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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN +ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +The Poetical Works of John Milton +Scanned and proofed by Donal O'Danachair, +kodak_seaside@hotmail.com + +Transcriber's Notes: +This e-text contains all of Milton's poems in English and Italian. +Poems in Latin have been ommitted. +The original spelling, capitalisation and punctuation have been +retained as far as possible. Characters not in the ANSI standard +set have been replaced by their nearest equivalent. The AE & OE +digraphs have been transcribed as two letters. Accented +letters in the Italian poems have been replaced by the unaccented +letter. +No italics have been retained. +Footnotes have been moved to the end of the poem to which they +refer; in Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained they have been +moved to the end of the book. + + + + +The Poetical Works of John Milton + + + +PREFACE by the Rev. H. C. Beeching, M. A. + + +This edition of Milton's Poetry is a reprint, as careful as Editor +and Printers have been able to make it, from the earliest printed +copies of the several poems. First the 1645 volume of the +Minor Poems has been printed entire; then follow in order the +poems added in the reissue of 1673; the Paradise Lost, from the +edition of 1667; and the Paradise Regain'd and Samson +Agonistes from the edition of 1671. + +The most interesting portion of the book must be reckoned the +first section of it, which reproduces for the first time the scarce +small octavo of 1645. The only reprint of the Minor Poems in +the old spelling, so far as I know, is the one edited by Mitford, +but that followed the edition of 1673, which is comparatively +uninteresting since it could not have had Milton's oversight as it +passed through the press. We know that it was set up from a +copy of the 1645 edition, because it reproduces some pointless +eccentricities such as the varying form of the chorus to Psalm +cxxxvi; but while it corrects the errata tabulated in that edition +it commits many more blunders of its own. It is valuable, +however, as the editio princeps of ten of the sonnets and it +contains one important alteration in the Ode on the Nativity. +This and all other alterations will be found noted where they +occur. I have not thought it necessary to note mere differences +of spelling between the two editions but a word may find place +here upon their general character. Generally it may be said that, +where the two editions differ, the later spelling is that now in +use. Thus words like goddess, darkness, usually written in the +first edition with one final s, have two, while on the other hand +words like vernall, youthfull, and monosyllables like hugg, farr, +lose their double letter. Many monosyllables, e.g. som, cours, +glimps, wher, vers, aw, els, don, ey, ly, so written in 1645, take +on in 1673 an e mute, while words like harpe, windes, onely, +lose it. By a reciprocal change ayr and cipress become air and +cypress; and the vowels in daign, vail, neer, beleeve, sheild, +boosom, eeven, battail, travailer, and many other words are +similarly modernized. On the other hand there are a few cases +where the 1645 edition exhibits the spelling which has +succeeded in fixing itself, as travail (1673, travel) in the sense of +labour; and rob'd, profane, human, flood and bloody, forest, +triple, alas, huddling, are found where the 1673 edition has +roab'd, prophane, humane, floud and bloudy, forrest, tripple, +alass and hudling. Indeed the spelling in this later edition is not +untouched by seventeenth century inconsistency. It retains here +and there forms like shameles, cateres, (where 1645 reads +cateress), and occasionally reverts to the older-fashioned +spelling of monosyllables without the mute e. In the Epitaph on +the Marchioness of Winchester, it reads --' And som flowers +and some bays.' But undoubtedly the impression on the whole +is of a much more modern text. + +In the matter of small or capital letters I have followed the old +copy, except in one or two places where a personification +seemed not plainly enough marked to a modern reader without +a capital. Thus in Il Penseroso, l. 49, I print Leasure, although +both editions read leasure; and in the Vacation Exercise, l. 71, +Times for times. Also where the employment or omission of a +capital is plainly due to misprinting, as too frequently in the +1673 edition, I silently make the correction. Examples are, +notes for Notes in Sonnet xvii. l. 13; Anointed for anointed in +Psalm