his proper shape, 635: Which else might work him danger or delay: 636: And now a stripling Cherube he appeers, 637: Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 638: Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb 639: Sutable grace diffus'd, so well he feignd; 640: Under a Coronet his flowing haire 641: In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore 642: Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold, 643: His habit fit for speed succinct, and held 644: Before his decent steps a Silver wand. 645: He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, 646: Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd, 647: Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known 648: Th' Arch-Angel URIEL, one of the seav'n 649: Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne 650: Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes 651: That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth 652: Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, 653: O're Sea and Land: him SATAN thus accostes; 654: URIEL, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand 655: In sight of God's high Throne, gloriously bright, 656: The first art wont his great authentic will 657: Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, 658: Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend; 659: And here art likeliest by supream decree 660: Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye 661: To visit oft this new Creation round; 662: Unspeakable desire to see, and know 663: All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, 664: His chief delight and favour, him for whom 665: All these his works so wondrous he ordaind, 666: Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim 667: Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell 668: In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man 669: His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 670: But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell; 671: That I may find him, and with secret gaze, 672: Or open admiration him behold 673: On whom the great Creator hath bestowd 674: Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd; 675: That both in him and all things, as is meet, 676: The Universal Maker we may praise; 677: Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes 678: To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss 679: Created this new happie Race of Men 680: To serve him better: wise are all his wayes. 681: So spake the false dissembler unperceivd; 682: For neither Man nor Angel can discern 683: Hypocrisie, the only evil that walks 684: Invisible, except to God alone, 685: By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth: 686: And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps 687: At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie 688: Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill 689: Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd 690: URIEL, though Regent of the Sun, and held 691: The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n; 692: Who to the fraudulent Impostor foule 693: In his uprightness answer thus returnd. 694: Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know 695: The works of God, thereby to glorifie 696: The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess 697: That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 698: The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 699: From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone, 700: To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps 701: Contented with report heare onely in heav'n: 702: For wonderful indeed are all his works, 703: Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 704: Had in remembrance alwayes with delight; 705: But what created mind can comprehend 706: Thir number, or the wisdom infinite 707: That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep. 708: I saw when at his Word the formless Mass, 709: This worlds material mould, came to a heap: 710: Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar 711: Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd; 712: Till at his second bidding darkness fled, 713: Light shon, and order from disorder sprung: 714: Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then 715: The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire, 716: And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav'n 717: Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 718: That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs 719: Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 720: Each had his place appointed, each his course, 721: The rest in circuit walles this Universe. 722: Look downward on that Globe whose hither side 723: With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; 724: That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light 725: His day, which else as th' other Hemisphere 726: Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon 727: (So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide 728: Timely interposes, and her monthly round 729: Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n; 730: With borrowd light her countenance triform 731: Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth, 732: And in her pale dominion checks the night. 733: That spot to which I point is PARADISE, 734: ADAMS abode, those loftie shades his Bowre. 735: Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 736: Thus said, he turnd, and SATAN bowing low, 737: As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, 738: Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 739: Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, 740: Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, 741: Throws his steep flight with many an Aerie wheele, 742: Nor staid, till on NIPHATES top he lights. Book 4 1: O For that warning voice, which he who saw 2: Th' APOCALYPS, heard cry in Heaven aloud, 3: Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 4: Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, 5: WO TO THE INHABITANTS ON EARTH! that now, 6: While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd 7: The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd 8: Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now 9: SATAN, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, 10: The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind, 11: To wreck on innocent frail man his loss 12: Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell: 13: Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold, 14: Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, 15: Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth 16: Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest, 17: And like a devillish Engine back recoiles 18: Upon himself; horror and doubt distract 19: His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom stirr 20: The Hell within him, for within him Hell 21: He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 22: One step no more then from himself can fly 23: By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair 24: That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie 25: Of what he was, what is, and what must be 26: Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. 27: Sometimes towards EDEN which now in his view 28: Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad, 29: Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun, 30: Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre: 31: Then much revolving, thus in sighs began. 32: O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd, 33: Look'st from thy sole Dominion like the God 34: Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs 35: Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call, 36: But with no friendly voice, and add thy name 37: O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams 38: That bring to my remembrance from what state 39: I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; 40: Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down 41: Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King: 42: Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return 43: From me, whom he created what I was 44: In that bright eminence, and with his good 45: Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. 46: What could be less then to afford him praise, 47: The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, 48: How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, 49: And wrought but malice; lifted up so high 50: I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher 51: Would set me highest, and in a moment quit 52: The debt immense of endless gratitude, 53: So burthensome, still paying, still to ow; 54: Forgetful what from him I still receivd, 55: And understood not that a grateful mind 56: By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 57: Indebted and dischargd; what burden then? 58: O had his powerful Destiny ordaind 59: Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood 60: Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd 61: Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power 62: As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean 63: Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great 64: Fell not, but stand unshak'n, from within 65: Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. 66: Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand? 67: Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, 68: But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all? 69: Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate, 70: To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 71: Nay curs'd be thou; since against his thy will 72: Chose freely what it now so justly rues. 73: Me miserable! which way shall I flie 74: Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire? 75: Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell; 76: And in the lowest deep a lower deep 77: Still threatning to devour me opens wide, 78: To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n. 79: O then at last relent: is there no place 80: Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? 81: None left but by submission; and that word 82: DISDAIN forbids me, and my dread of shame 83: Among the spirits beneath, whom I seduc'd 84: With other promises and other vaunts 85: Then to submit, boasting I could subdue 86: Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know 87: How dearly I abide that boast so vaine, 88: Under what torments inwardly I groane; 89: While they adore me on the Throne of Hell, 90: With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd 91: The lower still I fall, onely Supream 92: In miserie; such joy Ambition findes. 93: But say I could repent and could obtaine 94: By Act of Grace my former state; how soon 95: Would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay 96: What feign'd submission swore: ease would recant 97: Vows made in pain, as violent and void. 98: For never can true reconcilement grow 99: Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep: 100: Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 101: And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare 102: Short intermission bought with double smart. 103: This knows my punisher; therefore as farr 104: From granting hee, as I from begging peace: 105: All hope excluded thus, behold in stead 106: Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight, 107: Mankind created, and for him this World. 108: So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear, 109: Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost; 110: Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least 111: Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold 112: By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne; 113: As Man ere long, and this new World shall know. 114: Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face 115: Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair, 116: Which marrd his borrow'd visage, and betraid 117: Him counterfet, if any eye beheld. 118: For heav'nly mindes from such distempers foule 119: Are ever cleer. Whereof hee soon aware, 120: Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calme, 121: Artificer of fraud; and was the first 122: That practisd falshood under saintly shew, 123: Deep malice to conceale, couch't with revenge: 124: Yet not anough had practisd to deceive 125: URIEL once warnd; whose eye pursu'd him down 126: The way he went, and on th' ASSYRIAN mount 127: Saw him disfigur'd, more then could befall 128: Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce 129: He markd and mad demeanour, then alone, 130: As he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen. 131: So on he fares, and to the border comes 132: Of EDEN, where delicious Paradise, 133: Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green, 134: As with a rural mound the champain head 135: Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides 136: With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde, 137: Access deni'd; and over head up grew 138: Insuperable highth of loftiest shade, 139: Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm, 140: A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend 141: Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre 142: Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops 143: The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung: 144: Which to our general Sire gave prospect large 145: Into his neather Empire neighbouring round. 146: And higher then that Wall a circling row 147: Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit, 148: Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue 149: Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt: 150: On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams 151: Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow, 152: When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd 153: That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire 154: Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 155: Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 156: All sadness but despair: now gentle gales 157: Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense 158: Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 159: Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile 160: Beyond the CAPE OF HOPE, and now are past 161: MOZAMBIC, off at Sea North-East windes blow 162: SABEAN Odours from the spicie shoare 163: Of ARABIE the blest, with such delay 164: Well pleas'd they slack thir course, and many a League 165: Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. 166: So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend 167: Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd 168: Then ASMODEUS with the fishie fume, 169: That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse 170: Of TOBITS Son, and with a vengeance sent 171: From MEDIA post to AEGYPT, there fast bound. 172: Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill 173: SATAN had journied on, pensive and slow; 174: But further way found none, so thick entwin'd, 175: As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth 176: Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext 177: All path of Man or Beast that past that way: 178: One Gate there onely was, and that look'd East 179: On th' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw 180: Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, 181: At one slight bound high overleap'd all bound 182: Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within 183: Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe, 184: Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, 185: Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve 186: In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure, 187: Leaps o're the fence with ease into the Fould: 188: Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash 189: Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores, 190: Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, 191: In at the window climbes, or o're the tiles; 192: So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould: 193: So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe. 194: Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life, 195: The middle Tree and highest there that grew, 196: Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life 197: Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death 198: To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought 199: Of that life-giving Plant, but only us'd 200: For prospect, what well us'd had bin the pledge 201: Of immortalitie. So little knows 202: Any, but God alone, to value right 203: The good before him, but perverts best things 204: To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use. 205: Beneath him with new wonder now he views 206: To all delight of human sense expos'd 207: In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more, 208: A Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise 209: Of God the Garden was, by him in the East 210: Of EDEN planted; EDEN stretchd her Line 211: From AURAN Eastward to the Royal Towrs 212: Of great SELEUCIA, built by GRECIAN Kings, 213: Or where the Sons of EDEN long before 214: Dwelt in TELASSAR: in this pleasant soile 215: His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind; 216: Out of the fertil ground he caus'd to grow 217: All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; 218: And all amid them stood the Tree of Life, 219: High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit 220: Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life 221: Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by, 222: Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill. 223: Southward through EDEN went a River large, 224: Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggie hill 225: Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown 226: That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd 227: Upon the rapid current, which through veins 228: Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn, 229: Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill 230: Waterd the Garden; thence united fell 231: Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood, 232: Which from his darksom passage now appeers, 233: And now divided into four main Streams, 234: Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme 235: And Country whereof here needs no account, 236: But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, 237: How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks, 238: Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold, 239: With mazie error under pendant shades 240: Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 241: Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art 242: In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon 243: Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine, 244: Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote 245: The open field, and where the unpierc't shade 246: Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place, 247: A happy rural seat of various view; 248: Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme, 249: Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde 250: Hung amiable, HESPERIAN Fables true, 251: If true, here onely, and of delicious taste: 252: Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks 253: Grasing the tender herb, were interpos'd, 254: Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap 255: Of som irriguous Valley spread her store, 256: Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose: 257: Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves 258: Of coole recess, o're which the mantling Vine 259: Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps 260: Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall 261: Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake, 262: That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd, 263: Her chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams. 264: The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires, 265: Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune 266: The trembling leaves, while Universal PAN 267: Knit with the GRACES and the HOURS in dance 268: Led on th' Eternal Spring. Not that faire field 269: Of ENNA, where PROSERPIN gathring flours 270: Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie DIS 271: Was gatherd, which cost CERES all that pain 272: To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove 273: Of DAPHNE by ORONTES, and th' inspir'd 274: CASTALIAN Spring might with this Paradise 275: Of EDEN strive; nor that NYSEIAN Ile 276: Girt with the River TRITON, where old CHAM, 277: Whom Gentiles AMMON call and LIBYAN JOVE, 278: Hid AMALTHEA and her Florid Son 279: Young BACCHUS from his Stepdame RHEA'S eye; 280: Nor where ABASSIN Kings thir issue Guard, 281: Mount AMARA, though this by som suppos'd 282: True Paradise under the ETHIOP Line 283: By NILUS head, enclos'd with shining Rock, 284: A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote 285: From this ASSYRIAN Garden, where the Fiend 286: Saw undelighted all delight, all kind 287: Of living Creatures new to sight and strange: 288: Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, 289: Godlike erect, with native Honour clad 290: In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all, 291: And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine 292: The image of thir glorious Maker shon, 293: Truth, Wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure, 294: Severe, but in true filial freedom plac't; 295: Whence true autoritie in men; though both 296: Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd; 297: For contemplation hee and valour formd, 298: For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace, 299: Hee for God only, shee for God in him: 300: His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd 301: Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks 302: Round from his parted forelock manly hung 303: Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: 304: Shee as a vail down to the slender waste 305: Her unadorned golden tresses wore 306: Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav'd 307: As the Vine curles her tendrils, which impli'd 308: Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, 309: And by her yeilded, by him best receivd, 310: Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride, 311: And sweet reluctant amorous delay. 312: Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald, 313: Then was not guiltie shame, dishonest shame 314: Of natures works, honor dishonorable, 315: Sin-bred, how have ye troubl'd all mankind 316: With shews instead, meer shews of seeming pure, 317: And banisht from mans life his happiest life, 318: Simplicitie and spotless innocence. 319: So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight 320: Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: 321: So hand in hand they passd, the lovliest pair 322: That ever since in loves imbraces met, 323: ADAM the goodliest man of men since borne 324: His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters EVE. 325: Under a tuft of shade that on a green 326: Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side 327: They sat them down, and after no more toil 328: Of thir sweet Gardning labour then suffic'd 329: To recommend coole ZEPHYR, and made ease 330: More easie, wholsom thirst and appetite 331: More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell, 332: Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughes 333: Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline 334: On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours: 335: The savourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde 336: Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; 337: Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 338: Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems 339: Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League, 340: Alone as they. About them frisking playd 341: All Beasts of th' Earth, since wilde, and of all chase 342: In Wood or Wilderness, Forrest or Den; 343: Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw 344: Dandl'd the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards 345: Gambold before them, th' unwieldy Elephant 346: To make them mirth us'd all his might, & wreathd 347: His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly 348: Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 349: His breaded train, and of his fatal guile 350: Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 351: Coucht, and now fild with pasture gazing sat, 352: Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun 353: Declin'd was hasting now with prone carreer 354: To th' Ocean Iles, and in th' ascending Scale 355: Of Heav'n the Starrs that usher Evening rose: 356: When SATAN still in gaze, as first he stood, 357: Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad. 358: O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold, 359: Into our room of bliss thus high advanc't 360: Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 361: Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright 362: Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue 363: With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 364: In them Divine resemblance, and such grace 365: The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd. 366: Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh 367: Your change approaches, when all these delights 368: Will vanish and deliver ye to woe, 369: More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; 370: Happie, but for so happie ill secur'd 371: Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav'n 372: Ill fenc't for Heav'n to keep out such a foe 373: As now is enterd; yet no purpos'd foe 374: To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne 375: Though I unpittied: League with you I seek, 376: And mutual amitie so streight, so close, 377: That I with you must dwell, or you with me 378: Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please 379: Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such 380: Accept your Makers work; he gave it me, 381: Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfould, 382: To entertain you two, her widest Gates, 383: And send forth all her Kings; there will be room, 384: Not like these narrow limits, to receive 385: Your numerous ofspring; if no better place, 386: Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge 387: On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd. 388: And should I at your harmless innocence 389: Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just, 390: Honour and Empire with revenge enlarg'd, 391: By conquering this new World, compels me now 392: To do what else though damnd I should abhorre. 393: So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie, 394: The Tyrants plea, excus'd his devilish deeds. 395: Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree 396: Down he alights among the sportful Herd 397: Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one, 398: Now other, as thir shape servd best his end 399: Neerer to view his prey, and unespi'd 400: To mark what of thir state he more might learn 401: By word or action markt: about them round 402: A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare, 403: Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd 404: In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play, 405: Strait couches close, then rising changes oft 406: His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground 407: Whence rushing he might surest seise them both 408: Grip't in each paw: when ADAM first of men 409: To first of women EVE thus moving speech, 410: Turnd him all eare to heare new utterance flow. 411: Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes, 412: Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power 413: That made us, and for us this ample World 414: Be infinitly good, and of his good 415: As liberal and free as infinite, 416: That rais'd us from the dust and plac't us here 417: In all this happiness, who at his hand 418: Have nothing merited, nor can performe 419: Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires 420: From us no other service then to keep 421: This one, this easie charge, of all the Trees 422: In Paradise that beare delicious fruit 423: So various, not to taste that onely Tree 424: Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life, 425: So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is, 426: Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst 427: God hath pronounc't it death to taste that Tree, 428: The only sign of our obedience left 429: Among so many signes of power and rule 430: Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n 431: Over all other Creatures that possesse 432: Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard 433: One easie prohibition, who enjoy 434: Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 435: Unlimited of manifold delights: 436: But let us ever praise him, and extoll 437: His bountie, following our delightful task 438: To prune these growing Plants, & tend these Flours, 439: Which were it toilsom, yet with thee were sweet. 440: To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom 441: And from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh, 442: And without whom am to no end, my Guide 443: And Head, what thou hast said is just and right. 444: For wee to him indeed all praises owe, 445: And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy 446: So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee 447: Preeminent by so much odds, while thou 448: Like consort to thy self canst no where find. 449: That day I oft remember, when from sleep 450: I first awak't, and found my self repos'd 451: Under a shade on flours, much wondring where 452: And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 453: Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound 454: Of waters issu'd from a Cave and spread 455: Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd 456: Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went 457: With unexperienc't thought, and laid me downe 458: On the green bank, to look into the cleer 459: Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie. 460: As I bent down to look, just opposite, 461: A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd 462: Bending to look on me, I started back, 463: It started back, but pleasd I soon returnd, 464: Pleas'd it returnd as soon with answering looks 465: Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt 466: Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, 467: Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest, 468: What there thou seest fair Creature is thy self, 469: With thee it came and goes: but follow me, 470: And I will bring thee where no shadow staies 471: Thy coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee 472: Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy 473: Inseparablie thine, to him shalt beare 474: Multitudes like thy self, and thence be call'd 475: Mother of human Race: what could I doe, 476: But follow strait, invisibly thus led? 477: Till I espi'd thee, fair indeed and tall, 478: Under a Platan, yet methought less faire, 479: Less winning soft, less amiablie milde, 480: Then that smooth watry image; back I turnd, 481: Thou following cryd'st aloud, Return fair EVE, 482: Whom fli'st thou? whom thou fli'st, of him thou art, 483: His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent 484: Out of my side to thee, neerest my heart 485: Substantial Life, to have thee by my side 486: Henceforth an individual solace dear; 487: Part of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim 488: My other half: with that thy gentle hand 489: Seisd mine, I yeilded, and from that time see 490: How beauty is excelld by manly grace 491: And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. 492: So spake our general Mother, and with eyes 493: Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, 494: And meek surrender, half imbracing leand 495: On our first Father, half her swelling Breast 496: Naked met his under the flowing Gold 497: Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight 498: Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms 499: Smil'd with superior Love, as JUPITER 500: On JUNO smiles, when he impregns the Clouds 501: That shed MAY Flowers; and press'd her Matron lip 502: With kisses pure: aside the Devil turnd 503: For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne 504: Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind. 505: Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two 506: Imparadis't in one anothers arms 507: The happier EDEN, shall enjoy thir fill 508: Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust, 509: Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, 510: Among our other torments not the least, 511: Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines; 512: Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd 513: From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems: 514: One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge call'd, 515: Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidd'n? 516: Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir Lord 517: Envie them that? can it be sin to know, 518: Can it be death? and do they onely stand 519: By Ignorance, is that thir happie state, 520: The proof of thir obedience and thir faith? 521: O fair foundation laid whereon to build 522: Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds 523: With more desire to know, and to reject 524: Envious commands, invented with designe 525: To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt 526: Equal with Gods; aspiring to be such, 527: They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? 528: But first with narrow search I must walk round 529: This Garden, and no corner leave unspi'd; 530: A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 531: Some wandring Spirit of Heav'n, by Fountain side, 532: Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw 533: What further would be learnt. Live while ye may, 534: Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return, 535: Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed. 536: So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd, 537: But with sly circumspection, and began 538: Through wood, through waste, o're hil, o're dale his roam. 539: Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heav'n 540: With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun 541: Slowly descended, and with right aspect 542: Against the eastern Gate of Paradise 543: Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock 544: Of Alablaster, pil'd up to the Clouds, 545: Conspicuous farr, winding with one ascent 546: Accessible from Earth, one entrance high; 547: The rest was craggie cliff, that overhung 548: Still as it rose, impossible to climbe. 549: Betwixt these rockie Pillars GABRIEL sat 550: Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night; 551: About him exercis'd Heroic Games 552: Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand 553: Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares 554: Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold. 555: Thither came URIEL, gliding through the Eeven 556: On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr 557: In AUTUMN thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd 558: Impress the Air, and shews the Mariner 559: From what point of his Compass to beware 560: Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste. 561: GABRIEL, to thee thy cours by Lot hath giv'n 562: Charge and strict watch that to this happie place 563: No evil thing approach or enter in; 564: This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare 565: A Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know 566: More of th' Almighties works, and chiefly Man 567: Gods latest Image: I describ'd his way 568: Bent all on speed, and markt his Aerie Gate; 569: But in the Mount that lies from EDEN North, 570: Where he first lighted, soon discernd his looks 571: Alien from Heav'n, with passions foul obscur'd: 572: Mine eye pursu'd him still, but under shade 573: Lost sight of him; one of the banisht crew 574: I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise 575: New troubles; him thy care must be to find. 576: To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd: 577: URIEL, no wonder if thy perfet sight, 578: Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst, 579: See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pass 580: The vigilance here plac't, but such as come 581: Well known from Heav'n; and since Meridian hour 582: No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort, 583: So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds 584: On purpose, hard thou knowst it to exclude 585: Spiritual substance with corporeal barr. 586: But if within the circuit of these walks 587: In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 588: Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know. 589: So promis'd hee, and URIEL to his charge 590: Returnd on that bright beam, whose point now raisd 591: Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fall'n 592: Beneath th' AZORES; whither the prime Orb, 593: Incredible how swift, had thither rowl'd 594: Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth 595: By shorter flight to th' East, had left him there 596: Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold 597: The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend: 598: Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray 599: Had in her sober Liverie all things clad; 600: Silence accompanied, for Beast and Bird, 601: They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests 602: Were slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale; 603: She all night long her amorous descant sung; 604: Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament 605: With living Saphirs: HESPERUS that led 606: The starrie Host, rode brightest, till the Moon 607: Rising in clouded Majestie, at length 608: Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light, 609: And o're the dark her Silver Mantle threw. 610: When ADAM thus to EVE: Fair Consort, th' hour 611: Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest 612: Mind us of like repose, since God hath set 613: Labour and rest, as day and night to men 614: Successive, and the timely dew of sleep 615: Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines 616: Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long 617: Rove idle unimploid, and less need rest; 618: Man hath his daily work of body or mind 619: Appointed, which declares his Dignitie, 620: And the regard of Heav'n on all his waies; 621: While other Animals unactive range, 622: And of thir doings God takes no account. 623: Tomorrow ere fresh Morning streak the East 624: With first approach of light, we must be ris'n, 625: And at our pleasant labour, to reform 626: Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green, 627: Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown, 628: That mock our scant manuring, and require 629: More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth: 630: Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms, 631: That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth, 632: Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; 633: Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest. 634: To whom thus EVE with perfet beauty adornd. 635: My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst 636: Unargu'd I obey; so God ordains, 637: God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more 638: Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise. 639: With thee conversing I forget all time, 640: All seasons and thir change, all please alike. 