ii. l.12. + +In regard to punctuation I have followed the old printers except +in obvious misprints, and followed them also, as far as possible, +in their distribution of roman and italic type and in the grouping +of words and lines in the various titles. To follow them exactly +was impossible, as the books are so very different in size. + +At this point the candid reader may perhaps ask what advantage +is gained by presenting these poems to modern readers in the +dress of a bygone age. If the question were put to me I should +probably evade it by pointing out that Mr. Frowde is issuing an +edition based upon this, in which the spelling is frankly that of +to-day. But if the question were pressed, I think a sufficient +answer might be found. To begin with, I should point out that +even Prof. Masson, who in his excellent edition argues the +point and decides in favour of modern spelling, allows that there +are peculiarities of Milton's spelling which are really significant, +and ought therefore to be noted or preserved. But who is to +determine exactly which words are spelt according to the poet's +own instructions, and which according to the printer's whim? It +is notorious that in Paradise Lost some words were spelt upon a +deliberate system, and it may very well happen that in the +volume of minor poems which the poet saw through the press in +1645, there were spellings no less systematic. Prof. Masson +makes a great point of the fact that Milton's own spelling, +exhibited in the autograph manuscript of some of the minor +poems preserved in Trinity College, Cambridge, does not +correspond with that of the printed copy. [Note: This +manuscript, invaluable to all students of Milton, has lately been +facsimiled under the superintendence of Dr. Aldis Wright, and +published at the Cambridge University press]. This is certainly +true, as the reader may see for himself by comparing the +passage from the manuscript given in the appendix with the +corresponding place in the text. Milton's own spelling revels in +redundant e's, while the printer of the 1645 book is very sparing +of them. But in cases where the spelling affects the metre, we +find that the printed text and Milton's manuscript closely +correspond; and it is upon its value in determining the metre, +quite as much as its antiquarian interest, that I should base a +justification of this reprint. Take, for instance, such a line as the +eleventh of Comus, which Prof. Masson gives as:- + + Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats. + +A reader not learned in Miltonic rhythms will certainly read this + + Amongst th' enthroned gods + +But the 1645 edition reads: + + Amongst the enthron'd gods + +and so does Milton's manuscript. Again, in line 597, Prof. +Masson reads: + + It shall be in eternal restless change + Self-fed and self-consumed. If this fail, + The pillared firmament is rottenness, &c. + +But the 1645 text and Milton's manuscript read self-consum'd; +after which word there is to be understood a metrical pause to +mark the violent transition of the thought. + +Again in the second line of the Sonnet to a Nightingale Prof. +Masson has: + + Warblest at eve when all the woods are still + +but the early edition, which probably follows Milton's spelling +though in this case we have no manuscript to compare, reads +'Warbl'st.' So the original text of Samson, l. 670, has 'temper'st.' + +The retention of the old system of punctuation may be less +defensible, but I have retained it because it may now and then +be of use in determining a point of syntax. The absence of a +comma, for example, after the word hearse in the 58th line of +the Epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester, printed by Prof. +Masson thus:-- + + And some flowers, and some bays + For thy hearse to strew thy ways, + +but in the 1645 edition:-- + + And som Flowers, and som Bays, + For thy Hears to strew the ways, + +goes to prove that for here must be taken as 'fore. + +Of the Paradise Lost there were two editions issued during +Milton's lifetime, and while the first has been taken as our text, +all the variants in the second, not being simple misprints, have +been recorded in the notes. In one respect, however, in the +distribution of the poem into twelve books instead of ten, it has +seemed best, for the sake of practical convenience, to follow the +second edition. A word may be allowed here on the famous +correction among the Errata prefixed to the first edition: 'Lib. +2. v. 414, for we read wee.' This correction shows not only that +Milton had theories about spelling, but also that he found +means, though his sight was gone, to ascertain whether his rules +had been carried out by his printer; and in itself this fact justifies +a facsimile reprint. What the principle in the use of the double +vowel exactly was (and it is found to affect the other +monosyllabic pronouns) it is not so easy to discover, though +roughly it is clear the reduplication was intended to mark +emphasis. For example, in the speech of the Divine Son after +the battle in heaven (vi. 810-817) the pronouns which the voice +would naturally emphasize are spelt with the double vowel: + + Stand onely and behold + Gods indignation on these Godless pourd + By mee; not you but mee they have despis'd, + Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage, + Because the Father, t'whom in Heav'n supream + Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, + Hath honourd me according to his will. + Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assign'd. + +In the Son's speech offering himself as Redeemer (iii. 227-249) +where the pronoun all through is markedly emphasized, it is +printed mee the first four times, and afterwards me; but it is +noticeable that these first four times the emphatic word does +not stand in the stressed place of the verse, so that a careless +reader might not emphasize it, unless his attention were +specially led by some such sign: + + Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life + I offer, on mee let thine anger fall; + Account mee man. + +In the Hymn of Creation (v.160-209) where ye occurs fourteen +times, the emphasis and the metric stress six times out of seven +coincide, and the pronoun is spelt yee; where it is unemphatic, +and in an unstressed place, it is spelt ye. Two lines are especially +instructive: +Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light (l. 160); + +and + + Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow, + Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise (l. 195). + +In v. 694 it marks, as the voice by its emphasis would mark in +reading, a change of subject: + + So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd + Bad influence into th' unwarie brest + Of his Associate; hee (i. e. the associate) together calls, +&c. + +An examination of other passages, where there is no antithesis, +goes to show that the lengthened form of the pronoun is most +frequent before a pause (as vii. 95); or at the end of a line (i. +245, 257); or when a foot is inverted (v. 133); or when as +object it precedes its verb (v. 612; vii. 747), or as subject +follows it (ix. 1109; x. 4). But as we might expect under +circumstances where a purist could not correct his own proofs, +there are not a few inconsistencies. There does not seem, for +example, any special emphasis in the second wee of the +following passage: + + Freely we serve. + Because wee freely love, as in our will + To love or not; in this we stand or fall (v. 538). + + +On the other hand, in the passage (iii. 41) in which the poet +speaks of his own blindness: + + Thus with the Year + Seasons return, but not to me returns + Day, &c. + +where, if anywhere, we should expect mee, we do not find it, +though it occurs in the speech eight lines below. It should be +added that this differentiation of the pronouns is not found in +any printed poem of Milton's before Paradise Lost, nor is it +found in the Cambridge autograph. In that manuscript the +constant forms are me, wee, yee. There is one place where +there is a difference in the spelling of she, and it is just possible +that this may not be due to accident. In the first verse of the +song in Arcades, the MS. reads: + + This, this is shee; + +and in the third verse: + + This, this is she alone. + +This use of the double vowel is found a few times in Paradise +Regain'd: in ii. 259 and iv. 486, 497 where mee begins a line, +and in iv. 638 where hee is specially emphatic in the concluding +lines of the poem. In Samson Agonistes it is more frequent +(e.g. lines 124, 178, 193, 220, 252, 290, 1125). Another word +the spelling of which in Paradise Lost will be observed to vary is +the pronoun their, which is spelt sometimes thir. The spelling in +the Cambridge manuscript is uniformly thire, except once when +it is thir; and where their once occurs in the writing of an +amanuensis the e is struck through. That the difference is not +merely a printer's device to accommodate his line may be seen +by a comparison of lines 358 and 363 in the First Book, where +the shorter word comes in the shorter line. It is probable that +the lighter form of the word was intended to be used when it +was