641: Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, 642: With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun 643: When first on this delightful Land he spreads 644: His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour, 645: Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth 646: After soft showers; and sweet the coming on 647: Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night 648: With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon, 649: And these the Gemms of Heav'n, her starrie train: 650: But neither breath of Morn when she ascends 651: With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun 652: On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure, 653: Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers, 654: Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night 655: With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon, 656: Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet. 657: But wherfore all night long shine these, for whom 658: This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? 659: To whom our general Ancestor repli'd. 660: Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht EVE, 661: Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth, 662: By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land 663: In order, though to Nations yet unborn, 664: Ministring light prepar'd, they set and rise; 665: Least total darkness should by Night regaine 666: Her old possession, and extinguish life 667: In Nature and all things, which these soft fires 668: Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate 669: Of various influence foment and warme, 670: Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 671: Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow 672: On Earth, made hereby apter to receive 673: Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray. 674: These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 675: Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, 676: That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise; 677: Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth 678: Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: 679: All these with ceasless praise his works behold 680: Both day and night: how often from the steep 681: Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard 682: Celestial voices to the midnight air, 683: Sole, or responsive each to others note 684: Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands 685: While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk 686: With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds 687: In full harmonic number joind, thir songs 688: Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. 689: Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd 690: On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place 691: Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he fram'd 692: All things to mans delightful use; the roofe 693: Of thickest covert was inwoven shade 694: Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew 695: Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 696: ACANTHUS, and each odorous bushie shrub 697: Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour, 698: IRIS all hues, Roses, and Gessamin 699: Rear'd high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought 700: Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, 701: Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay 702: Broiderd the ground, more colour'd then with stone 703: Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here 704: Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none; 705: Such was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower 706: More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd, 707: PAN or SILVANUS never slept, nor Nymph, 708: Nor FAUNUS haunted. Here in close recess 709: With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs 710: Espoused EVE deckt first her Nuptial Bed, 711: And heav'nly Quires the Hymenaean sung, 712: What day the genial Angel to our Sire 713: Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, 714: More lovely then PANDORA, whom the Gods 715: Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like 716: In sad event, when to the unwiser Son 717: Of JAPHET brought by HERMES, she ensnar'd 718: Mankind with her faire looks, to be aveng'd 719: On him who had stole JOVES authentic fire. 720: Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood, 721: Both turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd 722: The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth & Heav'n 723: Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe 724: And starrie Pole: Thou also mad'st the Night, 725: Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day, 726: Which we in our appointed work imployd 727: Have finisht happie in our mutual help 728: And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss 729: Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place 730: For us too large, where thy abundance wants 731: Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 732: But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race 733: To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll 734: Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, 735: And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. 736: This said unanimous, and other Rites 737: Observing none, but adoration pure 738: Which God likes best, into thir inmost bower 739: Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off 740: These troublesom disguises which wee wear, 741: Strait side by side were laid, nor turnd I weene 742: ADAM from his fair Spouse, nor EVE the Rites 743: Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd: 744: Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk 745: Of puritie and place and innocence, 746: Defaming as impure what God declares 747: Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all. 748: Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain 749: But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? 750: Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source 751: Of human ofspring, sole proprietie, 752: In Paradise of all things common else. 753: By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men 754: Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee 755: Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure, 756: Relations dear, and all the Charities 757: Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known. 758: Farr be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, 759: Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, 760: Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets, 761: Whose Bed is undefil'd and chast pronounc't, 762: Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd. 763: Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights 764: His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings, 765: Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 766: Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard, 767: Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours 768: Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal, 769: Or Serenate, which the starv'd Lover sings 770: To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 771: These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept, 772: And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof 773: Showrd Roses, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on, 774: Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek 775: No happier state, and know to know no more. 776: Now had night measur'd with her shaddowie Cone 777: Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault, 778: And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim 779: Forth issuing at th' accustomd hour stood armd 780: To thir night watches in warlike Parade, 781: When GABRIEL to his next in power thus spake. 782: UZZIEL, half these draw off, and coast the South 783: With strictest watch; these other wheel the North, 784: Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part 785: Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear. 786: From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld 787: That neer him stood, and gave them thus in charge. 788: ITHURIEL and ZEPHON, with wingd speed 789: Search through this Garden, leav unsearcht no nook, 790: But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge, 791: Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harme. 792: This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd 793: Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen 794: Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd 795: The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: 796: Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. 797: So saying, on he led his radiant Files, 798: Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct 799: In search of whom they sought: him there they found 800: Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of EVE; 801: Assaying by his Devilish art to reach 802: The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge 803: Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams, 804: Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 805: Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arise 806: Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise 807: At least distemperd, discontented thoughts, 808: Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate desires 809: Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. 810: Him thus intent ITHURIEL with his Spear 811: Touch'd lightly; for no falshood can endure 812: Touch of Celestial temper, but returns 813: Of force to its own likeness: up he starts 814: Discoverd and surpriz'd. As when a spark 815: Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid 816: Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store 817: Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine 818: With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire: 819: So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 820: Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd 821: So sudden to behold the grieslie King; 822: Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon. 823: Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell 824: Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison, and transform'd, 825: Why satst thou like an enemie in waite 826: Here watching at the head of these that sleep? 827: Know ye not then said SATAN, filld with scorn, 828: Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate 829: For you, there sitting where ye durst not soare; 830: Not to know mee argues your selves unknown, 831: The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, 832: Why ask ye, and superfluous begin 833: Your message, like to end as much in vain? 834: To whom thus ZEPHON, answering scorn with scorn. 835: Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, 836: Or undiminisht brightness, to be known 837: As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure; 838: That Glorie then, when thou no more wast good, 839: Departed from thee, and thou resembl'st now 840: Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule. 841: But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account 842: To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep 843: This place inviolable, and these from harm. 844: So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke 845: Severe in youthful beautie, added grace 846: Invincible: abasht the Devil stood, 847: And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 848: Vertue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pin'd 849: His loss; but chiefly to find here observd 850: His lustre visibly impar'd; yet seemd 851: Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, 852: Best with the best, the Sender not the sent, 853: Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn, 854: Or less be lost. Thy fear, said ZEPHON bold, 855: Will save us trial what the least can doe 856: Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. 857: The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage; 858: But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on, 859: Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie 860: He held it vain; awe from above had quelld 861: His heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh 862: The western point, where those half-rounding guards 863: Just met, & closing stood in squadron joind 864: Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief 865: GABRIEL from the Front thus calld aloud. 866: O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet 867: Hasting this way, and now by glimps discerne 868: ITHURIEL and ZEPHON through the shade, 869: And with them comes a third of Regal port, 870: But faded splendor wan; who by his gate 871: And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, 872: Not likely to part hence without contest; 873: Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. 874: He scarce had ended, when those two approachd 875: And brief related whom they brought, wher found, 876: How busied, in what form and posture coucht. 877: To whom with stern regard thus GABRIEL spake. 878: Why hast thou, SATAN, broke the bounds prescrib'd 879: To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge 880: Of others, who approve not to transgress 881: By thy example, but have power and right 882: To question thy bold entrance on this place; 883: Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep, and those 884: Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss? 885: To whom thus SATAN with contemptuous brow. 886: GABRIEL, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise, 887: And such I held thee; but this question askt 888: Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain? 889: Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, 890: Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt, 891: And boldly venture to whatever place 892: Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change 893: Torment with ease, & soonest recompence 894: Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; 895: To thee no reason; who knowst only good, 896: But evil hast not tri'd: and wilt object 897: His will who bound us? let him surer barr 898: His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay 899: In that dark durance: thus much what was askt. 900: The rest is true, they found me where they say; 901: But that implies not violence or harme. 902: Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, 903: Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd. 904: O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise, 905: Since SATAN fell, whom follie overthrew, 906: And now returns him from his prison scap't, 907: Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 908: Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 909: Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd; 910: So wise he judges it to fly from pain 911: However, and to scape his punishment. 912: So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth, 913: Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight 914: Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 915: Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 916: Can equal anger infinite provok't. 917: But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 918: Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them 919: Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they 920: Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief, 921: The first in flight from pain, had'st thou alleg'd 922: To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 923: Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. 924: To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern. 925: Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 926: Insulting Angel, well thou knowst I stood 927: Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide 928: The blasting volied Thunder made all speed 929: And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear. 930: But still thy words at random, as before, 931: Argue thy inexperience what behooves 932: From hard assaies and ill successes past 933: A faithful Leader, not to hazard all 934: Through wayes of danger by himself untri'd. 935: I therefore, I alone first undertook 936: To wing the desolate Abyss, and spie 937: This new created World, whereof in Hell 938: Fame is not silent, here in hope to find 939: Better abode, and my afflicted Powers 940: To settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire; 941: Though for possession put to try once more 942: What thou and thy gay Legions dare against; 943: Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord 944: High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymne his Throne, 945: And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight. 946: To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd. 947: To say and strait unsay, pretending first 948: Wise to flie pain, professing next the Spie, 949: Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't, 950: SATAN, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 951: O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd! 952: Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? 953: Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head; 954: Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd, 955: Your military obedience, to dissolve 956: Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power supream? 957: And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 958: Patron of liberty, who more then thou 959: Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly ador'd 960: Heav'ns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 961: To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne? 962: But mark what I arreede thee now, avant; 963: Flie thither whence thou fledst: if from this houre 964: Within these hallowd limits thou appeer, 965: Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind, 966: And Seale thee so, as henceforth not to scorne 967: The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd. 968: So threatn'd hee, but SATAN to no threats 969: Gave heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd. 970: Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines, 971: Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then 972: Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel 973: From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King 974: Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers, 975: Us'd to the yoak, draw'st his triumphant wheels 976: In progress through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd. 977: While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright 978: Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes 979: Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round 980: With ported Spears, as thick as when a field 981: Of CERES ripe for harvest waving bends 982: Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind 983: Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands 984: Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves 985: Prove chaff. On th' other side SATAN allarm'd 986: Collecting all his might dilated stood, 987: Like TENERIFF or ATLAS unremov'd: 988: His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest 989: Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his graspe 990: What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds 991: Might have ensu'd, nor onely Paradise 992: In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope 993: Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements 994: At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne 995: With violence of this conflict, had not soon 996: Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray 997: Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen 998: Betwixt ASTREA and the SCORPION signe, 999: Wherein all things created first he weighd, 1000: The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire 1001: In counterpoise, now ponders all events, 1002: Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights 1003: The sequel each of parting and of fight; 1004: The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam; 1005: Which GABRIEL spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 1006: SATAN, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine, 1007: Neither our own but giv'n; what follie then 1008: To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more 1009: Then Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubld now 1010: To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, 1011: And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign 1012: Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak, 1013: If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew 1014: His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled 1015: Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. Book 5 1: Now Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime 2: Advancing, sow'd the Earth with Orient Pearle, 3: When ADAM wak't, so customd, for his sleep 4: Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred, 5: And temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound 6: Of leaves and fuming rills, AURORA's fan, 7: Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill Matin Song 8: Of Birds on every bough; so much the more 9: His wonder was to find unwak'nd EVE 10: With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek, 11: As through unquiet rest: he on his side 12: Leaning half-rais'd, with looks of cordial Love 13: Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld 14: Beautie, which whether waking or asleep, 15: Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice 16: Milde, as when ZEPHYRUS on FLORA breathes, 17: Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake 18: My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, 19: Heav'ns last best gift, my ever new delight, 20: Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field 21: Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring 22: Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove, 23: What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed, 24: How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee 25: Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet. 26: Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye 27: On ADAM, whom imbracing, thus she spake. 28: O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 29: My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see 30: Thy face, and Morn return'd, for I this Night, 31: Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd, 32: If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee, 33: Works of day pass't, or morrows next designe, 34: But of offence and trouble, which my mind 35: Knew never till this irksom night; methought 36: Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk 37: With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said, 38: Why sleepst thou EVE? now is the pleasant time, 39: The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 40: To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake 41: Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now reignes 42: Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light 43: Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain, 44: If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes, 45: Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire, 46: In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment 47: Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. 48: I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; 49: To find thee I directed then my walk; 50: And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways 51: That brought me on a sudden to the Tree 52: Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seem'd, 53: Much fairer to my Fancie then by day: 54: And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood 55: One shap'd & wing'd like one of those from Heav'n 56: By us oft seen; his dewie locks distill'd 57: Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd; 58: And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd, 59: Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet, 60: Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despis'd? 61: Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste? 62: Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 63: Longer thy offerd good, why else set here? 64: This said he paus'd not, but with ventrous Arme 65: He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror chil'd 66: At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold: 67: But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine, 68: Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt, 69: Forbidd'n here, it seems, as onely fit 70: For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: 71: And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more 72: Communicated, more abundant growes, 73: The Author not impair'd, but honourd more? 74: Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic EVE, 75: Partake thou also; happie though thou art, 76: Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be: 77: Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods 78: Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind, 79: But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes 80: Ascend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see 81: What life the Gods live there, and such live thou. 82: So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, 83: Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part 84: Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell 85: So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought, 86: Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds 87: With him I flew, and underneath beheld 88: The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide 89: And various: wondring at my flight and change 90: To this high exaltation; suddenly 91: My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down, 92: And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd 93: To find this but a dream! Thus EVE her Night 94: Related, and thus ADAM answerd sad. 95: Best Image of my self and dearer half, 96: The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep 97: Affects me equally; nor can I like 98: This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear; 99: Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, 100: Created pure. But know that in the Soule 101: Are many lesser Faculties that serve 102: Reason as chief; among these Fansie next 103: Her office holds; of all external things, 104: Which the five watchful Senses represent, 105: She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes, 106: Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames 107: All what we affirm or what deny, and call 108: Our knowledge or opinion; then retires 109: Into her private Cell when Nature rests. 110: Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes 111: To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes, 112: Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams, 113: Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. 114: Som such resemblances methinks I find 115: Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream, 116: But with addition strange; yet be not sad. 117: Evil into the mind of God or Man 118: May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave 119: No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope 120: That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream, 121: Waking thou never wilt consent to do. 122: Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks 123: That wont to be more chearful and serene 124: Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World, 125: And let us to our fresh imployments rise 126: Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours 127: That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells 128: Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store. 129: So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard, 130: But silently a gentle tear let fall 131: From either eye, and wip'd them with her haire; 132: Two other precious drops that ready stood, 133: Each in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell 134: Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 135: And pious awe, that feard to have offended. 136: So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste. 137: But first from under shadie arborous roof, 138: Soon as they forth were come to open sight 139: Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen 140: With wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim, 141: Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray, 142: Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East 143: Of Paradise and EDENS happie Plains, 144: Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began 145: Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid 146: In various style, for neither various style 147: Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 148: Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounc't or sung 149: Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence 150: Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse, 151: More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp 152: To add more sweetness, and they thus began. 153: These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 154: Almightie, thine this universal Frame, 155: Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then! 156: Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens 157: To us invisible or dimly seen 158: In these thy lowest works, yet these declare 159: Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine: 160: Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light, 161: Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs 162: And choral symphonies, Day without Night, 163: Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heav'n, 164: On Earth joyn all yee Creatures to extoll 165: Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. 166: Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night, 167: If better thou belong not to the dawn, 168: Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn 169: With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare 170: While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime. 171: Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule, 172: Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise 173: In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st, 174: And when high Noon hast gaind, & when thou fallst. 175: Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now fli'st 176: With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies, 177: And yee five other wandring Fires that move 178: In mystic Dance not without Song, resound 179: His praise, who out of Darkness call'd up Light. 180: Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth 181: Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run 182: Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix 183: And nourish all things, let your ceasless change 184: Varie to our great Maker still new praise. 185: Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise 186: From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey, 187: Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold, 188: In honour to the Worlds great Author rise, 189: Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie, 190: Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers, 191: Rising or falling still advance his praise. 192: His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow, 193: Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines, 194: With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave. 195: Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow, 196: Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. 197: Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds, 198: That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend, 199: Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise; 200: Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk 201: The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; 202: Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven, 203: To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade 204: Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise. 205: Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still 206: To give us onely good; and if the night 207: Have gathered aught of evil or conceald, 208: Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark. 209: So pray'd they innocent, and to thir thoughts 210: Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm. 211: On to thir mornings rural work they haste 212: Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row 213: Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr 214: Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check 215: Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine 216: To wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines 217: Her mariageable arms, and with her brings 218: Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn 219: His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld 220: With pittie Heav'ns high King, and to him call'd 221: RAPHAEL, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd 222: To travel with TOBIAS, and secur'd 223: His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid. 224: RAPHAEL, said hee, thou hear'st what stir on Earth 225: SATAN from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf 226: Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd 227: This night the human pair, how he designes 228: In them at once to ruin all mankind. 229: Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend 230: Converse with ADAM, in what Bowre or shade 231: Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd, 232: To respit his day-labour with repast, 233: Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, 234: As may advise him of his happie state, 235: Happiness in his power left free to will, 236: Left to his own free Will, his Will though free, 237: Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware 238: He swerve not too secure: tell him withall 239: His danger, and from whom, what enemie 240: Late falln himself from Heav'n, is plotting now 241: The fall of others from like state of bliss; 242: By violence, no, for that shall be withstood, 243: But by deceit and lies; this let him know, 244: Least wilfully transgressing he pretend 245: Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd. 246: So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld 247: All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint 248: After his charge receivd, but from among 249: Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood 250: Vaild with his gorgeous wings, up springing light 251: Flew through the midst of Heav'n; th' angelic Quires 252: On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 253: Through all th' Empyreal road; till at the Gate 254: Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-opend wide 255: On golden Hinges turning, as by work 256: Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd. 257: From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, 258: Starr interpos'd, however small he sees, 259: Not unconform to other shining Globes, 260: Earth and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crownd 261: Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass 262: Of GALILEO, less assur'd, observes 263: Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon: 264: Or Pilot from amidst the CYCLADES 265: DELOS or SAMOS first appeering kenns 266: A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight 267: He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie 268: Sailes between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing 269: Now on the polar windes, then with quick Fann 270: Winnows the buxom Air; till within soare 271: Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems 272: A PHOENIX, gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird 273: When to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's 274: Bright Temple, to AEGYPTIAN THEB'S he flies. 275: At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise 276: He lights, and to his proper shape returns 277: A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade 278: His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad 279: Each shoulder broad, came mantling o're his brest 280: With regal Ornament; the middle pair 281: Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round 282: Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold 283: And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet 284: Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile 285: Skie-tinctur'd grain. Like MAIA'S son he stood, 286: And shook his Plumes, that Heav'nly fragrance filld 287: The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands 288: Of Angels under watch; and to his state, 289: And to his message high in honour rise; 290: For on som message high they guessd him bound. 291: Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come 292: Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe, 293: And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balme; 294: A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here 295: Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will 296: Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet, 297: Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss. 298: Him through the spicie Forrest onward com 299: ADAM discernd, as in the dore he sat 300: Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun 301: Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme 302: Earths inmost womb, more warmth then ADAM need; 303: And EVE within, due at her hour prepar'd 304: For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please 305: True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 306: Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream, 307: Berrie or Grape: to whom thus ADAM call'd. 308: Haste hither EVE, and worth thy sight behold 309: Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape 310: Comes this way moving; seems another Morn 311: Ris'n on mid-noon; som great behest from Heav'n 312: To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe 313: This day to be our Guest. But goe with speed, 314: And what thy stores contain, bring forth and poure 315: Abundance, fit to honour and receive 316: Our Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford 317: Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow 318: From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies 319: Her fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows 320: More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 321: To whom thus EVE. ADAM, earths hallowd mould, 322: Of God inspir'd, small store will serve, where store, 323: All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; 324: Save what by frugal storing firmness gains 325: To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: 326: But I will haste and from each bough and break, 327: Each Plant & juciest Gourd will pluck such choice 328: To entertain our Angel guest, as hee 329: Beholding shall confess that here on Earth 330: God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heav'n. 331: So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste 332: She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent 333: What choice to chuse for delicacie best, 334: What order, so contriv'd as not to mix 335: Tastes, not well joynd, inelegant, but bring 336: Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change, 337: Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk 338: Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds 339: In INDIA East or West, or middle shoare 340: In PONTUS or the PUNIC Coast, or where 341: ALCINOUS reign'd, fruit of all kindes, in coate, 342: Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell 343: She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board 344: Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape 345: She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes 346: From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest 347: She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold 348: Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground 349: With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd. 350: Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet 351: His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train 352: Accompani'd then with his own compleat 353: Perfections, in himself was all his state, 354: More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits 355: On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long 356: Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold 357: Dazles the croud, and sets them all agape. 