quite unemphatic. Contrast, for example, in Book iii. l.59: +His own works and their works at once to view with line 113: +Thir maker and thir making and thir Fate. But the use is not +consistent, and the form thir is not found at all till the 349th +line of the First Book. The distinction is kept up in the Paradise +Regain'd and Samson Agonistes, but, if possible, with even less +consistency. Such passages, however, as Paradise Regain'd, iii. +414-440; Samson Agonistes, 880-890, are certainly spelt upon a +method, and it is noticeable that in the choruses the lighter form +is universal. + +Paradise Regain'd and Samson Agonistes were published in +1671, and no further edition was called for in the remaining +three years of the poet's lifetime, so that in the case of these +poems there are no new readings to record; and the texts were +so carefully revised, that only one fault (Paradise Regain'd, ii. +309) was left for correction later. In these and the other poems +I have corrected the misprints catalogued in the tables of Errata, +and I have silently corrected any other unless it might be +mistaken for a various reading, when I have called attention to +it in a note. Thus I have not recorded such blunders as Letbian +for Lesbian in the 1645 text of Lycidas, line 63; or hallow for +hollow in Paradise Lost, vi. 484; but I have noted content for +concent, in At a Solemn Musick, line 6. + +In conclusion I have to offer my sincere thanks to all who have +collaborated with me in preparing this Edition; to the Delegates +of the Oxford Press for allowing me to undertake it and +decorate it with so many facsimiles; to the Controller of the +Press for his unfailing courtesy; to the printers and printer's +reader for their care and pains. Coming nearer home I cannot +but acknowledge the help I have received in looking over proof- +sheets from my sister, Mrs. P. A. Barnett, who has +ungrudgingly put at the service of this book both time and +eyesight. In taking leave of it, I may be permitted to say that it +has cost more of both these inestimable treasures than I had +anticipated. The last proof reaches me just a year after the first, +and the progress of the work has not in the interval been +interrupted. In tenui labor et tenuis gloria. Nevertheless I cannot +be sorry it was undertaken. + +H. C. B. + +YATTENDON RECTORY, +November 8, 1899. + + + +Transcriber's note: Facsimile of Title page of 1645 edition +follows: + + + POEMS + OF + Mr John Milton, + BOTH + ENGLISH and LATIN + Compos'd at several times. + ------------------------------ + Printed by his true copies. + ------------------------------ + The SONGS were set in Musick by + Mr. HENRY LAWES Gentleman of + the KINGS Chappel, and one + of His MAIESTIES + Private Musick. + + --------Baccare frontem + Cingite, ne vace noceat mala lingua futuro, + Virgil, Eclog. 7. + ----------------------------------------- + Printed, and Publish'd according to + ORDER. + ----------------------------------------- + LONDON, + Printed by Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Moseley, + and are to be sold at the signe of the Princes + Arms in S. Pauls Church-yard. 1645. + + + +Transcriber's note: Facsimile of Title page of 1673 edition +follows: + + + POEMS, &c. + UPON + Several Occasions. + -------------------------- + BY + Mr. John Milton: + -------------------------- + Both ENGLISH and LATIN &c. + Composed at several times. + -------------------------- + With a small tractate of + EDUCATION + To Mr. HARTLIB + -------------------------- + -------------------------- + LONDON. + Printed for Tho. Dring at the Blew Anchor + next Mitre Court over against Fetter + Lane in Fleet-street. 1673. + + + +THE STATIONER TO THE READER. + + +It is not any Private respect of gain, Gentle Reader, for the +slightest Pamphlet is now adayes more vendible then the Works +of learnedest men; but it is the love I have to our own Language +that hath made me diligent to collect, and set forth such Peeces +in Prose and Vers as may renew the wonted honour and esteem +of our tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin +poems, not the flourish of any prefixed encomions that can +invite thee to buy them, though these are not without the +highest Commendations and Applause of the learnedst +Academicks, both domestic and forrein: And amongst those of +our own Countrey, the unparalleled attestation of that +renowned Provost of Eaton, Sir Henry Wootton: I know not +thy palat how it relishes such dainties, nor how harmonious thy +soul is; perhaps more trivial Airs may please thee better. But +howsoever thy opinion is spent upon these, that incouragement +I have already received from the most ingenious men in their +clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Wallers late choice +Peeces, hath once more made me adventure into the World, +presenting it with these ever-green, and not to be blasted +Laurels. The Authors more peculiar excellency in these studies, +was too well known to conceal his Papers, or to keep me from +attempting to sollicit them from him. Let the event guide it self +which way it will, I shall deserve of the age, by bringing into the +Light as true a Birth, as the Muses have brought forth since our +famous Spencer wrote; whose Poems in these English ones are +as rarely imitated, as sweetly excell'd. Reader, if thou art +Eagle-eied to censure their worth, I am not fearful to expose +them to thy exactest perusal. + +Thine to Command + +HUMPH. MOSELEY. + + + +MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. + + +ON THE MORNING OF CHRISTS NATIVITY. +Compos'd 1629. + +I + +This is the Month, and this the happy morn +Wherin the Son of Heav'ns eternal King, +Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born, +Our great redemption from above did bring; +For so the holy sages once did sing, +That he our deadly forfeit should release, +And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. + +II + +That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable, +And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty, +Wherwith he wont at Heav'ns high Councel-Table, 10 +To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, +He laid aside; and here with us to be, +Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day, +And chose with us a darksom House of mortal Clay. + +III + +Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein +Afford a present to the Infant God? +Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein, +To welcom him to this his new abode, +Now while the Heav'n by the Suns team untrod, +Hath took no print of the approching light, 20 +And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? + +IV + +See how from far upon the Eastern rode +The Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet, +O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, +And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; +Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet, +And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire, +>From out his secret Altar toucht with hallow'd fire. + + +The Hymn. + +I + +IT was the Winter wilde, +While the Heav'n-born-childe, 30 +All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; +Nature in aw to him +Had doff't her gawdy trim, +With her great Master so to sympathize: +It was no season then for her +To wanton with the Sun her lusty Paramour. + +II + +Only with speeches fair +She woo'd the gentle Air +To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow, +And on her naked shame, 40 +Pollute with sinfull blame, +The Saintly Vail of Maiden white to throw, +Confounded, that her Makers eyes +Should look so near upon her foul deformities. + +III + +But he her fears to cease, +Sent down the meek-eyd Peace, +She crown'd with Olive green, came softly sliding +Down through the turning sphear +His ready Harbinger, +With Turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 +And waving wide her mirtle wand, +She strikes a universall Peace through Sea and Land. + +IV + +No War, or Battails sound +Was heard the World around, +The idle spear and shield were high up hung; +The hooked Chariot stood +Unstain'd with hostile blood, +The Trumpet spake not to the armed throng, +And Kings sate still with awfull eye, +As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60 + +V + +But peacefull was the night +Wherin the Prince of light +His raign of peace upon the earth began: +The Windes with wonder whist, +Smoothly the waters kist, +Whispering new joyes to the milde Ocean, +Who now hath quite forgot to rave, +While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. + +VI + +The Stars with deep amaze +Stand fit in steadfast gaze, 70 +Bending one way their pretious influence, +And will not take their flight, +For all the morning light, +Or Lucifer that often warned them thence; +But in their glimmering Orbs did glow, +Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. + +VII + +And though the shady gloom +Had given day her room, +The Sun himself with-held his wonted speed, +And hid his head for shame, 80 +As his inferior flame, +The new enlightened world no more should need; +He saw a greater Sun appear +Then his bright Throne, or burning Axletree could bear. + +VIII + +The Shepherds on the Lawn, +Or ere the point of dawn, +Sate simply chatting in a rustic row; +Full little thought they than, +That the mighty Pan +Was kindly com to live with them below; 90 +Perhaps their loves, or els their sheep, +Was all that did their silly thoughts so busie keep. + +IX + +When such Musick sweet +Their hearts and ears did greet, +As never was by mortal finger strook, +Divinely-warbled voice +Answering the stringed noise, +As all their souls in blisfull rapture took: +The Air such pleasure loth to lose, +With thousand echo's still prolongs each heav'nly close. 