358: Neerer his presence ADAM though not awd, 359: Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, 360: As to a superior Nature, bowing low, 361: Thus said. Native of Heav'n, for other place 362: None can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain; 363: Since by descending from the Thrones above, 364: Those happie places thou hast deignd a while 365: To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us 366: Two onely, who yet by sov'ran gift possess 367: This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre 368: To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears 369: To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 370: Be over, and the Sun more coole decline. 371: Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde. 372: ADAM, I therefore came, nor art thou such 373: Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 374: As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n 375: To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre 376: Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise 377: I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge 378: They came, that like POMONA'S Arbour smil'd 379: With flourets deck't and fragrant smells; but EVE 380: Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair 381: Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd 382: Of three that in Mount IDA naked strove, 383: Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no vaile 384: Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme 385: Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel HAILE 386: Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd 387: Long after to blest MARIE, second EVE. 388: Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb 389: Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons 390: Then with these various fruits the Trees of God 391: Have heap'd this Table. Rais'd of grassie terf 392: Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round, 393: And on her ample Square from side to side 394: All AUTUMN pil'd, though SPRING and AUTUMN here 395: Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; 396: No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began 397: Our Authour. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste 398: These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom 399: All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends, 400: To us for food and for delight hath caus'd 401: The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps 402: To spiritual Natures; only this I know, 403: That one Celestial Father gives to all. 404: To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives 405: (Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part 406: Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found 407: No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure 408: Intelligential substances require 409: As doth your Rational; and both contain 410: Within them every lower facultie 411: Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, 412: Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 413: And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 414: For know, whatever was created, needs 415: To be sustaind and fed; of Elements 416: The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, 417: Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires 418: Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon; 419: Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd 420: Vapours not yet into her substance turnd. 421: Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale 422: From her moist Continent to higher Orbes. 423: The Sun that light imparts to all, receives 424: From all his alimental recompence 425: In humid exhalations, and at Even 426: Sups with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees 427: Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines 428: Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn 429: We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground 430: Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here 431: Varied his bounty so with new delights, 432: As may compare with Heaven; and to taste 433: Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, 434: And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly 435: The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 436: Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch 437: Of real hunger, and concoctive heate 438: To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires 439: Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire 440: Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist 441: Can turn, or holds it possible to turn 442: Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold 443: As from the Mine. Mean while at Table EVE 444: Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups 445: With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence 446: Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, 447: Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin 448: Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts 449: Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousie 450: Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell. 451: Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd, 452: Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose 453: In ADAM, not to let th' occasion pass 454: Given him by this great Conference to know 455: Of things above his World, and of thir being 456: Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he saw 457: Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms 458: Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far 459: Exceeded human, and his wary speech 460: Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd. 461: Inhabitant with God, now know I well 462: Thy favour, in this honour done to man, 463: Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't 464: To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 465: Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 466: As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 467: At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare? 468: To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd. 469: O ADAM, one Almightie is, from whom 470: All things proceed, and up to him return, 471: If not deprav'd from good, created all 472: Such to perfection, one first matter all, 473: Indu'd with various forms, various degrees 474: Of substance, and in things that live, of life; 475: But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure, 476: As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending 477: Each in thir several active Sphears assignd, 478: Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 479: Proportiond to each kind. So from the root 480: Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 481: More aerie, last the bright consummate floure 482: Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit 483: Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd 484: To vital Spirits aspire, to animal, 485: To intellectual, give both life and sense, 486: Fansie and understanding, whence the soule 487: Reason receives, and reason is her being, 488: Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse 489: Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, 490: Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 491: Wonder not then, what God for you saw good 492: If I refuse not, but convert, as you, 493: To proper substance; time may come when men 494: With Angels may participate, and find 495: No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare: 496: And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 497: Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit 498: Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend 499: Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice 500: Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell; 501: If ye be found obedient, and retain 502: Unalterably firm his love entire 503: Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy 504: Your fill what happiness this happie state 505: Can comprehend, incapable of more. 506: To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd. 507: O favourable spirit, propitious guest, 508: Well hast thou taught the way that might direct 509: Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set 510: From center to circumference, whereon 511: In contemplation of created things 512: By steps we may ascend to God. But say, 513: What meant that caution joind, IF YE BE FOUND 514: OBEDIENT? can wee want obedience then 515: To him, or possibly his love desert 516: Who formd us from the dust, and plac'd us here 517: Full to the utmost measure of what bliss 518: Human desires can seek or apprehend? 519: To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth, 520: Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God; 521: That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self, 522: That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. 523: This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. 524: God made thee perfet, not immutable; 525: And good he made thee, but to persevere 526: He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will 527: By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate 528: Inextricable, or strict necessity; 529: Our voluntarie service he requires, 530: Not our necessitated, such with him 531: Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how 532: Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve 533: Willing or no, who will but what they must 534: By Destinie, and can no other choose? 535: My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand 536: In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state 537: Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; 538: On other surety none; freely we serve. 539: Because wee freely love, as in our will 540: To love or not; in this we stand or fall: 541: And som are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, 542: And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall 543: From what high state of bliss into what woe! 544: To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words 545: Attentive, and with more delighted eare 546: Divine instructer, I have heard, then when 547: Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills 548: Aereal Music send: nor knew I not 549: To be both will and deed created free; 550: Yet that we never shall forget to love 551: Our maker, and obey him whose command 552: Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts 553: Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst 554: Hath past in Heav'n, som doubt within me move, 555: But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 556: The full relation, which must needs be strange, 557: Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard; 558: And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun 559: Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins 560: His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n. 561: Thus ADAM made request, and RAPHAEL 562: After short pause assenting, thus began. 563: High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men, 564: Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate 565: To human sense th' invisible exploits 566: Of warring Spirits; how without remorse 567: The ruin of so many glorious once 568: And perfet while they stood; how last unfould 569: The secrets of another world, perhaps 570: Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 571: This is dispenc't, and what surmounts the reach 572: Of human sense, I shall delineate so, 573: By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms, 574: As may express them best, though what if Earth 575: Be but the shaddow of Heav'n, and things therein 576: Each to other like, more then on earth is thought? 577: As yet this world was not, and CHAOS wilde 578: Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl, where Earth now rests 579: Upon her Center pois'd, when on a day 580: (For Time, though in Eternitie, appli'd 581: To motion, measures all things durable 582: By present, past, and future) on such day 583: As Heav'ns great Year brings forth, th' Empyreal Host 584: Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd, 585: Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne 586: Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd 587: Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright 588: Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd, 589: Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare 590: Streame in the Aire, and for distinction serve 591: Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees; 592: Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd 593: Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love 594: Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes 595: Of circuit inexpressible they stood, 596: Orb within Orb, the Father infinite, 597: By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son, 598: Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whoseop 599: Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. 600: Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light, 601: Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, 602: Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand. 603: This day I have begot whom I declare 604: My onely Son, and on this holy Hill 605: Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 606: At my right hand; your Head I him appoint; 607: And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow 608: All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord: 609: Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide 610: United as one individual Soule 611: For ever happie: him who disobeyes 612: Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day 613: Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls 614: Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place 615: Ordaind without redemption, without end. 616: So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words 617: All seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all. 618: That day, as other solem dayes, they spent 619: In song and dance about the sacred Hill, 620: Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare 621: Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles 622: Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 623: Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular 624: Then most, when most irregular they seem: 625: And in thir motions harmonie Divine 626: So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear 627: Listens delighted. Eevning approachd 628: (For we have also our Eevning and our Morn, 629: We ours for change delectable, not need) 630: Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 631: Desirous, all in Circles as they stood, 632: Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd 633: With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows: 634: In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold, 635: Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heav'n. 636: They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet 637: Are fill'd, before th' all bounteous King, who showrd 638: With copious hand, rejoycing in thir joy. 639: Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd 640: From that high mount of God, whence light & shade 641: Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had changd 642: To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there 643: In darker veile) and roseat Dews dispos'd 644: All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest, 645: Wide over all the Plain, and wider farr 646: Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred, 647: (Such are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng 648: Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend 649: By living Streams among the Trees of Life, 650: Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard, 651: Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept 652: Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course 653: Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne 654: Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd 655: SATAN, so call him now, his former name 656: Is heard no more Heav'n; he of the first, 657: If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power, 658: In favour and praeeminence, yet fraught 659: With envie against the Son of God, that day 660: Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd 661: MESSIAH King anointed, could not beare 662: Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird. 663: Deep malice thence conceiving & disdain, 664: Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre 665: Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd 666: With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave 667: Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supream 668: Contemptuous, and his next subordinate 669: Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake. 670: Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close 671: Thy eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree 672: Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips 673: Of Heav'ns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts 674: Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; 675: Both waking we were one; how then can now 676: Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest impos'd; 677: New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise 678: In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate 679: What doubtful may ensue, more in this place 680: To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 681: Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief; 682: Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night 683: Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste, 684: And all who under me thir Banners wave, 685: Homeward with flying march where we possess 686: The Quarters of the North, there to prepare 687: Fit entertainment to receive our King 688: The great MESSIAH, and his new commands, 689: Who speedily through all the Hierarchies 690: Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws. 691: So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd 692: Bad influence into th' unwarie brest 693: Of his Associate; hee together calls, 694: Or several one by one, the Regent Powers, 695: Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught, 696: That the most High commanding, now ere Night, 697: Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n, 698: The great Hierarchal Standard was to move; 699: Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 700: Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 701: Or taint integritie; but all obey'd 702: The wonted signal, and superior voice 703: Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed 704: His name, and high was his degree in Heav'n; 705: His count'nance, as the Morning Starr that guides 706: The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with lyes 707: Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host: 708: Mean while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discernes 709: Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount 710: And from within the golden Lamps that burne 711: Nightly before him, saw without thir light 712: Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spred 713: Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes 714: Were banded to oppose his high Decree; 715: And smiling to his onely Son thus said. 716: Son, thou in whom my glory I behold 717: In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, 718: Neerly it now concernes us to be sure 719: Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms 720: We mean to hold what anciently we claim 721: Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe 722: Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne 723: Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North; 724: Nor so content, hath in his thought to trie 725: In battel, what our Power is, or our right. 726: Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 727: With speed what force is left, and all imploy 728: In our defence, lest unawares we lose 729: This our high place, our Sanctuarie, our Hill. 730: To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer 731: Light'ning Divine, ineffable, serene, 732: Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes 733: Justly hast in derision, and secure 734: Laugh'st at thir vain designes and tumults vain, 735: Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate 736: Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power 737: Giv'n me to quell thir pride, and in event 738: Know whether I be dextrous to subdue 739: Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n. 740: So spake the Son, but SATAN with his Powers 741: Farr was advanc't on winged speed, an Host 742: Innumerable as the Starrs of Night, 743: Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun 744: Impearls on every leaf and every flouer. 745: Regions they pass'd, the mightie Regencies 746: Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones 747: In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which 748: All thy Dominion, ADAM, is no more 749: Then what this Garden is to all the Earth, 750: And all the Sea, from one entire globose 751: Stretcht into Longitude; which having pass'd 752: At length into the limits of the North 753: They came, and SATAN to his Royal seat 754: High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount 755: Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs 756: From Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold, 757: The Palace of great LUCIFER, (so call 758: That Structure in the Dialect of men 759: Interpreted) which not long after, hee 760: Affecting all equality with God, 761: In imitation of that Mount whereon 762: MESSIAH was declar'd in sight of Heav'n, 763: The Mountain of the Congregation call'd; 764: For thither he assembl'd all his Train, 765: Pretending so commanded to consult 766: About the great reception of thir King, 767: Thither to come, and with calumnious Art 768: Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears. 769: Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers, 770: If these magnific Titles yet remain 771: Not meerly titular, since by Decree 772: Another now hath to himself ingross't 773: All Power, and us eclipst under the name 774: Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 775: Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here, 776: This onely to consult how we may best 777: With what may be devis'd of honours new 778: Receive him coming to receive from us 779: Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile, 780: Too much to one, but double how endur'd, 781: To one and to his image now proclaim'd? 782: But what if better counsels might erect 783: Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke? 784: Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend 785: The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust 786: To know ye right, or if ye know your selves 787: Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before 788: By none, and if not equal all, yet free, 789: Equally free; for Orders and Degrees 790: Jarr not with liberty, but well consist. 791: Who can in reason then or right assume 792: Monarchie over such as live by right 793: His equals, if in power and splendor less, 794: In freedome equal? or can introduce 795: Law and Edict on us, who without law 796: Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord, 797: And look for adoration to th' abuse 798: Of those Imperial Titles which assert 799: Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve? 800: Thus farr his bold discourse without controule 801: Had audience, when among the Seraphim 802: ABDIEL, then whom none with more zeale ador'd 803: The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd, 804: Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe 805: The current of his fury thus oppos'd. 806: O argument blasphemous, false and proud! 807: Words which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n 808: Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate 809: In place thy self so high above thy Peeres. 810: Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne 811: The just Decree of God, pronounc't and sworn, 812: That to his only Son by right endu'd 813: With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heav'n 814: Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due 815: Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist 816: Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free, 817: And equal over equals to let Reigne, 818: One over all with unsucceeded power. 819: Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute 820: With him the points of libertie, who made 821: Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n 822: Such as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being? 823: Yet by experience taught we know how good, 824: And of our good, and of our dignitie 825: How provident he is, how farr from thought 826: To make us less, bent rather to exalt 827: Our happie state under one Head more neer 828: United. But to grant it thee unjust, 829: That equal over equals Monarch Reigne: 830: Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count, 831: Or all Angelic Nature joind in one, 832: Equal to him begotten Son, by whom 833: As by his Word the mighty Father made 834: All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n 835: By him created in thir bright degrees, 836: Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd 837: Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers 838: Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur'd, 839: But more illustrious made, since he the Head 840: One of our number thus reduc't becomes, 841: His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done 842: Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, 843: And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease 844: Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son, 845: While Pardon may be found in time besought. 846: So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale 847: None seconded, as out of season judg'd, 848: Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd 849: Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus repli'd. 850: That we were formd then saist thou? & the work 851: Of secondarie hands, by task transferd 852: From Father to his Son? strange point and new! 853: Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw 854: When this creation was? rememberst thou 855: Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 856: We know no time when we were not as now; 857: Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd 858: By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course 859: Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature 860: Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons. 861: Our puissance is our own, our own right hand 862: Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 863: Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold 864: Whether by supplication we intend 865: Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne 866: Beseeching or besieging. This report, 867: These tidings carrie to th' anointed King; 868: And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. 869: He said, and as the sound of waters deep 870: Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause 871: Through the infinite Host, nor less for that 872: The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone 873: Encompass'd round with foes, thus answerd bold. 874: O alienate from God, O spirit accurst, 875: Forsak'n of all good; I see thy fall 876: Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd 877: In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred 878: Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth 879: No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke 880: Of Gods MESSIAH; those indulgent Laws 881: Will not be now voutsaf't, other Decrees 882: Against thee are gon forth without recall; 883: That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject 884: Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake 885: Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise, 886: Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly 887: These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrauth 888: Impendent, raging into sudden flame 889: Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel 890: His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 891: Then who created thee lamenting learne, 892: When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 893: So spake the Seraph ABDIEL faithful found, 894: Among the faithless, faithful only hee; 895: Among innumerable false, unmov'd, 896: Unshak'n, unseduc'd, unterrifi'd 897: His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale; 898: Nor number, nor example with him wrought 899: To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind 900: Though single. From amidst them forth he passd, 901: Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind 902: Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught; 903: And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd 904: On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd. Book 6 1: All night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd 2: Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn, 3: Wak't by the circling Hours, with rosie hand 4: Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave 5: Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, 6: Where light and darkness in perpetual round 7: Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav'n 8: Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night; 9: Light issues forth, and at the other dore 10: Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre 11: To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might well 12: Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn 13: Such as in highest Heav'n, arrayd in Gold 14: Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night, 15: Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain 16: Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright, 17: Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds 18: Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: 19: Warr he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found 20: Already known what he for news had thought 21: To have reported: gladly then he mixt 22: Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd 23: With joy and acclamations loud, that one 24: That of so many Myriads fall'n, yet one 25: Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill 26: They led him high applauded, and present 27: Before the seat supream; from whence a voice 28: From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard. 29: Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought 30: The better fight, who single hast maintaind 31: Against revolted multitudes the Cause 32: Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; 33: And for the testimonie of Truth hast born 34: Universal reproach, far worse to beare 35: Then violence: for this was all thy care 36: To stand approv'd in sight of God, though Worlds 37: Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now 38: Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, 39: Back on thy foes more glorious to return 40: Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue 41: By force, who reason for thir Law refuse, 42: Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King 43: MESSIAH, who by right of merit Reigns. 44: Goe MICHAEL of Celestial Armies Prince, 45: And thou in Military prowess next 46: GABRIEL, lead forth to Battel these my Sons 47: Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints 48: By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight; 49: Equal in number to that Godless crew 50: Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms 51: Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heav'n 52: Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss, 53: Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf 54: Of TARTARUS, which ready opens wide 55: His fiery CHAOS to receave thir fall. 56: So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began 57: To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl 58: In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe 59: Of wrauth awak't: nor with less dread the loud 60: Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: 61: At which command the Powers Militant, 62: That stood for Heav'n, in mighty Quadrate joyn'd 63: Of Union irresistible, mov'd on 64: In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound 65: Of instrumental Harmonie that breath'd 66: Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds 67: Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause 68: Of God and his MESSIAH. On they move 69: Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill, 70: Nor streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides 71: Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground 72: Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore 73: Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind 74: Of Birds in orderly array on wing 75: Came summond over EDEN to receive 76: Thir names of thee; so over many a tract 77: Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a Province wide 78: Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last 79: Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd 80: From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht 81: In battailous aspect, and neerer view 82: Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable 83: Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng'd, and Shields 84: Various, with boastful Argument portraid, 85: The banded Powers of SATAN hasting on 86: With furious expedition; for they weend 87: That self same day by fight, or by surprize 88: To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne 89: To set the envier of his State, the proud 90: Aspirer, but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain 91: In the mid way: though strange to us it seemd 92: At first, that Angel should with Angel warr, 93: And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet 94: So oft in Festivals of joy and love 95: Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire 96: Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout 97: Of Battel now began, and rushing sound 98: Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 99: High in the midst exalted as a God 100: Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate 101: Idol of Majestie Divine, enclos'd 102: With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields; 103: Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now 104: 'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left, 105: A dreadful interval, and Front to Front 106: Presented stood in terrible array 107: Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van, 108: On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd, 109: SATAN with vast and haughtie strides advanc't, 110: Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; 111: ABDIEL that sight endur'd not, where he stood 112: Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 113: And thus his own undaunted heart explores. 114: O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest 115: Should yet remain, where faith and realtie 116: Remain not; wherfore should not strength & might 117: There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove 118: Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable? 119: His puissance, trusting in th' Almightie's aide, 120: I mean to try, whose Reason I have tri'd 121: Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, 122: That he who in debate of Truth hath won, 123: Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike 124: Victor; though brutish that contest and foule, 125: When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so 126: Most reason is that Reason overcome. 127: So pondering, and from his armed Peers 128: Forth stepping opposite, half way he met 129: His daring foe, at this prevention more 130: Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd. 131: Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht 132: The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd, 133: The Throne of God unguarded, and his side 134: Abandond at the terror of thy Power 135: Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain 136: Against th' Omnipotent to rise in Arms; 137: Who out of smallest things could without end 138: Have rais'd incessant Armies to defeat 139: Thy folly; or with solitarie hand 140: Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow 141: Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd 142: Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest 143: All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith 144: Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then 145: To thee not visible, when I alone 146: Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent 147: From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late 148: How few somtimes may know, when thousands err. 149: Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance 150: Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre 151: Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst 152: From flight, seditious Angel, to receave 153: Thy merited reward, the first assay 154: Of this right hand provok't, since first that tongue 155: Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose 156: A third part of the Gods, in Synod met 157: Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel 158: Vigour Divine within them, can allow 159: Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst 160: Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 161: From me som Plume, that thy success may show 162: Destruction to the rest: this pause between 163: (Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know; 164: At first I thought that Libertie and Heav'n 165: To heav'nly Soules had bin all one; but now 166: I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 167: Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song; 168: Such hast thou arm'd, the Minstrelsie of Heav'n, 169: Servilitie with freedom to contend, 170: As both thir deeds compar'd this day shall prove. 171: To whom in brief thus ABDIEL stern repli'd. 172: Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find 173: Of erring, from the path of truth remote: 174: Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name 175: Of SERVITUDE to serve whom God ordains, 176: Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same, 177: When he who rules is worthiest, and excells 178: Them whom he governs. This is servitude, 179: To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebelld 180: Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 181: Thy self not free, but to thy self enthrall'd; 182: Yet leudly dar'st our ministring upbraid. 183: Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve 184: In Heav'n God ever blessed, and his Divine 185: Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd, 186: Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while 187: From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, 188: This greeting on thy impious Crest receive. 