100 + +X + +Nature that heard such sound +Beneath the hollow round +of Cynthia's seat the Airy region thrilling, +Now was almost won +To think her part was don +And that her raign had here its last fulfilling; +She knew such harmony alone +Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. + +XI + +At last surrounds their sight +A globe of circular light, 110 +That with long beams the shame faced night arrayed +The helmed Cherubim +And sworded Seraphim, +Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displaid, +Harping in loud and solemn quire, +With unexpressive notes to Heav'ns new-born Heir. + +XII + +Such Musick (as 'tis said) +Before was never made, +But when of old the sons of morning sung, +While the Creator Great +His constellations set, 120 +And the well-ballanc't world on hinges hung, +And cast the dark foundations deep, +And bid the weltring waves their oozy channel keep. + +XIII + +Ring out ye Crystall sphears, +Once bless our human ears, +(If ye have power to touch our senses so) +And let your silver chime +Move in melodious time; +And let the Base of Heav'ns deep Organ blow, 130 +And with your ninefold harmony +Make up full consort to th'Angelike symphony. + +XIV + +For if such holy Song +Enwrap our fancy long, +Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold, +And speckl'd vanity +Will sicken soon and die, +And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould, +And Hell it self will pass away +And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 140 + +XV + +Yea Truth, and Justice then +Will down return to men, +Th'enameld Arras of the Rain-bow wearing, +And Mercy set between +Thron'd in Celestiall sheen, +With radiant feet the tissued clouds down stearing, +And Heav'n as at som festivall, +Will open wide the gates of her high Palace Hall. + +XVI + +But wisest Fate sayes no, +This must not yet be so, 150 +The Babe lies yet in smiling Infancy, +That on the bitter cross +Must redeem our loss; +So both himself and us to glorifie: +Yet first to those ychain'd in sleep, +The Wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the deep, + +XVII + +With such a horrid clang +As on Mount Sinai rang +While the red fire, and smouldring clouds out brake: +The aged Earth agast 160 +With terrour of that blast, +Shall from the surface to the center shake; +When at the worlds last session, +The dreadfull Judge in middle Air shall spread his throne. + +XVIII + +And then at last our bliss +Full and perfect is, +But now begins; for from this happy day +Th'old Dragon under ground +In straiter limits bound, +Not half so far casts his usurped sway, 170 +And wrath to see his Kingdom fail, +Swindges the scaly Horrour of his foulded tail. + +XIX + +The Oracles are dumm, +No voice or hideous humm +Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. +Apollo from his shrine +Can no more divine, +With hollow shreik the steep of Delphos leaving. +No nightly trance, or breathed spell, +Inspire's the pale-ey'd Priest from the prophetic cell. 180 + +XX + +The lonely mountains o're, +And the resounding shore, +A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament; +>From haunted spring, and dale +Edg'd with poplar pale +The parting Genius is with sighing sent, +With flowre-inwov'n tresses torn +The Nimphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn. + +XXI + +In consecrated Earth, +And on the holy Hearth, 190 +The Lars, and Lemures moan with midnight plaint, +In Urns, and Altars round, +A drear, and dying sound +Affrights the Flamins at their service quaint; +And the chill Marble seems to sweat, +While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat. + +XXII + +Peor, and Baalim, +Forsake their Temples dim, +With that twise-batter'd god of Palestine, +And mooned Ashtaroth, 200 +Heav'ns Queen and Mother both, +Now sits not girt with Tapers holy shine, +The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn, +In vain the Tyrian Maids their wounded Thamuz mourn. + +XXIII + +And sullen Moloch