189: So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, 190: Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 191: On the proud Crest of SATAN, that no sight, 192: Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield 193: Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge 194: He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee 195: His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth 196: Winds under ground or waters forcing way 197: Sidelong, had push't a Mountain from his seat 198: Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis'd 199: The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see 200: Thus foil'd thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout, 201: Presage of Victorie and fierce desire 202: Of Battel: whereat MICHAEL bid sound 203: Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav'n 204: It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung 205: HOSANNA to the Highest: nor stood at gaze 206: The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn'd 207: The horrid shock: now storming furie rose, 208: And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now 209: Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd 210: Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles 211: Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise 212: Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss 213: Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew, 214: And flying vaulted either Host with fire. 215: Sounder fierie Cope together rush'd 216: Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault 217: And inextinguishable rage; all Heav'n 218: Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth 219: Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when 220: Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought 221: On either side, the least of whom could weild 222: These Elements, and arm him with the force 223: Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power 224: Armie against Armie numberless to raise 225: Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, 226: Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat; 227: Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent 228: From his strong hold of Heav'n high over-rul'd 229: And limited thir might; though numberd such 230: As each divided Legion might have seemd 231: A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand 232: A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd 233: Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert 234: When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway 235: Of Battel, open when, and when to close 236: The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight, 237: None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 238: That argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd, 239: As onely in his arm the moment lay 240: Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame 241: Were don, but infinite: for wide was spred 242: That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground 243: A standing fight, then soaring on main wing 244: Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then 245: Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale 246: The Battel hung; till SATAN, who that day 247: Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes 248: No equal, raunging through the dire attack 249: Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length 250: Saw where the Sword of MICHAEL smote, and fell'd 251: Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway 252: Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down 253: Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand 254: He hasted, and oppos'd the rockie Orb 255: Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield 256: A vast circumference: At his approach 257: The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile 258: Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end 259: Intestine War in Heav'n, the arch foe subdu'd 260: Or Captive drag'd in Chains, with hostile frown 261: And visage all enflam'd first thus began. 262: Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, 263: Unnam'd in Heav'n, now plenteous, as thou seest 264: These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, 265: Though heaviest by just measure on thy self 266: And thy adherents: how hast thou disturb'd 267: Heav'ns blessed peace, and into Nature brought 268: Miserie, uncreated till the crime 269: Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instill'd 270: Thy malice into thousands, once upright 271: And faithful, now prov'd false. But think not here 272: To trouble Holy Rest; Heav'n casts thee out 273: From all her Confines. Heav'n the seat of bliss 274: Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. 275: Hence then, and evil go with thee along 276: Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell, 277: Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles, 278: Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome, 279: Or som more sudden vengeance wing'd from God 280: Precipitate thee with augmented paine. 281: So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus 282: The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind 283: Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds 284: Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these 285: To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 286: Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee 287: That thou shouldst hope, imperious, & with threats 288: To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end 289: The strife which thou call'st evil, but wee style 290: The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, 291: Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell 292: Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, 293: If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force, 294: And join him nam'd ALMIGHTIE to thy aid, 295: I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh. 296: They ended parle, and both addrest for fight 297: Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue 298: Of Angels, can relate, or to what things 299: Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift 300: Human imagination to such highth 301: Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd, 302: Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms 303: Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n. 304: Now wav'd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire 305: Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields 306: Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood 307: In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd 308: Where erst was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng, 309: And left large field, unsafe within the wind 310: Of such commotion, such as to set forth 311: Great things by small, If Natures concord broke, 312: Among the Constellations warr were sprung, 313: Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne 314: Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie, 315: Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. 316: Together both with next to Almightie Arme, 317: Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd 318: That might determine, and not need repeate, 319: As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd 320: In might or swift prevention; but the sword 321: Of MICHAEL from the Armorie of God 322: Was giv'n him temperd so, that neither keen 323: Nor solid might resist that edge: it met 324: The sword of SATAN with steep force to smite 325: Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, 326: But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shar'd 327: All his right side; then SATAN first knew pain, 328: And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore 329: The griding sword with discontinuous wound 330: Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance clos'd 331: Not long divisible, and from the gash 332: A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd 333: Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed, 334: And all his Armour staind ere while so bright. 335: Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run 336: By Angels many and strong, who interpos'd 337: Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields 338: Back to his Chariot; where it stood retir'd 339: From off the files of warr; there they him laid 340: Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame 341: To find himself not matchless, and his pride 342: Humbl'd by such rebuke, so farr beneath 343: His confidence to equal God in power. 344: Yet soon he heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout 345: Vital in every part, not as frail man 346: In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines, 347: Cannot but by annihilating die; 348: Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound 349: Receive, no more then can the fluid Aire: 350: All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, 351: All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please, 352: They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size 353: Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. 354: Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd 355: Memorial, where the might of GABRIEL fought, 356: And with fierce Ensignes pierc'd the deep array 357: Of MOLOC furious King, who him defi'd, 358: And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound 359: Threatn'd, nor from the Holie One of Heav'n 360: Refrein'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon 361: Down clov'n to the waste, with shatterd Armes 362: And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing 363: URIEL and RAPHAEL his vaunting foe, 364: Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd, 365: Vanquish'd ADRAMELEC, and ASMADAI, 366: Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods 367: Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight, 368: Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile. 369: Nor stood unmindful ABDIEL to annoy 370: The Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow 371: ARIEL and ARIOC, and the violence 372: Of RAMIEL scorcht and blasted overthrew. 373: I might relate of thousands, and thir names 374: Eternize here on Earth; but those elect 375: Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n 376: Seek not the praise of men: the other sort 377: In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr, 378: Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome 379: Canceld from Heav'n and sacred memorie, 380: Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 381: For strength from Truth divided and from Just, 382: Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise 383: And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires 384: Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: 385: Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. 386: And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swerv'd, 387: With many an inrode gor'd; deformed rout 388: Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground 389: With shiverd armour strow'n, and on a heap 390: Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd 391: And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld 392: Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host 393: Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surpris'd, 394: Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of paine 395: Fled ignominious, to such evil brought 396: By sinne of disobedience, till that hour 397: Not liable to fear or flight or paine. 398: Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints 399: In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc't entire, 400: Invulnerable, impenitrably arm'd: 401: Such high advantages thir innocence 402: Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd, 403: Not to have disobei'd; in fight they stood 404: Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd 405: By wound, though from thir place by violence mov'd. 406: Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n 407: Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, 408: And silence on the odious dinn of Warr: 409: Under her Cloudie covert both retir'd, 410: Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field 411: MICHAEL and his Angels prevalent 412: Encamping, plac'd in Guard thir Watches round, 413: Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part 414: SATAN with his rebellious disappeerd, 415: Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest, 416: His Potentates to Councel call'd by night; 417: And in the midst thus undismai'd began. 418: O now in danger tri'd, now known in Armes 419: Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare, 420: Found worthy not of Libertie alone, 421: Too mean pretense, but what we more affect, 422: Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne, 423: Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight, 424: (And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?) 425: What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send 426: Against us from about his Throne, and judg'd 427: Sufficient to subdue us to his will, 428: But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, 429: Of future we may deem him, though till now 430: Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 431: Some disadvantage we endur'd and paine, 432: Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd, 433: Since now we find this our Empyreal forme 434: Incapable of mortal injurie 435: Imperishable, and though peirc'd with wound, 436: Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd. 437: Of evil then so small as easie think 438: The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes, 439: Weapons more violent, when next we meet, 440: May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 441: Or equal what between us made the odds, 442: In Nature none: if other hidden cause 443: Left them Superiour, while we can preserve 444: Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound, 445: Due search and consultation will disclose. 446: He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood 447: NISROC, of Principalities the prime; 448: As one he stood escap't from cruel fight, 449: Sore toild, his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn, 450: And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. 451: Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free 452: Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard 453: For Gods, and too unequal work we find 454: Against unequal armes to fight in paine, 455: Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil 456: Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes 457: Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain 458: Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands 459: Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well 460: Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 461: But live content, which is the calmest life: 462: But pain is perfet miserie, the worst 463: Of evils, and excessive, overturnes 464: All patience. He who therefore can invent 465: With what more forcible we may offend 466: Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme 467: Our selves with like defence, to mee deserves 468: No less then for deliverance what we owe. 469: Whereto with look compos'd SATAN repli'd. 470: Not uninvented that, which thou aright 471: Beleivst so main to our success, I bring; 472: Which of us who beholds the bright surface 473: Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand, 474: This continent of spacious Heav'n, adornd 475: With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold, 476: Whose Eye so superficially surveyes 477: These things, as not to mind from whence they grow 478: Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, 479: Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht 480: With Heav'ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth 481: So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light. 482: These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep 483: Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame, 484: Which into hallow Engins long and round 485: Thick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fire 486: Dilated and infuriate shall send forth 487: From far with thundring noise among our foes 488: Such implements of mischief as shall dash 489: To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands 490: Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd 491: The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. 492: Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne, 493: Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; 494: Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind 495: Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird. 496: He ended, and his words thir drooping chere 497: Enlightn'd, and thir languisht hope reviv'd. 498: Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how hee 499: To be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemd 500: Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 501: Impossible: yet haply of thy Race 502: In future dayes, if Malice should abound, 503: Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd 504: With dev'lish machination might devise 505: Like instrument to plague the Sons of men 506: For sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent. 507: Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, 508: None arguing stood, innumerable hands 509: Were ready, in a moment up they turnd 510: Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath 511: Th' originals of Nature in thir crude 512: Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame 513: They found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art, 514: Concocted and adusted they reduc'd 515: To blackest grain, and into store conveyd: 516: Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth 517: Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, 518: Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls 519: Of missive ruin; part incentive reed 520: Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 521: So all ere day spring, under conscious Night 522: Secret they finish'd, and in order set, 523: With silent circumspection unespi'd. 524: Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd 525: Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms 526: The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood 527: Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host, 528: Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills 529: Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure, 530: Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe, 531: Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, 532: In motion or in alt: him soon they met 533: Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow 534: But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail 535: ZEPHIEL, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, 536: Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd. 537: Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand, 538: Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit 539: This day, fear not his flight; so thick a Cloud 540: He comes, and settl'd in his face I see 541: Sad resolution and secure: let each 542: His Adamantine coat gird well, and each 543: Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield, 544: Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down, 545: If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr, 546: But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire. 547: So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon 548: In order, quit of all impediment; 549: Instant without disturb they took Allarm, 550: And onward move Embattelld; when behold 551: Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe 552: Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube 553: Training his devilish Enginrie, impal'd 554: On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep, 555: To hide the fraud. At interview both stood 556: A while, but suddenly at head appeerd 557: SATAN: And thus was heard Commanding loud. 558: Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould; 559: That all may see who hate us, how we seek 560: Peace and composure, and with open brest 561: Stand readie to receive them, if they like 562: Our overture, and turn not back perverse; 563: But that I doubt, however witness Heaven, 564: Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge 565: Freely our part: yee who appointed stand 566: Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch 567: What we propound, and loud that all may hear. 568: So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce 569: Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front 570: Divided, and to either Flank retir'd. 571: Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange, 572: A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid 573: On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seem'd 574: Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr 575: With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd) 576: Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes 577: With hideous orifice gap't on us wide, 578: Portending hollow truce; at each behind 579: A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed 580: Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, 581: Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd, 582: Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds 583: Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd 584: With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, 585: But soon obscur'd with smoak, all Heav'n appeerd, 586: From those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roar 587: Emboweld with outragious noise the Air, 588: And all her entrails tore, disgorging foule 589: Thir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail 590: Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host 591: Level'd, with such impetuous furie smote, 592: That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand, 593: Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell 594: By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd; 595: The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they might 596: Have easily as Spirits evaded swift 597: By quick contraction or remove; but now 598: Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout; 599: Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files. 600: What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse 601: Repeated, and indecent overthrow 602: Doubl'd, would render them yet more despis'd, 603: And to thir foes a laughter; for in view 604: Stood rankt of Seraphim another row 605: In posture to displode thir second tire 606: Of Thunder: back defeated to return 607: They worse abhorr'd. SATAN beheld thir plight, 608: And to his Mates thus in derision call'd. 609: O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud? 610: Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, 611: To entertain them fair with open Front 612: And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms 613: Of composition, strait they chang'd thir minds, 614: Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 615: As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemd 616: Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps 617: For joy of offerd peace: but I suppose 618: If our proposals once again were heard 619: We should compel them to a quick result. 620: To whom thus BELIAL in like gamesom mood. 621: Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight, 622: Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home, 623: Such as we might perceive amus'd them all, 624: And stumbl'd many, who receives them right, 625: Had need from head to foot well understand; 626: Not understood, this gift they have besides, 627: They shew us when our foes walk not upright. 628: So they among themselves in pleasant veine 629: Stood scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond 630: All doubt of Victorie, eternal might 631: To match with thir inventions they presum'd 632: So easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn, 633: And all his Host derided, while they stood 634: A while in trouble; but they stood not long, 635: Rage prompted them at length, & found them arms 636: Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. 637: Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power 638: Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd) 639: Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills 640: (For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n 641: Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale) 642: Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew, 643: From thir foundations loosning to and fro 644: They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load, 645: Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops 646: Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze, 647: Be sure, and terrour seis'd the rebel Host, 648: When coming towards them so dread they saw 649: The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd, 650: Till on those cursed Engins triple-row 651: They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence 652: Under the weight of Mountains buried deep, 653: Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads 654: Main Promontories flung, which in the Air 655: Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions arm'd, 656: Thir armor help'd thir harm, crush't in and brus'd 657: Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain 658: Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, 659: Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind 660: Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 661: Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. 662: The rest in imitation to like Armes 663: Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore; 664: So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills 665: Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire, 666: That under ground they fought in dismal shade; 667: Infernal noise; Warr seem'd a civil Game 668: To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt 669: Upon confusion rose: and now all Heav'n 670: Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, 671: Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits 672: Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure, 673: Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen 674: This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd: 675: That his great purpose he might so fulfill, 676: To honour his Anointed Son aveng'd 677: Upon his enemies, and to declare 678: All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son 679: Th' Assessor of his Throne he thus began. 680: Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov'd, 681: Son in whose face invisible is beheld 682: Visibly, what by Deitie I am, 683: And in whose hand what by Decree I doe, 684: Second Omnipotence, two dayes are past, 685: Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav'n, 686: Since MICHAEL and his Powers went forth to tame 687: These disobedient; sore hath been thir fight, 688: As likeliest was, when two such Foes met arm'd; 689: For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst, 690: Equal in their Creation they were form'd, 691: Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wrought 692: Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom; 693: Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 694: Endless, and no solution will be found: 695: Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do, 696: And to disorder'd rage let loose the reines, 697: With Mountains as with Weapons arm'd, which makes 698: Wild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to the maine. 699: Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine; 700: For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus farr 701: Have sufferd, that the Glorie may be thine 702: Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou 703: Can end it. Into thee such Vertue and Grace 704: Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know 705: In Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare, 706: And this perverse Commotion governd thus, 707: To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir 708: Of all things, to be Heir and to be King 709: By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right. 710: Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might, 711: Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles 712: That shake Heav'ns basis, bring forth all my Warr, 713: My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie Arms 714: Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh; 715: Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them out 716: From all Heav'ns bounds into the utter Deep: 717: There let them learn, as likes them, to despise 718: God and MESSIAH his anointed King. 719: He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct 720: Shon full, he all his Father full exprest 721: Ineffably into his face receiv'd, 722: And thus the filial Godhead answering spake. 723: O Father, O Supream of heav'nly Thrones, 724: First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekst 725: To glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee, 726: As is most just; this I my Glorie account, 727: My exaltation, and my whole delight, 728: That thou in me well pleas'd, declarst thy will 729: Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss. 730: Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume, 731: And gladlier shall resign, when in the end 732: Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee 733: For ever, and in mee all whom thou lov'st: 734: But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on 735: Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, 736: Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, 737: Armd with thy might, rid heav'n of these rebell'd, 738: To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven down 739: To chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm, 740: That from thy just obedience could revolt, 741: Whom to obey is happiness entire. 742: Then shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th' impure 743: Farr separate, circling thy holy Mount 744: Unfained HALLELUIAHS to thee sing, 745: Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief. 746: So said, he o're his Scepter bowing, rose 747: From the right hand of Glorie where he sate, 748: And the third sacred Morn began to shine 749: Dawning through Heav'n: forth rush'd with whirlwind sound 750: The Chariot of Paternal Deitie, 751: Flashing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn, 752: It self instinct with Spirit, but convoyd 753: By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each 754: Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all 755: And Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels 756: Of Beril, and careering Fires between; 757: Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament, 758: Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pure 759: Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch. 760: Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd 761: Of radiant URIM, work divinely wrought, 762: Ascended, at his right hand Victorie 763: Sate Eagle-wing'd, beside him hung his Bow 764: And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stor'd, 765: And from about him fierce Effusion rowld 766: Of smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire; 767: Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, 768: He onward came, farr off his coming shon, 769: And twentie thousand (I thir number heard) 770: Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen: 771: Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime 772: On the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thron'd. 773: Illustrious farr and wide, but by his own 774: First seen, them unexpected joy surpriz'd, 775: When the great Ensign of MESSIAH blaz'd 776: Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n: 777: Under whose Conduct MICHAEL soon reduc'd 778: His Armie, circumfus'd on either Wing, 779: Under thir Head imbodied all in one. 780: Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd; 781: At his command the uprooted Hills retir'd 782: Each to his place, they heard his voice and went 783: Obsequious, Heav'n his wonted face renewd, 784: And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd. 785: This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdur'd, 786: And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers 787: Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. 788: In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? 789: But to convince the proud what Signs availe, 790: Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent? 791: They hard'nd more by what might most reclame, 792: Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight 793: Took envie, and aspiring to his highth, 794: Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by force or fraud 795: Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile 796: Against God and MESSIAH, or to fall 797: In universal ruin last, and now 798: To final Battel drew, disdaining flight, 799: Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God 800: To all his Host on either hand thus spake. 801: Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand 802: Ye Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest; 803: Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God 804: Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause, 805: And as ye have receivd, so have ye don 806: Invincibly; but of this cursed crew 807: The punishment to other hand belongs, 808: Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints; 809: Number to this dayes work is not ordain'd 810: Nor multitude, stand onely and behold 811: Gods indignation on these Godless pourd 812: By mee; not you but mee they have despis'd, 813: Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage, 814: Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supream 815: Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, 816: Hath honourd me according to his will. 817: Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd; 818: That they may have thir wish, to trie with mee 819: In Battel which the stronger proves, they all, 820: Or I alone against them, since by strength 821: They measure all, of other excellence 822: Not emulous, nor care who them excells; 823: Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe. 824: So spake the Son, and into terrour chang'd 825: His count'nance too severe to be beheld 826: And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies. 827: At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings 828: With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes 829: Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound 830: Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. 831: Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove, 832: Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles 833: The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout, 834: All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon 835: Among them he arriv'd; in his right hand 836: Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent 837: Before him, such as in thir Soules infix'd 838: Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost, 839: All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd; 840: O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode 841: Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, 842: That wish'd the Mountains now might be again 843: Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire. 844: Nor less on either side tempestuous fell 845: His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Foure, 846: Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, 847: Distinct alike with multitude of eyes, 848: One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye 849: Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire 850: Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength, 851: And of thir wonted vigour left them draind, 852: Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n. 853: Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd 854: His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant 855: Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n: 856: The overthrown he rais'd, and as a Heard 857: Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd 858: Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'd 859: With terrors and with furies to the bounds 860: And Chrystall wall of Heav'n, which op'ning wide, 861: Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd 862: Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight 863: Strook them with horror backward, but far worse 864: Urg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they threw 865: Down from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauth 866: Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. 867: Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw 868: Heav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fled 869: Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep 870: Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 871: Nine dayes they fell; confounded CHAOS roard, 872: And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall 873: Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout 874: Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last 875: Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clos'd, 876: Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire 877: Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine. 878: Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repaird 879: Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld. 880: Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes 881: MESSIAH his triumphal Chariot turnd: 882: To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood 883: Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts, 884: With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they went, 885: Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, 886: Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King, 887: Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv'n, 888: Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode 889: Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the Courts 890: And Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd 891: On high; who into Glorie him receav'd, 892: Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 893: Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth 894: At thy request, and that thou maist beware 895: By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd 896: What might have else to human Race bin hid; 897: The discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'n 898: Among th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fall 899: Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld 900: With SATAN, hee who envies now thy state, 901: Who now is plotting how he may seduce 902: Thee also from obedience, that with him 903: Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake 904: His punishment, Eternal miserie; 905: Which would be all his solace and revenge, 906: As a despite don against the most High, 907: Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe. 908: But list'n not to his Temptations, warne 909: Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard 910: By terrible Example the reward 911: Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, 912: Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. Book 7 1: Descend from Heav'n URANIA, by that name 2: If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine 3: Following, above th' OLYMPIAN Hill I soare, 4: Above the flight of PEGASEAN wing. 5: The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou 6: Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top 7: Of old OLYMPUS dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne, 8: Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd, 9: Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse, 10: Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play 11: In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd 12: With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee 13: Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd, 14: An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire, 15: Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down 16: Return me to my Native Element: 17: Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once 18: BELLEROPHON, though from a lower Clime) 19: Dismounted, on th' ALEIAN Field I fall 20: Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne. 21: Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound 22: Within the visible Diurnal Spheare; 23: Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole, 24: More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd 25: To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes, 26: On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues; 27: In darkness, and with dangers compast rouud, 28: And solitude; yet not alone, while thou 29: Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn 30: Purples the East: still govern thou my Song, 31: URANIA, and fit audience find, though few. 32: But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance 33: Of BACCHUS and his Revellers, the Race 34: Of that wilde Rout that tore the THRACIAN Bard 35: In RHODOPE, where Woods and Rocks had Eares 36: To rapture, till the savage clamor dround 37: Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend 38: Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: 39: For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame. 40: Say Goddess, what ensu'd when RAPHAEL, 41: The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd 42: ADAM by dire example to beware 43: Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven 44: To those Apostates, least the like befall 45: In Paradise to ADAM or his Race, 46: Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree, 47: If they transgress, and slight that sole command, 48: So easily obeyd amid the choice 49: Of all tasts else to please thir appetite, 50: Though wandring. He with his consorted EVE 51: The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd 52: With admiration, and deep Muse to heare 53: Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought 54: So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n, 55: And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss 56: With such confusion: but the evil soon 57: Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those 58: From whom it sprung, impossible to mix 59: With Blessedness. Whence ADAM soon repeal'd 60: The doubts that in his heart arose: and now 61: Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know 62: What neerer might concern him, how this World 63: Of Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began, 64: When, and whereof created, for what cause, 65: What within EDEN or without was done 66: Before his memorie, as one whose drouth 67: Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame, 68: Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, 69: Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest. 70: Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, 71: Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd 72: Divine Interpreter, by favour sent 73: Down from the Empyrean to forewarne 74: Us timely of what might else have bin our loss, 75: Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach: 76: For which to the infinitly Good we owe 77: Immortal thanks, and his admonishment 78: Receave with solemne purpose to observe 79: Immutably his sovran will, the end 80: Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf't 81: Gently for our instruction to impart 82: Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd 83: Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd, 84: Deign to descend now lower, and relate 85: What may no less perhaps availe us known, 86: How first began this Heav'n which we behold 87: Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd 88: Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills 89: All space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'd 90: Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause 91: Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest 92: Through all Eternitie so late to build 93: In CHAOS, and the work begun, how soon 94: Absolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfould 95: What wee, not to explore the secrets aske 96: Of his Eternal Empire, but the more 97: To magnifie his works, the more we know. 98: And the great Light of Day yet wants to run 99: Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n 100: Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, 101: And longer will delay to heare thee tell 102: His Generation, and the rising Birth 103: Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: 104: Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon 105: Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring 106: Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch, 107: Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song 108: End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine. 109: Thus ADAM his illustrous Guest besought: 110: And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. 111: This also thy request with caution askt 112: Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works 113: What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, 114: Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? 115: Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve 116: To glorifie the Maker, and inferr 117: Thee also happier, shall not be withheld 118: Thy hearing, such Commission from above 119: I have receav'd, to answer thy desire 120: Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 121: To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope 122: Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King, 123: Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night, 124: To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: 125: Anough is left besides to search and know. 126: But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less 127: Her Temperance over Appetite, to know 128: In measure what the mind may well contain, 129: Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns 130: Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde. 131: Know then, that after LUCIFER from Heav'n 132: (So call him, brighter once amidst the Host 133: Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among) 134: Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep 135: Into his place, and the great Son returnd 136: Victorious with his Saints, th' Omnipotent 137: Eternal Father from his Throne beheld 138: Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake. 139: At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought 140: All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 141: This inaccessible high strength, the seat 142: Of Deitie supream, us dispossest, 143: He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud 144: Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more; 145: Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see, 146: Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retaines 147: Number sufficient to possess her Realmes 148: Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent 149: With Ministeries due and solemn Rites: 150: But least his heart exalt him in the harme 151: Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n, 152: My damage fondly deem'd, I can repaire 153: That detriment, if such it be to lose 154: Self-lost, and in a moment will create 155: Another World, out of one man a Race 156: Of men innumerable, there to dwell, 157: Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'd 158: They open to themselves at length the way 159: Up hither, under long obedience tri'd, 160: And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth, 161: One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end. 162: Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n, 163: And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee 164: This I perform, speak thou, and be it don: 165: My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee 166: I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep 167: Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth, 168: Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill 169: Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. 170: Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire, 171: And put not forth my goodness, which is free 172: To act or not, Necessitie and Chance 173: Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate. 174: So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spake 175: His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. 176: Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift 177: Then time or motion, but to human ears 178: Cannot without process of speech be told, 179: So told as earthly notion can receave. 180: Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n 181: When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will; 182: Glorie they sung to the most High, good will 183: To future men, and in thir dwellings peace: 184: Glorie to him whose just avenging ire 185: Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight 186: And th' habitations of the just; to him 187: Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd 188: Good out of evil to create, in stead 189: Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring 190: Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse 191: His good to Worlds and Ages infinite. 192: So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son 193: On his great Expedition now appeer'd, 194: Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd 195: Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love 196: Immense, and all his Father in him shon. 197: About his Chariot numberless were pour'd 198: Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, 199: And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd, 200: From the Armoury of God, where stand of old 201: Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd 202: Against a solemn day, harnest at hand, 203: Celestial Equipage; and now came forth 204: Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd, 205: Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide 206: Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound 207: On golden Hinges moving, to let forth 208: The King of Glorie in his powerful Word 209: And Spirit coming to create new Worlds. 210: On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore 211: They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss 212: Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde, 213: Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes 214: And surging waves, as Mountains to assault 215: Heav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole. 216: Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace, 217: Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end: 218: Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim 219: Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode 220: Farr into CHAOS, and the World unborn; 221: For CHAOS heard his voice: him all his Traine 222: Follow'd in bright procession to behold 223: Creation, and the wonders of his might. 224: Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand 225: He took the golden Compasses, prepar'd 226: In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe 227: This Universe, and all created things: 228: One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd 229: Round through the vast profunditie obscure, 230: And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds, 231: This be thy just Circumference, O World. 232: Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth, 233: Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound 234: Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calme 235: His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred, 236: And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth 237: Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'd 238: The black tartareous cold infernal dregs 239: Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd 240: Like things to like, the rest to several place 241: Disparted, and between spun out the Air, 242: And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung. 243: Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light 244: Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure 245: Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East 246: To journie through the airie gloom began, 247: Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun 248: Was not; shee in a cloudie Tabernacle 249: Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good; 250: And light from darkness by the Hemisphere 251: Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night 252: He nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn: 253: Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung 254: By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light 255: Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld; 256: Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout 257: The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd, 258: And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'd 259: God and his works, Creatour him they sung, 260: Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn. 261: Again, God said, let ther be Firmament 262: Amid the Waters, and let it divide 263: The Waters from the Waters: and God made 264: The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, 265: Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'd 266: In circuit to the uttermost convex 267: Of this great Round: partition firm and sure, 268: The Waters underneath from those above 269: Dividing: for as Earth, so hee the World 270: Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide 271: Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule 272: Of CHAOS farr remov'd, least fierce extreames 273: Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: 274: And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'n 275: And Morning CHORUS sung the second Day. 276: The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet 277: Of Waters, Embryon immature involv'd, 278: Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth 279: Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme 280: Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe, 281: Fermented the great Mother to conceave, 282: Satiate with genial moisture, when God said 283: Be gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n 284: Into one place, and let dry Land appeer. 285: Immediately the Mountains huge appeer 286: Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave 287: Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie: 288: So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low 289: Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, 290: Capacious bed of Waters: thither they 291: Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld 292: As drops on dust conglobing from the drie; 293: Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct, 294: For haste; such flight the great command impress'd 295: On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call 296: Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard) 297: Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng, 298: Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found, 299: If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine, 300: Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill, 301: But they, or under ground, or circuit wide 302: With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way, 303: And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore; 304: Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie, 305: All but within those banks, where Rivers now 306: Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine. 307: The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle 308: Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas: 309: And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth 310: Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed, 311: And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind; 312: Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth. 313: He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then 314: Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd, 315: Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure clad 316: Her Universal Face with pleasant green, 317: Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd 318: Op'ning thir various colours, and made gay 319: Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown, 320: Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept 321: The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed 322: Embattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub, 323: And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last 324: Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred 325: Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd 326: Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd, 327: With tufts the vallies & each fountain side, 328: With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now 329: Seemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell, 330: Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 331: Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd 332: Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground 333: None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist 334: Went up and waterd all the ground, and each 335: Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth 336: God made, and every Herb, before it grew 337: On the green stemm; God saw that it was good: 338: So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day. 339: Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights 340: High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide 341: The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes, 342: For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years, 343: And let them be for Lights as I ordaine 344: Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n 345: To give Light on the Earth; and it was so. 346: And God made two great Lights, great for thir use 347: To Man, the greater to have rule by Day, 348: The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs, 349: And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n 350: To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day 351: In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night, 352: And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw, 353: Surveying his great Work, that it was good: 354: For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun 355: A mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first, 356: Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the Moon 357: Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs, 358: And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field: 359: Of Light by farr the greater part he took, 360: Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd 361: In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive 362: And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine 363: Her gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light. 364: Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs 365: Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light, 366: And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns; 367: By tincture or reflection they augment 368: Thir small peculiar, though from human sight 369: So farr remote, with diminution seen. 370: First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen, 371: Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round 372: Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run 373: His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the gray 374: Dawn, and the PLEIADES before him danc'd 375: Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon, 376: But opposite in leveld West was set 377: His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light 378: From him, for other light she needed none 379: In that aspect, and still that distance keepes 380: Till night, then in the East her turn she shines, 381: Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her Reign 382: With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds, 383: With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd 384: Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd 385: With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose, 386: Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day. 387: And God said, let the Waters generate 388: Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule: 389: And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings 390: Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n. 391: And God created the great Whales, and each 392: Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously 393: The waters generated by thir kindes, 394: And every Bird of wing after his kinde; 395: And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying, 396: Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas 397: And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill; 398: And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth. 399: Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay 400: With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales 401: Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales 402: Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft 403: Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate 404: Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves 405: Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance 406: Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold, 407: Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend 408: Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food 409: In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale, 410: And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk 411: Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate 412: Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan 413: Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep 414: Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes, 415: And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles 416: Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea. 417: Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares 418: Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon 419: Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd 420: Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge 421: They summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublime 422: With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud 423: In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork 424: On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build: 425: Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise 426: In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way, 427: Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 428: Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's 429: Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing 430: Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane 431: Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire 432: Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes: 433: From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song 434: Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings 435: Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal 436: Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes: 437: Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd 438: Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck 439: Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes 440: Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit 441: The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre 442: The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground 443: Walk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds 444: The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine 445: Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue 446: Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus 447: With Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle, 448: Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day. 449: The Sixt, and of Creation last arose 450: With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said, 451: Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde, 452: Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth, 453: Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and strait 454: Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth 455: Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes, 456: Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose 457: As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns 458: In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den; 459: Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd: 460: The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green: 461: Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks 462: Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung: 463: The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd 464: The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free 465: His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds, 466: And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce, 467: The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale 468: Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw 469: In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground 470: Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould 471: BEHEMOTH biggest born of Earth upheav'd 472: His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose, 473: As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land 474: The River Horse and scalie Crocodile. 475: At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 476: Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans 477: For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact 478: In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride 479: With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green: 480: These as a line thir long dimension drew, 481: Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all 482: Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde 483: Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd 484: Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept 485: The Parsimonious Emmet, provident 486: Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd, 487: Pattern of just equalitie perhaps 488: Hereafter, join'd in her popular Tribes 489: Of Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'd 490: The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone 491: Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells 492: With Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless, 493: And thou thir Natures know'st, and gav'st them Names, 494: Needlest to thee repeaed; nor unknown 495: The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field, 496: Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes 497: And hairie Main terrific, though to thee 498: Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. 499: Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld 500: Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand 501: First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire 502: Consummate lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth, 503: By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt 504: Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd; 505: There wanted yet the Master work, the end 506: Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone 507: And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd 508: With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect 509: His Stature, and upright with Front serene 510: Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence 511: Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n, 512: But grateful to acknowledge whence his good 513: Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes 514: Directed in Devotion, to adore 515: And worship God Supream, who made him chief 516: Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent 517: Eternal Father (For where is not hee 518: Present) thus to his Son audibly spake. 519: Let us make now Man in our image, Man 520: In our similitude, and let them rule 521: Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire, 522: Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth, 523: And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. 524: This said, he formd thee, ADAM, thee O Man 525: Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd 526: The breath of Life; in his own Image hee 527: Created thee, in the Image of God 528: Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul. 529: Male he created thee, but thy consort 530: Femal for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said, 531: Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth, 532: Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold 533: Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire, 534: And every living thing that moves on the Earth. 535: Wherever thus created, for no place 536: Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st 537: He brought thee into this delicious Grove, 538: This Garden, planted with the Trees of God, 539: Delectable both to behold and taste; 540: And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food 541: Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds, 542: Varietie without end; but of the Tree 543: Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil, 544: Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st; 545: Death is the penaltie impos'd, beware, 546: And govern well thy appetite, least sin 547: Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. 548: Here finish'd hee, and all that he had made 549: View'd, and behold all was entirely good; 550: So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day: 551: Yet not till the Creator from his work 552: Desisting, though unwearied, up returnd 553: Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode, 554: Thence to behold this new created World 555: Th' addition of his Empire, how it shew'd 556: In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire, 557: Answering his great Idea. Up he rode 558: Followd with acclamation and the sound 559: Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd 560: Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Aire 561: Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst) 562: The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung, 563: The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood, 564: While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant. 565: Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung, 566: Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let in 567: The great Creator from his work returnd 568: Magnificent, his Six days work, a World; 569: Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne 570: To visit oft the dwellings of just Men 571: Delighted, and with frequent intercourse 572: Thither will send his winged Messengers 573: On errands of supernal Grace. So sung 574: The glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n, 575: That open'd wide her blazing Portals, led 576: To Gods Eternal house direct the way, 577: A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold 578: And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer, 579: Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way 580: Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest 581: Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seaventh 582: Eev'ning arose in EDEN, for the Sun 583: Was set, and twilight from the East came on, 584: Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount 585: Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne 586: Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure, 587: The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him down 588: With his great Father (for he also went 589: Invisible, yet staid (such priviledge 590: Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd, 591: Author and end of all things, and from work 592: Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day, 593: As resting on that day from all his work, 594: But not in silence holy kept; the Harp 595: Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe, 596: And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop, 597: All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire 598: Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice 599: Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds 600: Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount. 601: Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung, 602: Great are thy works, JEHOVAH, infinite 603: Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue 604: Relate thee; greater now in thy return 605: Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day 606: Thy Thunders magnifi'd; but to create 607: Is greater then created to destroy. 608: Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound 609: Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt 610: Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine 611: Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought 612: Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw 613: The number of thy worshippers. Who seekes 614: To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 615: To manifest the more thy might: his evil 616: Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good. 617: Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n 618: From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view 619: On the cleer HYALINE, the Glassie Sea; 620: Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's 621: Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World 622: Of destind habitation; but thou know'st 623: Thir seasons: among these the seat of men, 624: Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd, 625: Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men, 626: And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't, 627: Created in his Image, there to dwell 628: And worship him, and in reward to rule 629: Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air, 630: And multiply a Race of Worshippers 631: Holy and just: thrice happie if they know 632: Thir happiness, and persevere upright. 633: So sung they, and the Empyrean rung, 634: With HALLELUIAHS: Thus was Sabbath kept. 635: And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd 636: How first this World and face of things began, 637: And what before thy memorie was don 638: From the beginning, that posteritie 639: Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst 640: Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. 641: To whom thus ADAM gratefully repli'd. 642: What thanks sufficient, or what recompence 643: Equal have I to render thee, Divine 644: Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayd 645: The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaf't 646: This friendly condescention to relate 647: Things else by me unsearchable, now heard 648: VVith wonder, but delight, and, as is due, 649: With glorie attributed to the high 650: Creator; some thing yet of doubt remaines, 651: VVhich onely thy solution can resolve. 652: VVhen I behold this goodly Frame, this VVorld 653: Of Heav'n and Earth consisting, and compute, 654: Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine, 655: An Atom, with the Firmament compar'd 656: And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle 657: Spaces incomprehensible (for such 658: Thir distance argues and thir swift return 659: Diurnal) meerly to officiate light 660: Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, 661: One day and night; in all thir vast survey 662: Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire, 663: How Nature wise and frugal could commit 664: Such disproportions, with superfluous hand 665: So many nobler Bodies to create, 666: Greater so manifold to this one use, 667: For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs impose 668: Such restless revolution day by day 669: Repeated, while the sedentarie Earth, 670: That better might with farr less compass move, 671: Serv'd by more noble then her self, attaines 672: Her end without least motion, and receaves, 673: As Tribute such a sumless journey brought 674: Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; 675: Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number failes. 676: So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd 677: Entring on studious thoughts abstruse, which EVE 678: Perceaving where she sat retir'd in sight, 679: With lowliness Majestic from her seat, 680: And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay, 681: Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours, 682: To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, 683: Her Nurserie; they at her coming sprung 684: And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew. 685: Yet went she not, as not with such discourse 686: Delighted, or not capable her eare 687: Of what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd, 688: ADAM relating, she sole Auditress; 689: Her Husband the Relater she preferr'd 690: Before the Angel, and of him to ask 691: Chose rather; hee, she knew would intermix 692: Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute 693: With conjugal Caresses, from his Lip 694: Not Words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now 695: Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd? 696: With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went; 697: Not unattended, for on her as Queen 698: A pomp of winning Graces waited still, 699: And from about her shot Darts of desire 700: Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight. 701: And RAPHAEL now to ADAM's doubt propos'd 702: Benevolent and facil thus repli'd. 703: To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heav'n 704: Is as the Book of God before thee set, 705: Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learne 706: His Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares: 707: This to attain, whether Heav'n move or Earth, 708: Imports not, if thou reck'n right, the rest 709: From Man or Angel the great Architect 710: Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge 711: His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought 712: Rather admire; or if they list to try 713: Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heav'ns 714: Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to move 715: His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide 716: Hereafter, when they come to model Heav'n 717: And calculate the Starrs, how they will weild 718: The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive 719: To save appeerances, how gird the Sphear 720: With Centric and Eccentric scribl'd o're, 721: Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb: 722: Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess, 723: Who art to lead thy ofspring, and supposest 724: That Bodies bright and greater should not serve 725: The less not bright, nor Heav'n such journies run, 726: Earth sitting still, when she alone receaves 727: The benefit: consider first, that Great 728: Or Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth 729: Though, in comparison of Heav'n, so small, 730: Nor glistering, may of solid good containe 731: More plenty then the Sun that barren shines, 732: Whose vertue on it self workes no effect, 733: But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd 734: His beams, unactive else, thir vigor find. 735: Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries 736: Officious, but to thee Earths habitant. 