fled, +Hath left in shadows dred, +His burning Idol all of blackest hue, +In vain with Cymbals ring, +They call the grisly king, +In dismall dance about the furnace Blue; 210 +And Brutish gods of Nile as fast, +lsis and Orus, and the Dog Anubis hast. + + + +THE PASSION. + + +I + +ERE-while of Musick, and Ethereal mirth, +Wherwith the stage of Ayr and Earth did ring, +And joyous news of heav'nly Infants birth, +My muse with Angels did divide to sing; +But headlong joy is ever on the wing, +In Wintry solstice like the shortn'd light +Soon swallow'd up in dark and long out-living night. + +II + +For now to sorrow must I tune my song, +And set my Harpe to notes of saddest wo, +Which on our dearest Lord did sease er'e long, +Dangers, and snares, and wrongs, and worse then so, 10 +Which he for us did freely undergo. +Most perfect Heroe, try'd in heaviest plight +Of labours huge and hard, too hard for human wight. + +III + +He sov'ran Priest stooping his regall head +That dropt with odorous oil down his fair eyes, +Poor fleshly Tabernacle entered, +His starry front low-rooft beneath the skies; +O what a Mask was there, what a disguise! +Yet more; the stroke of death he must abide, 20 +Then lies him meekly down fast by his Brethrens side. + +IV + +These latter scenes confine my roving vers, +To this Horizon is my Phoebus bound, +His Godlike acts, and his temptations fierce, +And former sufferings other where are found; +Loud o're the rest Cremona's Trump doth sound; +Me softer airs befit, and softer strings +Of Lute, or Viol still, more apt for mournful things. + +Note: 22 latter] latest 1673. + +V + +Befriend me night best Patroness of grief, +Over the Pole thy thickest mantle throw, 30 +And work my flatterd fancy to belief, +That Heav'n and Earth are colour'd with my wo; +My sorrows are too dark for day to know: +The leaves should all be black wheron I write, +And letters where my tears have washt a wannish white. + +VI + +See see the Chariot, and those rushing wheels, +That whirl'd the Prophet up at Chebar flood, +My spirit som transporting Cherub feels, +To bear me where the Towers of Salem stood, +Once glorious Towers, now sunk in guiltles blood; 40 +There doth my soul in holy vision sit +In pensive trance, and anguish, and ecstatick fit. + +VII + +Mine eye hath found that sad Sepulchral rock +That was the Casket of Heav'ns richest store, +And here though grief my feeble hands up-lock, +Yet on the softned Quarry would I score +My plaining vers as lively as before; +For sure so well instructed are my tears, +They would fitly fall in order'd Characters. + +VIII + +I thence hurried on viewles wing, 50 +Take up a weeping on the Mountains wilde, +The gentle neighbourhood of grove and spring +Would soon unboosom all their Echoes milde, +And I (for grief is easily beguild) +Might think th'infection of my sorrows bound, +Had got a race of mourners on som pregnant cloud. + +Note: This subject the Author finding to be above the yeers he had, +when he wrote it, and nothing satisfi'd with what was begun, +left it unfinish'd. + + + +On Time. + + +FLY envious Time, till thou run out thy race, +Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours, +Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace; +And glut thy self with what thy womb devours, +Which is no more then what is false and vain, +And meerly mortal dross; +So little is our loss, +So little is thy gain. +For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd, +And last of all, thy greedy self consum'd, 10 +Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss +With an individual kiss; +And Joy shall overtake us as a flood, +When every thing that is sincerely good +And perfectly divine, +With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine +About the supreme Throne +Of him, t'whose happy-making sight alone, +When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall clime, +Then all this Earthy grosnes quit, 20 +Attir'd with Stars, we shall for ever sit, +Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time. + +Note: See the appendix for the manuscript version. + + + +UPON THE CIRCUMCISION. + + +YE flaming Powers, and winged Warriours bright, +That erst with Musick, and triumphant song +First heard by happy watchful Shepherds ear, +So sweetly sung your Joy the Clouds along +Through the soft silence of the list'ning night; +Now mourn, and if sad share with us to bear +Your fiery essence can distill no tear, +Burn in your sighs, and borrow +Seas wept from our deep sorrow, +He who with all Heav'ns heraldry whileare 10 +Enter'd the world, now bleeds to give us ease; +Alas, how