737: And for the Heav'ns wide Circuit, let it speak 738: The Makers high magnificence, who built 739: So spacious, and his Line stretcht out so farr; 740: That Man may know he dwells not in his own; 741: An Edifice too large for him to fill, 742: Lodg'd in a small partition, and the rest 743: Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known. 744: The swiftness of those Circles attribute, 745: Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, 746: That to corporeal substances could adde 747: Speed almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow, 748: Who since the Morning hour set out from Heav'n 749: Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd 750: In EDEN, distance inexpressible 751: By Numbers that have name. But this I urge, 752: Admitting Motion in the Heav'ns, to shew 753: Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd; 754: Not that I so affirm, though so it seem 755: To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. 756: God to remove his wayes from human sense, 757: Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so farr, that earthly sight, 758: If it presume, might erre in things too high, 759: And no advantage gaine. What if the Sun 760: Be Center to the World, and other Starrs 761: By his attractive vertue and thir own 762: Incited, dance about him various rounds? 763: Thir wandring course now high, now low, then hid, 764: Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, 765: In six thou seest, and what if sev'nth to these 766: The Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem, 767: Insensibly three different Motions move? 768: Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe, 769: Mov'd contrarie with thwart obliquities, 770: Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift 771: Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb suppos'd, 772: Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheele 773: Of Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe, 774: If Earth industrious of her self fetch Day 775: Travelling East, and with her part averse 776: From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part 777: Still luminous by his ray. What if that light 778: Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire, 779: To the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr 780: Enlightning her by Day, as she by Night 781: This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there, 782: Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest 783: As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce 784: Fruits in her soft'nd Soile, for some to eate 785: Allotted there; and other Suns perhaps 786: With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie 787: Communicating Male and Femal Light, 788: Which two great Sexes animate the World, 789: Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with some that live. 790: For such vast room in Nature unpossest 791: By living Soule, desert and desolate, 792: Onely to shine, yet scarce to contribute 793: Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farr 794: Down to this habitable, which returnes 795: Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. 796: But whether thus these things, or whether not, 797: Whether the Sun predominant in Heav'n 798: Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun, 799: Hee from the East his flaming rode begin, 800: Or Shee from West her silent course advance 801: With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps 802: On her soft Axle, while she paces Eev'n, 803: And bears thee soft with the smooth Air along, 804: Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, 805: Leave them to God above, him serve and feare; 806: Of other Creatures, as him pleases best, 807: Wherever plac't, let him dispose: joy thou 808: In what he gives to thee, this Paradise 809: And thy faire EVE; Heav'n is for thee too high 810: To know what passes there; be lowlie wise: 811: Think onely what concernes thee and thy being; 812: Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there 813: Live, in what state, condition or degree, 814: Contented that thus farr hath been reveal'd 815: Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n. 816: To whom thus ADAM cleerd of doubt, repli'd. 817: How fully hast thou satisfi'd mee, pure 818: Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel serene, 819: And freed from intricacies, taught to live, 820: The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts 821: To interrupt the sweet of Life, from which 822: God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares, 823: And not molest us, unless we our selves 824: Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine. 825: But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave 826: Uncheckt, and of her roaving is no end; 827: Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learne, 828: That not to know at large of things remote 829: From use, obscure and suttle, but to know 830: That which before us lies in daily life, 831: Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume, 832: Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, 833: And renders us in things that most concerne 834: Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek. 835: Therefore from this high pitch let us descend 836: A lower flight, and speak of things at hand 837: Useful, whence haply mention may arise 838: Of somthing not unseasonable to ask 839: By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign'd. 840: Thee I have heard relating what was don 841: Ere my remembrance: now hear mee relate 842: My Storie, which perhaps thou hast not heard; 843: And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seest 844: How suttly to detaine thee I devise, 845: Inviting thee to hear while I relate, 846: Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply: 847: For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav'n, 848: And sweeter thy discourse is to my eare 849: Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst 850: And hunger both, from labour, at the houre 851: Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, 852: Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace Divine 853: Imbu'd, bring to thir sweetness no satietie. 854: To whom thus RAPHAEL answer'd heav'nly meek. 855: Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, 856: Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee 857: Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd, 858: Inward and outward both, his image faire: 859: Speaking or mute all comliness and grace 860: Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes. 861: Nor less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth 862: Then of our fellow servant, and inquire 863: Gladly into the wayes of God with Man: 864: For God we see hath honour'd thee, and set 865: On Man his equal Love: say therefore on; 866: For I that Day was absent, as befell, 867: Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, 868: Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell; 869: Squar'd in full Legion (such command we had) 870: To see that none thence issu'd forth a spie, 871: Or enemie, while God was in his work, 872: Least hee incenst at such eruption bold, 873: Destruction with Creation might have mixt. 874: Not that they durst without his leave attempt, 875: But us he sends upon his high behests 876: For state, as Sovran King, and to enure 877: Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut 878: The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong; 879: But long ere our approaching heard within 880: Noise, other then the sound of Dance or Song, 881: Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage. 882: Glad we return'd up to the coasts of Light 883: Ere Sabbath Eev'ning: so we had in charge. 884: But thy relation now; for I attend, 885: Pleas'd with thy words no less then thou with mine. 886: So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. 887: For Man to tell how human Life began 888: Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? 889: Desire with thee still longer to converse 890: Induc'd me. As new wak't from soundest sleep 891: Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid 892: In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun 893: Soon dri'd, and on the reaking moisture fed. 894: Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turnd, 895: And gaz'd a while the ample Skie, till rais'd 896: By quick instinctive motion up I sprung, 897: As thitherward endevoring, and upright 898: Stood on my feet; about me round I saw 899: Hill, Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines, 900: And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these, 901: Creatures that livd, and movd, and walk'd, or flew, 902: Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd, 903: With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd. 904: My self I then perus'd, and Limb by Limb 905: Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran 906: With supple joints, as lively vigour led: 907: But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 908: Knew not; to speak I tri'd, and forthwith spake, 909: My Tongue obey'd and readily could name 910: What e're I saw. Thou Sun, said I, faire Light, 911: And thou enlight'nd Earth, so fresh and gay, 912: Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines, 913: And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 914: Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here? 915: Not of my self; by some great Maker then, 916: In goodness and in power praeeminent; 917: Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 918: From whom I have that thus I move and live, 919: And feel that I am happier then I know. 920: While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, 921: From where I first drew Aire, and first beheld 922: This happie Light, when answer none return'd, 923: On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours 924: Pensive I sate me down; there gentle sleep 925: First found me, and with soft oppression seis'd 926: My droused sense, untroubl'd, though I thought 927: I then was passing to my former state 928: Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: 929: When suddenly stood at my Head a dream, 930: Whose inward apparition gently mov'd 931: My Fancy to believe I yet had being, 932: And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine, 933: And said, thy Mansion wants thee, ADAM, rise, 934: First Man, of Men innumerable ordain'd 935: First Father, call'd by thee I come thy Guide 936: To the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd. 937: So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd, 938: And over Fields and Waters, as in Aire 939: Smooth sliding without step, last led me up 940: A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine, 941: A Circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest Trees 942: Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I saw 943: Of Earth before scarse pleasant seemd. Each Tree 944: Load'n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye 945: Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite 946: To pluck and eate; whereat I wak'd, and found 947: Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream 948: Had lively shadowd: Here had new begun 949: My wandring, had not hee who was my Guide 950: Up hither, from among the Trees appeer'd, 951: Presence Divine. Rejoycing, but with aw 952: In adoration at his feet I fell 953: Submiss: he rear'd me, & Whom thou soughtst I am, 954: Said mildely, Author of all this thou seest 955: Above, or round about thee or beneath. 956: This Paradise I give thee, count it thine 957: To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate: 958: Of every Tree that in the Garden growes 959: Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: 960: But of the Tree whose operation brings 961: Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set 962: The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith, 963: Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life, 964: Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste, 965: And shun the bitter consequence: for know, 966: The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command 967: Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye; 968: From that day mortal, and this happie State 969: Shalt loose, expell'd from hence into a World 970: Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounc'd 971: The rigid interdiction, which resounds 972: Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice 973: Not to incur; but soon his cleer aspect 974: Return'd and gratious purpose thus renew'd. 975: Not onely these fair bounds, but all the Earth 976: To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords 977: Possess it, and all things that therein live, 978: Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle. 979: In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold 980: After thir kindes; I bring them to receave 981: From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie 982: With low subjection; understand the same 983: Of Fish within thir watry residence, 984: Not hither summond, since they cannot change 985: Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire. 986: As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold 987: Approaching two and two, These cowring low 988: With blandishment, each Bird stoop'd on his wing. 989: I nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood 990: Thir Nature, with such knowledg God endu'd 991: My sudden apprehension: but in these 992: I found not what me thought I wanted still; 993: And to the Heav'nly vision thus presum'd. 994: O by what Name, for thou above all these, 995: Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher, 996: Surpassest farr my naming, how may I 997: Adore thee, Author of this Universe, 998: And all this good to man, for whose well being 999: So amply, and with hands so liberal 1000: Thou hast provided all things: but with mee 1001: I see not who partakes. In solitude 1002: What happiness, who can enjoy alone, 1003: Or all enjoying, what contentment find? 1004: Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright, 1005: As with a smile more bright'nd, thus repli'd. 1006: What call'st thou solitude, is not the Earth 1007: With various living creatures, and the Aire 1008: Replenisht, and all these at thy command 1009: To come and play before thee, know'st thou not 1010: Thir language and thir wayes, they also know, 1011: And reason not contemptibly; with these 1012: Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. 1013: So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd 1014: So ordering. I with leave of speech implor'd, 1015: And humble deprecation thus repli'd. 1016: Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power, 1017: My Maker, be propitious while I speak. 1018: Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, 1019: And these inferiour farr beneath me set? 1020: Among unequals what societie 1021: Can sort, what harmonie or true delight? 1022: Which must be mutual, in proportion due 1023: Giv'n and receiv'd; but in disparitie 1024: The one intense, the other still remiss 1025: Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove 1026: Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak 1027: Such as I seek, fit to participate 1028: All rational delight, wherein the brute 1029: Cannot be human consort; they rejoyce 1030: Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness; 1031: So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd; 1032: Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle 1033: So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape; 1034: Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all. 1035: Whereto th' Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd. 1036: A nice and suttle happiness I see 1037: Thou to thy self proposest, in the choice 1038: Of thy Associates, ADAM, and wilt taste 1039: No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie. 1040: What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State, 1041: Seem I to thee sufficiently possest 1042: Of happiness, or not? who am alone 1043: From all Eternitie, for none I know 1044: Second to mee or like, equal much less. 1045: How have I then with whom to hold converse 1046: Save with the Creatures which I made, and those 1047: To me inferiour, infinite descents 1048: Beneath what other Creatures are to thee? 1049: He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd. To attaine 1050: The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes 1051: All human thoughts come short, Supream of things; 1052: Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee 1053: Is no deficience found; not so is Man, 1054: But in degree, the cause of his desire 1055: By conversation with his like to help, 1056: Or solace his defects. No need that thou 1057: Shouldst propagat, already infinite; 1058: And through all numbers absolute, though One; 1059: But Man by number is to manifest 1060: His single imperfection, and beget 1061: Like of his like, his Image multipli'd, 1062: In unitie defective, which requires 1063: Collateral love, and deerest amitie. 1064: Thou in thy secresie although alone, 1065: Best with thy self accompanied, seek'st not 1066: Social communication, yet so pleas'd, 1067: Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt 1068: Of Union or Communion, deifi'd; 1069: I by conversing cannot these erect 1070: From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find. 1071: Thus I embold'nd spake, and freedom us'd 1072: Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd 1073: This answer from the gratious voice Divine. 1074: Thus farr to try thee, ADAM, I was pleas'd, 1075: And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone, 1076: Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thy self, 1077: Expressing well the spirit within thee free, 1078: My Image, not imparted to the Brute, 1079: Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee 1080: Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike, 1081: And be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st, 1082: Knew it not good for Man to be alone, 1083: And no such companie as then thou saw'st 1084: Intended thee, for trial onely brought, 1085: To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet: 1086: What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd, 1087: Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, 1088: Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire. 1089: Hee ended, or I heard no more, for now 1090: My earthly by his Heav'nly overpowerd, 1091: Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth 1092: In that celestial Colloquie sublime, 1093: As with an object that excels the sense, 1094: Dazl'd and spent, sunk down, and sought repair 1095: Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd 1096: By Nature as in aide, and clos'd mine eyes. 1097: Mine eyes he clos'd, but op'n left the Cell 1098: Of Fancie my internal sight, by which 1099: Abstract as in a transe methought I saw, 1100: Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape 1101: Still glorious before whom awake I stood; 1102: Who stooping op'nd my left side, and took 1103: From thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warme, 1104: And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, 1105: But suddenly with flesh fill'd up & heal'd: 1106: The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands; 1107: Under his forming hands a Creature grew, 1108: Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire, 1109: That what seemd fair in all the World, seemd now 1110: Mean, or in her summd up, in her containd 1111: And in her looks, which from that time infus'd 1112: Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, 1113: And into all things from her Aire inspir'd 1114: The spirit of love and amorous delight. 1115: She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak'd 1116: To find her, or for ever to deplore 1117: Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: 1118: When out of hope, behold her, not farr off, 1119: Such as I saw her in my dream, adornd 1120: With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow 1121: To make her amiable: On she came, 1122: Led by her Heav'nly Maker, though unseen, 1123: And guided by his voice, nor uninformd 1124: Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites: 1125: Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her Eye, 1126: In every gesture dignitie and love. 1127: I overjoyd could not forbear aloud. 1128: This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd 1129: Thy words, Creator bounteous and benigne, 1130: Giver of all things faire, but fairest this 1131: Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see 1132: Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self 1133: Before me; Woman is her Name, of Man 1134: Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe 1135: Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere; 1136: And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule. 1137: She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, 1138: Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie, 1139: Her vertue and the conscience of her worth, 1140: That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, 1141: Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, 1142: The more desirable, or to say all, 1143: Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought, 1144: Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; 1145: I follow'd her, she what was Honour knew, 1146: And with obsequious Majestie approv'd 1147: My pleaded reason. To the Nuptial Bowre 1148: I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n, 1149: And happie Constellations on that houre 1150: Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth 1151: Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill; 1152: Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires 1153: Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from thir wings 1154: Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub, 1155: Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night 1156: Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr 1157: On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp. 1158: Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought 1159: My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss 1160: Which I enjoy, and must confess to find 1161: In all things else delight indeed, but such 1162: As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, 1163: Nor vehement desire, these delicacies 1164: I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours, 1165: Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here 1166: Farr otherwise, transported I behold, 1167: Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 1168: Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else 1169: Superiour and unmov'd, here onely weake 1170: Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance. 1171: Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part 1172: Not proof enough such Object to sustain, 1173: Or from my side subducting, took perhaps 1174: More then enough; at least on her bestow'd 1175: Too much of Ornament, in outward shew 1176: Elaborate, of inward less exact. 1177: For well I understand in the prime end 1178: Of Nature her th' inferiour, in the mind 1179: And inward Faculties, which most excell, 1180: In outward also her resembling less 1181: His Image who made both, and less expressing 1182: The character of that Dominion giv'n 1183: O're other Creatures; yet when I approach 1184: Her loveliness, so absolute she seems 1185: And in her self compleat, so well to know 1186: Her own, that what she wills to do or say, 1187: Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best; 1188: All higher knowledge in her presence falls 1189: Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her 1190: Looses discount'nanc't, and like folly shewes; 1191: Authoritie and Reason on her waite, 1192: As one intended first, not after made 1193: Occasionally; and to consummate all, 1194: Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat 1195: Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 1196: About her, as a guard Angelic plac't. 1197: To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 1198: Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part; 1199: Do thou but thine, and be not diffident 1200: Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou 1201: Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh, 1202: By attributing overmuch to things 1203: Less excellent, as thou thy self perceav'st. 1204: For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, 1205: An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well 1206: Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love, 1207: Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self; 1208: Then value: Oft times nothing profits more 1209: Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right 1210: Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st, 1211: The more she will acknowledge thee her Head, 1212: And to realities yeild all her shows; 1213: Made so adorn for thy delight the more, 1214: So awful, that with honour thou maist love 1215: Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. 1216: But if the sense of touch whereby mankind 1217: Is propagated seem such dear delight 1218: Beyond all other, think the same voutsaf't 1219: To Cattel and each Beast; which would not be 1220: To them made common & divulg'd, if aught 1221: Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue 1222: The Soule of Man, or passion in him move. 1223: What higher in her societie thou findst 1224: Attractive, human, rational, love still; 1225: In loving thou dost well, in passion not, 1226: Wherein true Love consists not; love refines 1227: The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat 1228: In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale 1229: By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend, 1230: Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause 1231: Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found. 1232: To whom thus half abash't ADAM repli'd. 1233: Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aught 1234: In procreation common to all kindes 1235: (Though higher of the genial Bed by far, 1236: And with mysterious reverence I deem) 1237: So much delights me, as those graceful acts, 1238: Those thousand decencies that daily flow 1239: From all her words and actions, mixt with Love 1240: And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd 1241: Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule; 1242: Harmonie to behold in wedded pair 1243: More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare. 1244: Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose 1245: What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild, 1246: Who meet with various objects, from the sense 1247: Variously representing; yet still free 1248: Approve the best, and follow what I approve. 1249: To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou saist 1250: Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide; 1251: Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask; 1252: Love not the heav'nly Spirits, and how thir Love 1253: Express they, by looks onely, or do they mix 1254: Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? 1255: To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd 1256: Celestial rosie red, Loves proper hue, 1257: Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 1258: Us happie, and without Love no happiness. 1259: Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st 1260: (And pure thou wert created) we enjoy 1261: In eminence, and obstacle find none 1262: Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs: 1263: Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace, 1264: Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure 1265: Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need 1266: As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul. 1267: But I can now no more; the parting Sun 1268: Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles 1269: HESPEREAN sets, my Signal to depart. 1270: Be strong, live happie, and love, but first of all 1271: Him whom to love is to obey, and keep 1272: His great command; take heed least Passion sway 1273: Thy Judgement to do aught, which else free Will 1274: Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons 1275: The weal or woe in thee is plac't; beware. 1276: I in thy persevering shall rejoyce, 1277: And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall 1278: Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies. 1279: Perfet within, no outward aid require; 1280: And all temptation to transgress repel. 1281: So saying, he arose; whom ADAM thus 1282: Follow'd with benediction. Since to part, 1283: Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal Messenger, 1284: Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore. 1285: Gentle to me and affable hath been 1286: Thy condescension, and shall be honour'd ever 1287: With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind 1288: Be good and friendly still, and oft return. 1289: So parted they, the Angel up to Heav'n 1290: From the thick shade, and ADAM to his Bowre. Book 8 1: No more of talk where God or Angel Guest 2: With Man, as with his Friend, familiar us'd 3: To sit indulgent, and with him partake 4: Rural repast, permitting him the while 5: Venial discourse unblam'd: I now must change 6: Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach 7: Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt 8: And disobedience: On the part of Heav'n 9: Now alienated, distance and distaste, 10: Anger and just rebuke, and judgement giv'n, 11: That brought into this World a world of woe, 12: Sinne and her shadow Death, and Miserie 13: Deaths Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument 14: Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth 15: Of stern ACHILLES on his Foe pursu'd 16: Thrice Fugitive about TROY Wall; or rage 17: Of TURNUS for LAVINIA disespous'd, 18: Or NEPTUN'S ire or JUNO'S, that so long 19: Perplex'd the GREEK and CYTHEREA'S Son; 20: If answerable style I can obtaine 21: Of my Celestial Patroness, who deignes 22: Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, 23: And dictates to me slumbring, or inspires 24: Easie my unpremeditated Verse: 25: Since first this subject for Heroic Song 26: Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; 27: Not sedulous by Nature to indite 28: Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument 29: Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect 30: With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights 31: In Battels feign'd; the better fortitude 32: Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom 33: Unsung; or to describe Races and Games, 34: Or tilting Furniture, emblazon'd Shields, 35: Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds; 36: Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights 37: At Joust and Torneament; then marshal'd Feast 38: Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals; 39: The skill of Artifice or Office mean, 40: Not that which justly gives Heroic name 41: To Person or to Poem. Mee of these 42: Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument 43: Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise 44: That name, unless an age too late, or cold 45: Climat, or Years damp my intended wing 46: Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine, 47: Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear. 48: The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr 49: Of HESPERUS, whose Office is to bring 50: Twilight upon the Earth, short Arbiter 51: Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end 52: Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round: 53: When SATAN who late fled before the threats 54: Of GABRIEL out of EDEN, now improv'd 55: In meditated fraud and malice, bent 56: On mans destruction, maugre what might hap 57: Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd. 58: By Night he fled, and at Midnight return'd 59: From compassing the Earth, cautious of day, 60: Since URIEL Regent of the Sun descri'd 61: His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim 62: That kept thir watch; thence full of anguish driv'n, 63: The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode 64: With darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line 65: He circl'd, four times cross'd the Carr of Night 66: From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure; 67: On the eighth return'd, and on the Coast averse 68: From entrance or Cherubic Watch, by stealth 69: Found unsuspected way. There was a place, 70: Now not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught the change, 71: Where TIGRIS at the foot of Paradise 72: Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part 73: Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life; 74: In with the River sunk, and with it rose 75: Satan involv'd in rising Mist, then sought 76: Where to lie hid; Sea he had searcht and Land 77: From EDEN over PONTUS, and the Poole 78: MAEOTIS, up beyond the River OB; 79: Downward as farr Antartic; and in length 80: West from ORANTES to the Ocean barr'd 81: At DARIEN, thence to the Land where flowes 82: GANGES and INDUS: thus the Orb he roam'd 83: With narrow search; and with inspection deep 84: Consider'd every Creature, which of all 85: Most opportune might serve his Wiles, and found 86: The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field. 87: Him after long debate, irresolute 88: Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose 89: Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom 90: To enter, and his dark suggestions hide 91: From sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake, 92: Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark, 93: As from his wit and native suttletie 94: Proceeding, which in other Beasts observ'd 95: Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r 96: Active within beyond the sense of brute. 97: Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward griefe 98: His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd: 99: O Earth, how like to Heav'n, if not preferrd 100: More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built 101: With second thoughts, reforming what was old! 102: For what God after better worse would build? 103: Terrestrial Heav'n, danc't round by other Heav'ns 104: That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps, 105: Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems, 106: In thee concentring all thir precious beams 107: Of sacred influence: As God in Heav'n 108: Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou 109: Centring receav'st from all those Orbs; in thee, 110: Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers 111: Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth 112: Of Creatures animate with gradual life 113: Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summ'd up in Man. 114: With what delight could I have walkt thee round 115: If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange 116: Of Hill and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines, 117: Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forrest crownd, 118: Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these 119: Find place or refuge; and the more I see 120: Pleasures about me, so much more I feel 121: Torment within me, as from the hateful siege 122: Of contraries; all good to me becomes 123: Bane, and in Heav'n much worse would be my state. 124: But neither here seek I, no nor in Heav'n 125: To dwell, unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame; 126: Nor hope to be my self less miserable 127: By what I seek, but others to make such 128: As I though thereby worse to me redound: 129: For onely in destroying I finde ease 130: To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd, 131: Or won to what may work his utter loss, 132: For whom all this was made, all this will soon 133: Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe, 134: In wo then; that destruction wide may range: 135: To mee shall be the glorie sole among 136: The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd 137: What he ALMIGHTIE styl'd, six Nights and Days 138: Continu'd making, and who knows how long 139: Before had bin contriving, though perhaps 140: Not longer then since I in one Night freed 141: From servitude inglorious welnigh half 142: Th' Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng 143: Of his adorers: hee to be aveng'd, 144: And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd, 145: Whether such vertue spent of old now faild 146: More Angels to Create, if they at least 147: Are his Created or to spite us more, 148: Determin'd to advance into our room 149: A Creature form'd of Earth, and him endow, 150: Exalted from so base original, 151: With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed 152: He effected; Man he made, and for him built 153: Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat, 154: Him Lord pronounc'd, and, O indignitie! 155: Subjected to his service Angel wings, 156: And flaming Ministers to watch and tend 157: Thir earthlie Charge: Of these the vigilance 158: I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mist 159: Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie 160: In every Bush and Brake, where hap may finde 161: The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds 162: To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. 163: O foul descent! that I who erst contended 164: With Gods to sit the highest, am now constraind 165: Into a Beast, and mixt with bestial slime, 166: This essence to incarnate and imbrute, 167: That to the hight of Deitie aspir'd; 168: But what will not Ambition and Revenge 169: Descend to? who aspires must down as low 170: As high he soard, obnoxious first or last 171: To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, 172: Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles; 173: Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd, 174: Since higher I fall short, on him who next 175: Provokes my envie, this new Favorite 176: Of Heav'n, this Man of Clay, Son of despite, 177: Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd 178: From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid. 179: So saying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie, 180: Like a black mist low creeping, he held on 181: His midnight search, where soonest he might finde 182: The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found 183: In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowl'd, 184: His head the midst, well stor'd with suttle wiles: 185: Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den, 186: Not nocent yet, but on the grassie Herbe 187: Fearless unfeard he slept: in at his Mouth 188: The Devil enterd, and his brutal sense, 189: In heart or head, possessing soon inspir'd 190: With act intelligential; but his sleep 191: Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn. 192: Now whenas sacred Light began to dawne 193: In EDEN on the humid Flours, that breathd 194: Thir morning Incense, when all things that breath, 195: From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise 196: To the Creator, and his Nostrils fill 197: With gratefull Smell, forth came the human pair 198: And joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire 199: Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake 200: The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires: 201: Then commune how that day they best may ply 202: Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew 203: The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide. 204: And EVE first to her Husband thus began. 205: ADAM, well may we labour still to dress 206: This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour. 207: Our pleasant task enjoyn'd, but till more hands 208: Aid us, the work under our labour grows, 209: Luxurious by restraint; what we by day 210: Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 211: One night or two with wanton growth derides 212: Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advise 213: Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present, 214: Let us divide our labours, thou where choice 215: Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 216: The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct 217: The clasping Ivie where to climb, while I 218: In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt 219: With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon: 220: For while so near each other thus all day 221: Our task we choose, what wonder if no near 222: Looks intervene and smiles, or object new 223: Casual discourse draw on, which intermits 224: Our dayes work brought to little, though begun 225: Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd. 226: To whom mild answer ADAM thus return'd. 227: Sole EVE, Associate sole, to me beyond 228: Compare above all living Creatures deare, 229: Well hast thou motion'd, wel thy thoughts imployd 230: How we might best fulfill the work which here 231: God hath assign'd us, nor of me shalt pass 232: Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found 233: In woman, then to studie houshold good, 234: And good workes in her Husband to promote. 235: Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd 236: Labour, as to debarr us when we need 237: Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, 238: Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse 239: Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow, 240: To brute deni'd, and are of Love the food, 241: Love not the lowest end of human life. 242: For not to irksom toile, but to delight 243: He made us, and delight to Reason joyn'd. 244: These paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt 245: Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide 246: As we need walk, till younger hands ere long 247: Assist us: But if much converse perhaps 248: Thee satiate, to short absence I could yeild. 249: For solitude somtimes is best societie, 250: And short retirement urges sweet returne. 251: But other doubt possesses me, least harm 252: Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou knowst 253: What hath bin warn'd us, what malicious Foe 254: Envying our happiness, and of his own 255: Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame 256: By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand 257: Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find 258: His wish and best advantage, us asunder, 259: Hopeless to circumvent us joynd, where each 260: To other speedie aide might lend at need; 261: Whether his first design be to withdraw 262: Our fealtie from God, or to disturb 263: Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss 264: Enjoy'd by us excites his envie more; 265: Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side 266: That gave thee being, stil shades thee and protects. 267: The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, 268: Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies, 269: Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. 270: To whom the Virgin Majestie of EVE, 271: As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, 272: With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd. 273: Ofspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earths Lord, 274: That such an enemie we have, who seeks 275: Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne, 276: And from the parting Angel over-heard 277: As in a shadie nook I stood behind, 278: Just then returnd at shut of Evening Flours. 279: But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt 280: To God or thee, because we have a foe 281: May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 282: His violence thou fearst not, being such, 283: As wee, not capable of death or paine, 284: Can either not receave, or can repell. 285: His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs 286: Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love 287: Can by his fraud be shak'n or seduc't; 288: Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Brest, 289: ADAM, misthought of her to thee so dear? 290: To whom with healing words ADAM reply'd. 291: Daughter of God and Man, immortal EVE, 292: For such thou art, from sin and blame entire: 293: Not diffident of thee do I dissuade 294: Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid 295: Th' attempt it self, intended by our Foe. 296: For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses 297: The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd 298: Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff 299: Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne 300: And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, 301: Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, 302: If such affront I labour to avert 303: From thee alone, which on us both at once 304: The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare, 305: Or daring, first on mee th' assault shall light. 306: Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; 307: Suttle he needs must be, who could seduce 308: Angels, nor think superfluous others aid. 309: I from the influence of thy looks receave 310: Access in every Vertue, in thy sight 311: More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were 312: Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, 313: Shame to be overcome or over-reacht 314: Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite. 315: Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel 316: When I am present, and thy trial choose 317: With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd. 318: So spake domestick ADAM in his care 319: And Matrimonial Love, but EVE, who thought 320: Less attributed to her Faith sincere, 321: Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd. 322: If this be our condition, thus to dwell 323: In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe, 324: Suttle or violent, we not endu'd 325: Single with like defence, wherever met, 326: How are we happie, still in fear of harm? 327: But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe 328: Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem 329: Of our integritie: his foul esteeme 330: Sticks no dishonor on our Front, but turns 331: Foul on himself; then wherfore shund or feard 332: By us? who rather double honour gaine 333: From his surmise prov'd false, finde peace within, 334: Favour from Heav'n, our witness from th' event. 335: And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid 336: Alone, without exterior help sustaind? 337: Let us not then suspect our happie State 338: Left so imperfet by the Maker wise, 339: As not secure to single or combin'd. 340: Fraile is our happiness, if this be so, 341: And EDEN were no EDEN thus expos'd. 342: To whom thus ADAM fervently repli'd. 343: O Woman, best are all things as the will 344: Of God ordaind them, his creating hand 345: Nothing imperfet or deficient left 346: Of all that he Created, much less Man, 347: Or ought that might his happie State secure, 348: Secure from outward force; within himself 349: The danger lies, yet lies within his power: 350: Against his will he can receave no harme. 351: But God left free the Will, for what obeyes 352: Reason, is free, and Reason he made right, 353: But bid her well beware, and still erect, 354: Least by some faire appeering good surpris'd 355: She dictate false, and missinforme the Will 356: To do what God expresly hath forbid. 357: Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes, 358: That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me. 359: Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, 360: Since Reason not impossibly may meet 361: Some specious object by the Foe subornd, 362: And fall into deception unaware, 363: Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd. 364: Seek not temptation then, which to avoide 365: Were better, and most likelie if from mee 366: Thou sever not; Trial will come unsought. 367: Wouldst thou approve thy constancie, approve 368: First thy obedience; th' other who can know, 369: Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? 370: But if thou think, trial unsought may finde 371: Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst, 372: Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; 373: Go in thy native innocence, relie 374: On what thou hast of vertue, summon all, 375: For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. 376: So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but EVE 377: Persisted, yet submiss, though last, repli'd. 378: With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd 379: Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words 380: Touchd onely, that our trial, when least sought, 381: May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd, 382: The willinger I goe, nor much expect 383: A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek; 384: So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. 385: Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand 386: Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light 387: OREAD or DRYAD, or of DELIA's Traine, 388: Betook her to the Groves, but DELIA's self 389: In gate surpass'd and Goddess-like deport, 390: Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd, 391: But with such Gardning Tools as Are yet rude, 392: Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought, 393: To PALES, or POMONA, thus adornd, 394: Likest she seemd, POMONA when she fled 395: VERTUMNUS, or to CERES in her Prime, 396: Yet Virgin of PROSERPINA from JOVE. 397: Her long with ardent look his EYE pursu'd 398: Delighted, but desiring more her stay. 399: Oft he to her his charge of quick returne, 400: Repeated, shee to him as oft engag'd 401: To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre, 402: And all things in best order to invite 403: Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose. 404: O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless EVE, 405: Of thy presum'd return! event perverse! 406: Thou never from that houre in Paradise 407: Foundst either sweet repast, or found repose; 408: Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades 409: Waited with hellish rancor imminent 410: To intercept thy way, or send thee back 411: Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss. 412: For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend, 413: Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come, 414: And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde 415: The onely two of Mankinde, but in them 416: The whole included Race, his purposd prey. 417: In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft 418: Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay, 419: Thir tendance or Plantation for delight, 420: By Fountain or by shadie Rivulet 421: He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find 422: EVE separate, he wish'd, but not with hope 423: Of what so seldom chanc'd, when to his wish, 424: Beyond his hope, EVE separate he spies, 425: Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood, 426: Half spi'd, so thick the Roses bushing round 427: About her glowd, oft stooping to support 428: Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay 429: Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold, 430: Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies 431: Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while, 432: Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour, 433: From her best prop so farr, and storn so nigh. 434: Neererhe drew, and many a walk travers'd 435: Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme, 436: Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen 437: Among thick-wov'n Arborets and Flours 438: Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of EVE: 439: Spot more delicious then those Gardens feign'd 440: Or of reviv'd ADONIS, or renownd 441: ALCINOUS, host of old LAERTES Son, 442: Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient King 443: Held dalliance with his faire EGYPTIAN Spouse. 444: Much hee the Place admir'd, the Person more. 445: As one who long in populous City pent, 446: Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy the Aire, 447: Forth issuing on a Summers Morn, to breathe 448: Among the pleasant Villages and Farmes 449: Adjoynd, from each thing met conceaves delight, 450: The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine, 451: Or Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound; 452: If chance with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass, 453: What pleasing seemd, for her now pleases more, 454: She most, and in her look summs all Delight. 455: Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold 456: This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of EVE 457: Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav'nly forme 458: Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine, 459: Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire 460: Of gesture or lest action overawd 461: His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd 462: His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: 463: That space the Evil one abstracted stood 464: From his own evil, and for the time remaind 465: Stupidly good, of enmitie disarm'd, 466: Of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge; 467: But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes, 468: Though in mid Heav'n, soon ended his delight, 469: And tortures him now more, the more he sees 470: Of pleasure not for him ordain'd: then soon 471: Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts 472: Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. 473: Thoughts, whither have he led me, with what sweet 474: Compulsion thus transported to forget 475: What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope 476: Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste 477: Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy, 478: Save what is in destroying, other joy 479: To me is lost. Then let me not let pass 480: Occasion which now smiles, behold alone 481: The Woman, opportune to all attempts, 482: Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh, 483: Whose higher intellectual more I shun, 484: And strength, of courage hautie, and of limb 485: Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould, 486: Foe not informidable, exempt from wound, 487: I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and paine 488: Infeebl'd me, to what I was in Heav'n. 489: Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods, 490: Not terrible, though terrour be in Love 491: And beautie, not approacht by stronger hate, 492: Hate stronger, under shew of Love well feign'd, 493: The way which to her ruin now I tend. 494: So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos'd 495: In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward EVE 496: Address'd his way, not with indented wave, 497: Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare, 498: Circular base of rising foulds, that tour'd 499: Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head 500: Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; 501: With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect 502: Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass 503: Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape, 504: And lovely, never since of Serpent kind 505: Lovelier, not those that in ILLYRIA chang'd 506: HERMIONE and CADMUS, or the God 507: In EPIDAURUS; nor to which transformd 508: AMMONIAN JOVE, or CAPITOLINE was seen, 509: Hee with OLYMPIAS, this with her who bore 510: SCIPIO the highth of ROME. With tract oblique 511: At first, as one who sought access, but feard 512: To interrupt, side-long he works his way. 513: As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought 514: Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind 515: Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; 516: So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine 517: Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of EVE, 518: To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound 519: Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us'd 520: To such disport before her through the Field, 521: From every Beast, more duteous at her call, 522: Then at CIRCEAN call the Herd disguis'd. 523: Hee boulder now, uncall'd before her stood; 524: But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd 525: His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck, 526: Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod. 527: His gentle dumb expression turnd at length 528: The Eye of EVE to mark his play; he glad 529: Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue 530: Organic, or impulse of vocal Air, 531: His fraudulent temptation thus began. 532: Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps 533: Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm 534: Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain, 535: Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze 536: Insatiate, I thus single; nor have feard 537: Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. 538: Fairest resemblance of thy Maker faire, 539: Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine 540: By gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore 541: With ravishment beheld, there best beheld 542: Where universally admir'd; but here 543: In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among, 544: Beholders rude, and shallow to discerne 545: Half what in thee is fair, one man except, 546: Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen 547: A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and serv'd 548: By Angels numberless, thy daily Train. 549: So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd; 550: Into the Heart of EVE his words made way, 551: Though at the voice much marveling; at length 552: Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake. 553: What may this mean? Language of Man pronounc't 554: By Tongue of Brute, and human sense exprest? 555: The first at lest of these I thought deni'd 556: To Beasts, whom God on their Creation-Day 557: Created mute to all articulat sound; 558: The latter I demurre, for in thir looks 559: Much reason, and in thir actions oft appeers. 560: Thee, Serpent, suttlest beast of all the field 561: I knew, but not with human voice endu'd; 562: Redouble then this miracle, and say, 563: How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how 564: To me so friendly grown above the rest 565: Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? 566: Say, for such wonder claims attention due. 567: To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd. 568: Empress of this fair World, resplendent EVE, 569: Easie to mee it is to tell thee all 570: What thou commandst, and right thou shouldst be obeyd: 571: I was at first as other Beasts that graze 572: The trodden Herb, of abject thoughts and low, 573: As was my food, nor aught but food discern'd 574: Or Sex, and apprehended nothing high: 575: Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc'd 576: A goodly Tree farr distant to behold 577: Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt, 578: Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze; 579: When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n, 580: Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense 581: Then smell of sweetest Fenel, or the Teats 582: Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn, 583: Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play. 584: To satisfie the sharp desire I had 585: Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv'd 586: Not to deferr; hunger and thirst at once, 587: Powerful perswaders, quick'nd at the scent 588: Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene. 589: About the Mossie Trunk I wound me soon, 590: For high from ground the branches would require 591: Thy utmost reach or ADAMS: Round the Tree 592: All other Beasts that saw, with like desire 593: Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. 594: Amid the Tree now got, where plentie hung 595: Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill 596: I spar'd not, for such pleasure till that hour 597: At Feed or Fountain never had I found. 598: Sated at length, ere long I might perceave 599: Strange alteration in me, to degree 600: Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech 601: Wanted not long, though to this shape retaind. 602: Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep 603: I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind 604: Considerd all things visible in Heav'n, 605: Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good; 606: But all that fair and good in thy Divine 607: Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray 608: United I beheld; no Fair to thine 609: Equivalent or second, which compel'd 610: Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come 611: And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd 612: Sovran of Creatures, universal Dame. 613: So talk'd the spirited sly Snake; and EVE 614: Yet more amaz'd unwarie thus reply'd. 615: Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt 616: The vertue of that Fruit, in thee first prov'd: 617: But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far? 618: For many are the Trees of God that grow 619: In Paradise, and various, yet unknown 620: To us, in such abundance lies our choice, 621: As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht, 622: Still hanging incorruptible, till men 623: Grow up to thir provision, and more hands 624: Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth. 625: To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad. 626: Empress, the way is readie, and not long, 627: Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat, 628: Fast by a Fountain, one small Thicket past 629: Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept 630: My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon. 631: Lead then, said EVE. Hee leading swiftly rowld 632: In tangles, and make intricate seem strait, 633: To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy 634: Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire 635: Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night 636: Condenses, and the cold invirons round, 637: Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame, 638: Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, 639: Hovering and blazing with delusive Light, 640: Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way 641: To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole, 642: There swallow'd up and lost, from succour farr. 643: So glister'd the dire Snake and into fraud 644: Led EVE our credulous Mother, to the Tree 645: Of prohibition, root of all our woe; 646: Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. 647: Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither, 648: Fruitless to me, though Fruit be here to excess, 649: The credit of whose vertue rest with thee, 650: Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. 651: But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch; 652: God so commanded, and left that Command 653: Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live 654: Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law. 655: To whom the Tempter guilefully repli'd. 656: Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit 657: Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eate, 658: Yet Lords declar'd of all in Earth or Aire? 659: To whom thus EVE yet sinless. Of the Fruit 660: Of each Tree in the Garden we may eate, 661: But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst 662: The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate 663: Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die. 664: She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold 665: The Tempter, but with shew of Zeale and Love 666: To Man, and indignation at his wrong, 667: New part puts on, and as to passion mov'd, 668: Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely, and in act 669: Rais'd, as of som great matter to begin. 670: As when of old som Orator renound 671: In ATHENS or free ROME, where Eloquence 672: Flourishd, since mute, to som great cause addrest, 673: Stood in himself collected, while each part, 674: Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, 675: Somtimes in highth began, as no delay 676: Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right. 677: So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown 678: The Tempter all impassiond thus began. 679: O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant, 680: Mother of Science, Now I feel thy Power 681: Within me cleere, not onely to discerne 682: Things in thir Causes, but to trace the wayes 683: Of highest Agents, deemd however wise. 684: Queen of this Universe, doe not believe 685: Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die: 686: How should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life 687: To Knowledge? By the Threatner, look on mee, 688: Mee who have touch'd and tasted, yet both live, 689: And life more perfet have attaind then Fate 690: Meant mee, by ventring higher then my Lot. 691: Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast 692: Is open? or will God incense his ire 693: For such a pretty Trespass, and not praise 694: Rather your dauntless vertue, whom the pain 695: Of Death denounc't, whatever thing Death be, 696: Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade 697: To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil; 698: Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil 699: Be real, why not known, since easier shunnd? 700: God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; 701: Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeid: 702: Your feare it self of Death removes the feare. 703: Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, 704: Why but to keep ye low and ignorant, 705: His worshippers; he knows that in the day 706: Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere, 707: Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then 708: Op'nd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods, 709: Knowing both Good and Evil as they know. 710: That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, 711: Internal Man, is but proportion meet, 712: I of brute human, yee of human Gods. 713: So ye shalt die perhaps, by putting off 714: Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht, 715: Though threat'nd, which no worse then this can bring 716: And what are Gods that Man may not become 717: As they, participating God-like food? 718: The Gods are first, and that advantage use 719: On our belief, that all from them proceeds, 720: I question it, for this fair Earth I see, 721: Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind, 722: Them nothing: If they all things, who enclos'd 723: Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree, 724: That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains 725: Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies 726: Th' offence, that Man should thus attain to know? 727: What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree 728: Impart against his will if all be his? 729: Or is it envie, and can envie dwell 730: In heav'nly brests? these, these and many more 731: Causes import your need of this fair Fruit. 732: Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste. 733: He ended, and his words replete with guile 734: Into her heart too easie entrance won: 735: Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd, which to behold 736: Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound 737: Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregn'd 738: With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth; 739: Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and wak'd 740: An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell 741: So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire, 742: Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, 743: Sollicited her longing eye; yet first 744: Pausing a while, thus to her self she mus'd. 745: Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits, 746: Though kept from Man, & worthy to be admir'd, 747: Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay 748: Gave elocution to the mute, and taught 749: The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise: 750: Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use, 751: Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree 752: Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; 753: Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding 754: Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good 755: By thee communicated, and our want: 756: For good unknown, sure is not had, or had 757: And yet unknown, is as not had at all. 758: In plain then, what forbids he but to know, 759: Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? 760: Such prohibitions binde not. But if Death 761: Bind us with after-bands, what profits then 762: Our inward freedom? In the day we eate 763: Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die. 764: How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat'n and lives, 765: And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes, 766: Irrational till then. For us alone 767: Was death invented? or to us deni'd 768: This intellectual food, for beasts reserv'd? 769: For Beasts it seems: yet that one Beast which first 770: Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy 771: The good befall'n him, Author unsuspect, 772: Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile. 773: What fear I then, rather what know to feare 774: Under this ignorance of Good and Evil, 775: Of God or Death, of Law or Penaltie? 776: Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine, 777: Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Taste, 778: Of vertue to make wise: what hinders then 779: To reach, and feed at once both Bodie and Mind? 780: So saying, her rash hand in evil hour 781: Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck'd, she eat: 782: Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat 783: Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe, 784: That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk 785: The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for EVE 786: Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else 787: Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd, 788: In Fruit she never tasted, whether true 789: Or fansied so, through expectation high 790: Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought. 791: Greedily she ingorg'd without restraint, 792: And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length, 793: And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon, 794: Thus to her self she pleasingly began. 795: O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees 796: In Paradise, of operation blest 797: To Sapience, hitherto obscur'd, infam'd, 798: And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end 799: Created; but henceforth my early care, 800: Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise 801: Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease 802: Of thy full branches offer'd free to all; 803: Till dieted by thee I grow mature 804: In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know; 805: Though others envie what they cannot give; 806: For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here 807: Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe, 808: Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind 809: In ignorance, thou op'nst Wisdoms way, 810: And giv'st access, though secret she retire. 811: And I perhaps am secret; Heav'n is high, 812: High and remote to see from thence distinct 813: Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps 814: May have diverted from continual watch 815: Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies 816: About him. But to ADAM in what sort 817: Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known 818: As yet my change, and give him to partake 819: Full happiness with mee, or rather not, 820: But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power 821: Without Copartner? so to add what wants 822: In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love, 823: And render me more equal, and perhaps 824: A thing not undesireable, somtime 825: Superior; for inferior who is free? 826: This may be well: but what if God have seen, 827: And Death ensue? then I shall be no more, 828: And ADAM wedded to another EVE, 829: Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; 830: A death to think. Confirm'd then I resolve, 831: ADAM shall share with me in bliss or woe: 832: So dear I love him, that with him all deaths 833: I could endure; without him live no life. 834: So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd, 835: But first low Reverence don, as to the power 836: That dwelt within, whose presence had infus'd 837: Into the plant sciential sap, deriv'd 838: From Nectar, drink of Gods. ADAM the while 839: Waiting desirous her return, had wove 840: Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorne 841: Her Tresses, and her rural labours crown 842: As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen. 843: Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new 844: Solace in her return, so long delay'd; 845: Yet oft his heart, divine of somthing ill, 846: Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt; 847: And forth to meet her went, the way she took 848: That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree 849: Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met, 850: Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand 851: A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil'd, 852: New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus'd. 853: To him she hasted, in her face excuse 854: Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt, 855: Which with bland words at will she thus addrest. 856: Hast thou not wonderd, ADAM, at my stay? 857: Thee I have misst, and thought it long, depriv'd 858: Thy presence, agonie of love till now 859: Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more 860: Mean I to trie, what rash untri'd I sought, 861: The paine of absence from thy sight. But strange 862: Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to heare: 863: This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree 864: Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown 865: Op'ning the way, but of Divine effect 866: To open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste; 867: And hath bin tasted such; the Serpent wise, 868: Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying, 869: Hath eat'n of the fruit, and is become, 870: Not dead, as we are threatn'd, but thenceforth 871: Endu'd with human voice and human sense, 872: Reasoning to admiration, and with mee 873: Perswasively hath so prevaild, that I 874: Have also tasted, and have also found 875: Th' effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes, 876: Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart, 877: And growing up to Godhead; which for thee 878: Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. 879: For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss, 880: Tedious, unshar'd with thee, and odious soon. 881: Thou therefore also taste, that equal Lot 882: May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love; 883: Least thou not tasting, different degree 884: Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce 885: Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit. 886: Thus EVE with Countnance blithe her storie told; 887: But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd. 888: On th' other side, ADAM, soon as he heard 889: The fatal Trespass don by EVE, amaz'd, 890: Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill 891: Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax'd; 892: From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for EVE 893: Down drop'd, and all the faded Roses shed: 894: Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length 895: First to himself he inward silence broke. 896: O fairest of Creation, last and best 897: Of all Gods Works, Creature in whom excell'd 898: Whatever can to fight or thought be found, 899: Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! 900: How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost, 901: Defac't, deflourd, and now to Death devote? 902: Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress 903: The strict forbiddance, how to violate 904: The sacred Fruit forbidd'n! som cursed fraud 905: Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown, 906: And mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee 907: Certain my resolution is to Die; 908: How can I live without thee, how forgoe 909: Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd, 910: To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn? 911: Should God create another EVE, and I 912: Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee 913: Would never from my heart; no no, I feel 914: The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh, 915: Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State 916: Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. 917: So having said, as one from sad dismay 918: Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbd 919: Submitting to what seemd remediless, 920: Thus in calme mood his Words to EVE he turnd. 921: Bold deed thou hast presum'd, adventrous EVE, 922: And peril great provok't, who thus hast dar'd 923: Had it bin onely coveting to Eye 924: That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence, 925: Much more to taste it under banne to touch. 926: But past who can recall, or don undoe? 927: Not God omnipotent, for Fate, yet so 928: Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact 929: Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit, 930: Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first 931: Made common and unhallowd: ere one tastes; 932: Nor yet on him found deadly; he yet lives, 933: Lives, as thou saidst, and gaines to live as Man 934: Higher degree of Life, inducement strong 935: To us, as likely tasting to attaine 936: Proportional ascent, which cannot be 937: But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods. 938: Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, 939: Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy 940: Us his prime Creatures, dignifi'd so high, 941: Set over all his Works, which in our Fall, 942: For us created, needs with us must faile, 943: Dependent made; so God shall uncreate, 944: Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose, 945: Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power 946: Creation could repeate, yet would be loath 947: Us to abolish, least the Adversary 948: Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God 949: Most Favors, who can please him long? Mee first 950: He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next? 951: Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe. 952: However I with thee have fixt my Lot, 953: Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death 954: Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life; 955: So forcible within my heart I feel 956: The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne, 957: My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; 958: Our State cannot be severd, we are one, 959: One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self. 960: So ADAM, and thus EVE to him repli'd. 961: O glorious trial of exceeding Love, 962: Illustrious evidence, example high! 963: Ingaging me to emulate, but short 964: Of thy perfection, how shall I attaine, 965: ADAM, from whose deare side I boast me sprung, 966: And gladly of our Union heare thee speak, 967: One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff 968: This day affords, declaring thee resolvd, 969: Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread 970: Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare, 971: To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime, 972: If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit, 973: Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds, 974: Direct, or by occasion hath presented 975: This happie trial of thy Love, which else 976: So eminently never had bin known. 977: Were it I thought Death menac't would ensue 978: This my attempt, I would sustain alone 979: The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die 980: Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact 981: Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assur'd 982: Remarkably so late of thy so true, 983: So faithful Love unequald; but I feel 984: Farr otherwise th' event, not Death, but Life 985: Augmented, op'nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes, 986: Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before 987: Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. 988: On my experience, ADAM, freely taste, 989: And fear of Death deliver to the Windes. 990: So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy 991: Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love 992: Had so enobl'd, as of choice to incurr 993: Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death. 994: In recompence (for such compliance bad 995: Such recompence best merits) from the bough 996: She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit 997: With liberal hand: he scrupl'd not to eat 998: Against his better knowledge, not deceav'd, 999: But fondly overcome with Femal charm. 1000: Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again 1001: In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan, 1002: Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops 1003: Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin 1004: Original; while ADAM took no thought, 1005: Eating his fill, nor EVE to iterate 1006: Her former trespass fear'd, the more to soothe 1007: Him with her lov'd societie, that now 1008: As with new Wine intoxicated both 1009: They swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel 1010: Divinitie within them breeding wings 1011: Wherewith to scorn the Earth: but that false Fruit 1012: Farr other operation first displaid, 1013: Carnal desire enflaming, hee on EVE 1014: Began to cast lascivious Eyes, she him 1015: As wantonly repaid; in Lust they burne: 1016: Till ADAM thus 'gan EVE to dalliance move. 1017: EVE, now I see thou art exact of taste, 1018: And elegant, of Sapience no small part, 1019: Since to each meaning savour we apply, 1020: And Palate call judicious; I the praise 1021: Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd. 1022: Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain'd 1023: From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now 1024: True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be 1025: In things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd, 1026: For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten. 1027: But come, so well refresh't, now let us play, 1028: As meet is, after such delicious Fare; 1029: For never did thy Beautie since the day 1030: I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd 1031: With all perfections, so enflame my sense 1032: With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now 1033: Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree. 1034: So said he, and forbore not glance or toy 1035: Of amorous intent, well understood 1036: Of EVE, whose Eye darted contagious Fire. 1037: Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank, 1038: Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd 1039: He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch, 1040: Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel, 1041: And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap. 1042: There they thir fill of Love and Loves disport 1043: Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale, 1044: The solace of thir sin, till dewie sleep 1045: Oppress'd them, wearied with thir amorous play. 1046: Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit, 1047: That with exhilerating vapour bland 1048: About thir spirits had plaid, and inmost powers 1049: Made erre, was now exhal'd, and grosser sleep 1050: Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams 1051: Encumberd, now had left them, up they rose 1052: As from unrest, and each the other viewing, 1053: Soon found thir Eyes how op'nd, and thir minds 1054: How dark'nd; innocence, that as a veile 1055: Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gon, 1056: Just confidence, and native righteousness, 1057: And honour from about them, naked left 1058: To guiltie shame hee cover'd, but his Robe 1059: Uncover'd more. So rose the DANITE strong 1060: HERCULEAN SAMSON from the Harlot-lap 1061: Of PHILISTEAN DALILAH, and wak'd 1062: Shorn of his strength, They destitute and bare 1063: Of all thir vertue: silent, and in face 1064: Confounded long they sate, as struck'n mute, 1065: Till ADAM, though not less then EVE abasht, 1066: At length gave utterance to these words constraind. 1067: O EVE, in evil hour thou didst give care 1068: To that false Worm, of whomsoever taught 1069: To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall, 1070: False in our promis'd Rising; since our Eyes 1071: Op'nd we find indeed, and find we know 1072: Both Good and Evil, Good lost and Evil got, 1073: Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know, 1074: Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void, 1075: Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie, 1076: Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind, 1077: And in our Faces evident the signes 1078: Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; 1079: Even shame, the last of evils; of the first 1080: Be sure then. How shall I behold the face 1081: Henceforth of God or Angel, earst with joy 1082: And rapture so oft beheld? those heav'nly shapes 1083: Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze 1084: Insufferably bright. O might I here 1085: In solitude live savage, in some glad 1086: Obscur'd, where highest Woods impenetrable 1087: To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad, 1088: And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines, 1089: Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs 1090: Hide me, where I may never see them more. 1091: But let us now, as in bad plight, devise 1092: What best may for the present serve to hide 1093: The Parts of each from other, that seem most 1094: To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen, 1095: Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd, 1096: And girded on our loyns, may cover round 1097: Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame, 1098: There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. 1099: So counsel'd hee, and both together went 1100: Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose 1101: The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit renown'd, 1102: But such as at this day to INDIANS known 1103: In MALABAR or DECAN spreds her Armes 1104: Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground 1105: The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow 1106: About the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade 1107: High overarch't, and echoing Walks between; 1108: There oft the INDIAN Herdsman shunning heate 1109: Shelters in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds 1110: At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves 1111: They gatherd, broad as AMAZONIAN Targe, 1112: And with what skill they had, together sowd, 1113: To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide 1114: Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike 1115: To that first naked Glorie. Such of late 1116: COLUMBUS found th' AMERICAN to girt 1117: With featherd Cincture, naked else and wilde 1118: Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores. 1119: Thus fenc't, and as they thought, thir shame in part 1120: Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind, 1121: They sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares 1122: Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within 1123: Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate, 1124: Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore 1125: Thir inward State of Mind, calme Region once 1126: And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent: 1127: For Understanding rul'd not, and the Will 1128: Heard not her lore, both in subjection now 1129: To sensual Appetite, who from beneathe 1130: Usurping over sovran Reason claimd 1131: Superior sway: From thus distemperd brest, 1132: ADAM, estrang'd in look and alterd stile, 1133: Speech intermitted thus to EVE renewd. 1134: Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words, & stai'd 1135: With me, as I besought thee, when that strange 1136: Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn, 1137: I know not whence possessd thee; we had then 1138: Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild 1139: Of all our good, sham'd, naked, miserable. 1140: Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve 1141: The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek 1142: Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile. 1143: To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus EVE. 1144: What words have past thy Lips, ADAM severe, 1145: Imput'st thou that to my default, or will 1146: Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows 1147: But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by, 1148: Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou bin there, 1149: Or bere th' attempt, thou couldst not have discernd 1150: Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; 1151: No ground of enmitie between us known, 1152: Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme. 1153: Was I to have never parted from thy side? 1154: As good have grown there still a liveless Rib. 1155: Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head 1156: Command me absolutely not to go, 1157: Going into such danger as thou saidst? 1158: Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay, 1159: Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 1160: Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent, 1161: Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with mee. 1162: To whom then first incenst ADAM repli'd. 1163: Is this the Love, is the recompence 1164: Of mine to thee, ingrateful EVE, exprest 1165: Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, 1166: Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss, 1167: Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee: 1168: And am I now upbraided, as the cause 1169: Of thy transgressing? not enough severe, 1170: It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? 1171: I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold 1172: The danger, and the lurking Enemie 1173: That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force, 1174: And force upon free Will hath here no place. 1175: But confidence then bore thee on, secure 1176: Either to meet no danger, or to finde 1177: Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps 1178: I also err'd in overmuch admiring 1179: What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought 1180: No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue 1181: That errour now, which is become my crime, 1182: And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befall 1183: Him who to worth in Women overtrusting 1184: Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook, 1185: And left to her self, if evil thence ensue, 1186: Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse. 1187: Thus they in mutual accusation spent 1188: The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning 1189: And of thir vain contest appeer'd no end. Book 9 1: Meanwhile the hainous and despightfull act 2: Of SATAN done in Paradise, and how 3: Hee in the Serpent had perverted EVE, 4: Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit, 5: Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye 6: Of God All-seeing, or deceave his Heart 7: Omniscient, who in all things wise and just, 8: Hinder'd not SATAN to attempt the minde 9: Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will arm'd, 10: Complete to have discover'd and repulst 11: Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend. 12: For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd 13: The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit, 14: Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, 15: Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie, 16: And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall. 17: Up into Heav'n from Paradise in hast 18: Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad 19: For Man, for of his state by this they knew, 20: Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln 21: Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news 22: From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd 23: All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare 24: That time Celestial visages, yet mixt 25: With pitie, violated not thir bliss. 26: About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes 27: Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know 28: How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream 29: Accountable made haste to make appear 30: With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance, 31: And easily approv'd; when the most High 32: Eternal Father from his secret Cloud, 33: Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice. 34: Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd 35: From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid, 36: Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth, 37: Which your sincerest care could not prevent, 38: Foretold so lately what would come to pass, 39: When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell. 40: I told ye then he should prevail and speed 41: On his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't 42: And flatter'd out of all, believing lies 43: Against his Maker; no Decree of mine 44: Concurring to necessitate his Fall, 45: Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 46: His free Will, to her own inclining left 47: In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now 48: What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass 49: On his transgression, Death denounc't that day, 50: Which he presumes already vain and void, 51: Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, 52: By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find 53: Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. 54: Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd. 55: But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee 56: Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd 57: All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth; or Hell. 58: Easie it may be seen that I intend 59: Mercie collegue with Justice, sending thee 60: Mans Friend, his Mediator, his design'd 61: Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie, 62: And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n. 63: So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright 64: Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son 65: Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full 66: Resplendent all his Father manifest 67: Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde. 68: Father Eternal, thine is to decree, 69: Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will 70: Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd 71: Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge 72: On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst, 73: Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light, 74: When time shall be, for so I undertook 75: Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine 76: Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom 77: On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so 78: Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most 79: Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. 80: Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none 81: Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd, 82: Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd, 83: Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law 84: Conviction to the Serpent none belongs. 85: Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose 86: Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers, 87: Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant 88: Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence 89: EDEN and all the Coast in prospect lay. 90: Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods 91: Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd. 92: Now was the Sun in Western cadence low 93: From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour 94: To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in 95: The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole 96: Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both 97: To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard 98: Now walking in the Garden, by soft windes 99: Brought to thir Ears, while day declin'd, they heard 100: And from his presence hid themselves among 101: The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God 102: Approaching, thus to ADAM call'd aloud. 103: Where art thou ADAM, wont with joy to meet 104: My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, 105: Not pleas'd, thus entertaind with solitude, 106: Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught: 107: Or come I less conspicuous, or what change 108: Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth. 109: He came, and with him EVE, more loth, though first 110: To offend, discount'nanc't both, and discompos'd; 111: Love was not in thir looks, either to God 112: Or to each other, but apparent guilt, 113: And shame, and perturbation, and despaire, 114: Anger, and obstinacie, and hate, and guile. 115: Whence ADAM faultring long, thus answer'd brief. 116: I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice 117: Affraid, being naked, hid my self. To whom 118: The gracious Judge without revile repli'd. 119: My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, 120: But still rejoyc't, how is it now become 121: So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who 122: Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree 123: Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? 124: To whom thus ADAM sore beset repli'd. 125: O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand 126: Before my Judge, either to undergoe 127: My self the total Crime, or to accuse 128: My other self, the partner of my life; 129: Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines, 130: I should conceal, and not expose to blame 131: By my complaint; but strict necessitie 132: Subdues me, and calamitous constraint, 133: Least on my head both sin and punishment, 134: However insupportable, be all 135: Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou 136: Wouldst easily detect what I conceale. 137: This Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help, 138: And gav'st me as thy perfet gift, so good, 139: So fit, so acceptable, so Divine, 140: That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 141: And what she did, whatever in it self, 142: Her doing seem'd to justifie the deed; 143: Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate. 144: To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd. 145: Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey 146: Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide, 147: Superior, or but equal, that to her 148: Thou did'st resigne thy Manhood, and the Place 149: Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, 150: And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd 151: Hers in all real dignitie: Adornd 152: She was indeed, and lovely to attract 153: Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts 154: Were such as under Government well seem'd, 155: Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part 156: And person, had'st thou known thy self aright. 157: So having said, he thus to EVE in few: 158: Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done? 159: To whom sad EVE with shame nigh overwhelm'd, 160: Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge 161: Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd. 162: The Serpent me beguil'd and I did eate. 163: Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 164: To Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd 165: Serpent though brute, unable to transferre 166: The Guilt on him who made him instrument 167: Of mischief, and polluted from the end 168: Of his Creation; justly then accurst, 169: As vitiated in Nature: more to know 170: Concern'd not Man (since he no further knew) 171: Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last 172: To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd, 173: Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best: 174: And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. 175: Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst 176: Above all Cattel, each Beast of the Field; 177: Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe, 178: And dust shalt eat all the days of thy Life. 179: Between Thee and the Woman I will put 180: Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed; 181: Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. 182: So spake this Oracle, then verifi'd 183: When JESUS son of MARY second EVE, 184: Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heav'n, 185: Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave 186: Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumpht 187: In open shew, and with ascention bright 188: Captivity led captive through the Aire, 189: The Realme it self of Satan long usurpt, 190: Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; 191: Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise, 192: And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd. 193: Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie 194: By thy Conception; Children thou shalt bring 195: In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will 196: Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule. 197: On ADAM last thus judgement he pronounc'd. 198: Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife, 199: And eaten of the Tree concerning which 200: I charg'd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate thereof, 201: Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow 202: Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life; 203: Thornes also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth 204: Unbid, and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field, 205: In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eate Bread, 206: Till thou return unto the ground, for thou 207: Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth, 208: For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne. 209: So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent, 210: And th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day 211: Remov'd farr off; then pittying how they stood 212: Before him naked to the aire, that now 213: Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin 214: Thenceforth the forme of servant to assume, 215: As when he wash'd his servants feet, so now 216: As Father of his Familie he clad 217: Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain, 218: Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid; 219: And thought not much to cloath his Enemies: 220: Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins 221: Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more 222: Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness, 223: Araying cover'd from his Fathers sight. 224: To him with swift ascent he up returnd, 225: Into his blissful bosom reassum'd 226: In glory as of old, to him appeas'd 227: All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man 228: Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 229: Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth, 230: Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death, 231: In counterview within the Gates, that now 232: Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame 233: Farr into CHAOS, since the Fiend pass'd through, 234: Sin opening, who thus now to Death began. 235: O Son, why sit we here each other viewing 236: Idlely, while Satan our great Author thrives 237: In other Worlds, and happier Seat provides 238: For us his ofspring deare? It cannot be 239: But that success attends him; if mishap, 240: Ere this he had return'd, with fury driv'n 241: By his Avenger, since no place like this 242: Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. 243: Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, 244: Wings growing, and Dominion giv'n me large 245: Beyond this Deep; whatever drawes me on, 246: Or sympathie, or som connatural force 247: Powerful at greatest distance to unite 248: With secret amity things of like kinde 249: By secretest conveyance. Thou my Shade 250: Inseparable must with mee along: 251: For Death from Sin no power can separate. 252: But least the difficultie of passing back 253: Stay his returne perhaps over this Gulfe 254: Impassable, impervious, let us try 255: Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine 256: Not unagreeable, to found a path 257: Over this Maine from Hell to that new World 258: Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument 259: Of merit high to all th' infernal Host, 260: Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse, 261: Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead. 262: Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn 263: By this new felt attraction and instinct. 264: Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon. 265: Goe whither Fate and inclination strong 266: Leads thee, I shall not lag behinde, nor erre 267: The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw 268: Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste 269: The savour of Death from all things there that live: 270: Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest 271: Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. 272: So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell 273: Of mortal change on Earth. As when a flock 274: Of ravenous Fowl, though many a League remote, 275: Against the day of Battel, to a Field, 276: Where Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd 277: With sent of living Carcasses design'd 278: For death, the following day, in bloodie fight. 279: So sented the grim Feature, and upturn'd 280: His Nostril wide into the murkie Air, 281: Sagacious of his Quarrey from so farr. 282: Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste 283: Wide Anarchie of CHAOS damp and dark 284: Flew divers, & with Power (thir Power was great) 285: Hovering upon the Waters; what they met 286: Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea 287: Tost up and down, together crowded drove 288: From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell. 289: As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse 290: Upon the CRONIAN Sea, together drive 291: Mountains of Ice, that stop th' imagin'd way 292: Beyond PETSORA Eastward, to the rich 293: CATHAIAN Coast. The aggregated Soyle 294: Death with his Mace petrific, cold and dry, 295: As with a Trident smote, and fix't as firm 296: As DELOS floating once; the rest his look 297: Bound with GORGONIAN rigor not to move, 298: And with ASPHALTIC slime; broad as the Gate, 299: Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach 300: They fasten'd, and the Mole immense wraught on 301: Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge 302: Of length prodigious joyning to the Wall 303: Immoveable of this now fenceless world 304: Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, 305: Smooth, easie, inoffensive down to Hell. 306: So, if great things to small may be compar'd, 307: XERXES, the Libertie of GREECE to yoke, 308: From SUSA his MEMNONIAN Palace high 309: Came to the Sea, and over HELLESPONT 310: Bridging his way, EUROPE with ASIA joyn'd, 311: And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves. 312: Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art 313: Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock 314: Over the vext Abyss, following the track 315: Of SATAN, to the selfsame place where hee 316: First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe 317: From out of CHAOS to the outside bare 318: Of this round World: with Pinns of Adamant 319: And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made 320: And durable; and now in little space 321: The Confines met of Empyrean Heav'n 322: And of this World, and on the left hand Hell 323: With long reach interpos'd; three sev'ral wayes 324: In sight, to each of these three places led. 325: And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd, 326: To Paradise first tending, when behold 327: SATAN in likeness of an Angel bright 328: Betwixt the CENTAURE and the SCORPION stearing 329: His ZENITH, while the Sun in ARIES rose: 330: Disguis'd he came, but those his Children dear 331: Thir Parent soon discern'd, though in disguise. 332: Hee, after EVE seduc't, unminded slunk 333: Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape 334: To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act 335: By EVE, though all unweeting, seconded 336: Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought 337: Vain covertures; but when he saw descend 338: The Son of God to judge them, terrifi'd 339: Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun 340: The present, fearing guiltie what his wrauth 341: Might suddenly inflict; that past, return'd 342: By Night, and listning where the hapless Paire 343: Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint, 344: Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood 345: Not instant, but of future time. With joy 346: And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd, 347: And at the brink of CHAOS, neer the foot 348: Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhop't 349: Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear. 350: Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight 351: Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreas'd. 352: Long hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire 353: Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke. 354: O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds, 355: Thy Trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own, 356: Thou art thir Author and prime Architect: 357: For I no sooner in my Heart divin'd, 358: My Heart, which by a secret harmonie 359: Still moves with thine, joyn'd in connexion sweet, 360: That thou on Earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks 361: Now also evidence, but straight I felt 362: Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt 363: That I must after thee with this thy Son; 364: Such fatal consequence unites us three: 365: Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, 366: Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure 367: Detain from following thy illustrious track. 368: Thou hast atchiev'd our libertie, confin'd 369: Within Hell Gates till now, thou us impow'rd 370: To fortifie thus farr, and overlay 371: With this portentous Bridge the dark Abyss. 372: Thine now is all this World, thy vertue hath won 373: What thy hands builded not, thy Wisdom gain'd 374: With odds what Warr hath lost, and fully aveng'd 375: Our foile in Heav'n; here thou shalt Monarch reign, 376: There didst not; there let him still Victor sway, 377: As Battel hath adjudg'd, from this new World 378: Retiring, by his own doom alienated, 379: And henceforth Monarchie with thee divide 380: Of all things, parted by th' Empyreal bounds, 381: His Quadrature, from thy Orbicular World, 382: Or trie thee now more dang'rous to his Throne. 383: Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answerd glad. 384: Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both, 385: High proof ye now have giv'n to be the Race 386: Of SATAN (for I glorie in the name, 387: Antagonist of Heav'ns Almightie King) 388: Amply have merited of me, of all 389: Th' Infernal Empire, that so neer Heav'ns dore 390: Triumphal with triumphal act have met, 391: Mine with this glorious Work, & made one Realm 392: Hell and this World, one Realm, one Continent 393: Of easie thorough-fare. Therefore while I 394: Descend through Darkness, on your Rode with ease 395: To my associate Powers, them to acquaint 396: With these successes, and with them rejoyce, 397: You two this way, among those numerous Orbs 398: All yours, right down to Paradise descend; 399: There dwell & Reign in bliss, thence on the Earth 400: Dominion exercise and in the Aire, 401: Chiefly on Man, sole Lord of all declar'd, 402: Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. 403: My Substitutes I send ye, and Create 404: Plenipotent on Earth, of matchless might 405: Issuing from mee: on your joynt vigor now 406: My hold of this new Kingdom all depends, 407: Through Sin to Death expos'd by my exploit. 408: If your joynt power prevaile, th' affaires of Hell 409: No detriment need feare, goe and be strong. 410: So saying he dismiss'd them, they with speed 411: Thir course through thickest Constellations held 412: Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs lookt wan, 413: And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclips 414: Then sufferd. Th' other way SATAN went down 415: The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side 416: Disparted CHAOS over built exclaimd, 417: And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild, 418: That scorn'd his indignation: through the Gate, 419: Wide open and unguarded, SATAN pass'd, 420: And all about found desolate; for those 421: Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge, 422: Flown to the upper World; the rest were all 423: Farr to the inland retir'd, about the walls 424: Of PANDEMONIUM, Citie and proud seate 425: Of LUCIFER, so by allusion calld, 426: Of that bright Starr to SATAN paragond. 427: There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand 428: In Council sate, sollicitous what chance 429: Might intercept thir Emperour sent, so hee 430: Departing gave command, and they observ'd. 431: As when the TARTAR from his RUSSIAN Foe 432: By ASTRACAN over the Snowie Plaines 433: Retires, or BACTRIAN Sophi from the hornes 434: Of TURKISH Crescent, leaves all waste beyond 435: The Realme of ALADULE, in his retreate 436: To TAURIS or CASBEEN. So these the late 437: Heav'n-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell 438: Many a dark League, reduc't in careful Watch 439: Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting 440: Each hour their great adventurer from the search 441: Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt, 442: In shew plebeian Angel militant 443: Of lowest order, past; and from the dore 444: Of that PLUTONIAN Hall, invisible 445: Ascended his high Throne, which under state 446: Of richest texture spred, at th' upper end 447: Was plac't in regal lustre. Down a while 448: He sate, and round about him saw unseen: 449: At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head 450: And shape Starr bright appeer'd, or brighter, clad 451: With what permissive glory since his fall 452: Was left him, or false glitter: All amaz'd 453: At that so sudden blaze the STYGIAN throng 454: Bent thir aspect, and whom they wish'd beheld, 455: Thir mighty Chief returnd: loud was th' acclaime: 456: Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting Peers, 457: Rais'd from thir dark DIVAN, and with like joy 458: Congratulant approach'd him, who with hand 459: Silence, and with these words attention won. 460: Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, 461: For in possession such, not onely of right, 462: I call ye and declare ye now, returnd 463: Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth 464: Triumphant out of this infernal Pit 465: Abominable, accurst, the house of woe, 466: And Dungeon of our Tyrant: Now possess, 467: As Lords, a spacious World, to our native Heaven 468: Little inferiour, by my adventure hard 469: With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell 470: What I have don, what sufferd, with what paine 471: Voyag'd the unreal, vast, unbounded deep 472: Of horrible confusion, over which 473: By Sin and Death a broad way now is pav'd 474: To expedite your glorious march; but I 475: Toild out my uncouth passage, forc't to ride 476: Th' untractable Abysse, plung'd in the womb 477: Of unoriginal NIGHT and CHAOS wilde, 478: That jealous of thir secrets fiercely oppos'd 479: My journey strange, with clamorous uproare 480: Protesting Fate supreame; thence how I found 481: The new created World, which fame in Heav'n 482: Long had foretold, a Fabrick wonderful 483: Of absolute perfection, therein Man 484: Plac't in a Paradise, by our exile 485: Made happie: Him by fraud I have seduc'd 486: From his Creator, and the more to increase 487: Your wonder, with an Apple; he thereat 488: Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv'n up 489: Both his beloved Man and all his World, 490: To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, 491: Without our hazard, labour or allarme, 492: To range in, and to dwell, and over Man 493: To rule, as over all he should have rul'd. 494: True is, mee also he hath judg'd, or rather 495: Mee not, but the brute Serpent in whose shape 496: Man I deceav'd: that which to mee belongs, 497: Is enmity, which he will put between 498: Mee and Mankinde; I am to bruise his heel; 499: His Seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: 500: A World who would not purchase with a bruise, 501: Or much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account 502: Of my performance: What remaines, ye Gods, 503: But up and enter now into full bliss. 504: So having said, a while he stood, expecting 505: Thir universal shout and high applause 506: To fill his eare, when contrary he hears 507: On all sides, from innumerable tongues 508: A dismal universal hiss, the sound 509: Of public scorn; he wonderd, but not long 510: Had leasure, wondring at himself now more; 511: His Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare, 512: His Armes clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining 513: Each other, till supplanted down he fell 514: A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone, 515: Reluctant, but in vaine, a greater power 516: Now rul'd him, punisht in the shape he sin'd, 517: According to his doom: he would have spoke, 518: But hiss for hiss returnd with forked tongue 519: To forked tongue, for now were all transform'd 520: Alike, to Serpents all as accessories 521: To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din 522: Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now 523: With complicated monsters, head and taile, 524: Scorpion and Asp, and AMPHISBAENA dire, 525: CERASTES hornd, HYDRUS, and ELLOPS drear, 526: And DIPSAS (Not so thick swarm'd once the Soil 527: Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the Isle 528: OPHIUSA) but still greatest hee the midst, 529: Now Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun 530: Ingenderd in the PYTHIAN Vale on slime, 531: Huge PYTHON, and his Power no less he seem'd 532: Above the rest still to retain; they all 533: Him follow'd issuing forth to th' open Field, 534: Where all yet left of that revolted Rout 535: Heav'n-fall'n, in station stood or just array, 536: Sublime with expectation when to see 537: In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief; 538: They saw, but other sight instead, a crowd 539: Of ugly Serpents; ho