soon our sin +Sore doth begin +His Infancy to sease! + +O more exceeding love or law more just? +Just law indeed, but more exceeding love ! +For we by rightfull doom remediles +Were lost in death, till he that dwelt above +High thron'd in secret bliss, for us frail dust +Emptied his glory, ev'n to nakednes; 20 +And that great Cov'nant which we still transgress +Intirely satisfi'd, +And the full wrath beside +Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess, +And seals obedience first with wounding smart +This day, but O ere long +Huge pangs and strong +Will pierce more neer his heart. + + + +AT A SOLEMN MUSICK. + + +BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'ns joy, +Sphear-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Vers, +Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power employ +Dead things with inbreath'd sense able to pierce, +And to our high-rais'd phantasie present, +That undisturbed Song of pure content, +Ay sung before the saphire-colour'd throne +To him that sits theron +With Saintly shout, and solemn Jubily, +Where the bright Seraphim in burning row 10 +Their loud up-lifted Angel trumpets blow, +And the Cherubick host in thousand quires +Touch their immortal Harps of golden wires, +With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms, +Hymns devout and holy Psalms +Singing everlastingly; +That we on Earth with undiscording voice +May rightly answer that melodious noise; +As once we did, till disproportion'd sin +Jarr'd against natures chime, and with harsh din 20 +The fair musick that all creatures made +To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd +In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood +In first obedience, and their state of good. +O may we soon again renew that Song, +And keep in tune with Heav'n, till God ere long +To his celestial consort us unite, +To live with him, and sing in endles morn of light. + +Note: 6 content] Manuscript reads concent as does the Second +Edition; so that content is probably a misprint. + + + + +AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. + + +THIS rich Marble doth enterr +The honour'd Wife of Winchester, +A Vicounts daughter, an Earls heir, +Besides what her vertues fair +Added to her noble birth, +More then she could own from Earth. +Summers three times eight save one +She had told, alas too soon, +After so short time of breath, +To house with darknes, and with death. 10 +Yet had the number of her days +Bin as compleat as was her praise, +Nature and fate had had no strife +In giving limit to her life. +Her high birth, and her graces sweet, +Quickly found a lover meet; +The Virgin quire for her request +The God that sits at marriage feast; +He at their invoking came +But with a scarce-wel-lighted flame; 20 +And in his Garland as he stood, +Ye might discern a Cipress bud. +Once had the early Matrons run +To greet her of a lovely son, +And now with second hope she goes, +And calls Lucina to her throws; +But whether by mischance or blame +Atropos for Lucina came; +And with remorsles cruelty, +Spoil'd at once both fruit and tree: 30 +The haples Babe before his birth +Had burial, yet not laid in earth, +And the languisht Mothers Womb +Was not long a living Tomb. +So have I seen som tender slip +Sav'd with care from Winters nip, +The pride of her carnation train, +Pluck't up by som unheedy swain, +Who onely thought to crop the flowr +New shot up from vernall showr; 40 +But the fair blossom hangs the head +Side-ways as on a dying bed, +And those Pearls of dew she wears, +Prove to be presaging tears +Which the sad morn had let fall +On her hast'ning funerall. +Gentle Lady may thy grave +Peace and quiet ever have; +After this thy travail sore +Sweet rest sease thee evermore, 50 +That to give the world encrease, +Shortned hast thy own lives lease; +Here besides the sorrowing +That thy noble House doth bring, +Here be tears of perfect moan +Weept for thee in Helicon, +And som Flowers, and som Bays, +For thy Hears to strew the ways, +Sent thee from the banks of Came, +Devoted to thy vertuous name; 60 +Whilst thou bright Saint high sit'st in glory, +Next her much like to thee in story, +That fair Syrian Shepherdess, +Who after yeers of barrennes, +The highly favour'd Joseph bore +To him that serv'd for her before, +And at her next birth much like thee, +Through pangs fled to felicity, +Far within the boosom bright +of blazing Majesty and Light, 70 +There with thee, new welcom Saint, +Like fortunes may her soul acquaint, +With thee there clad in radiant sheen, +No Marchioness, but now a Queen. + + + +SONG ON MAY MORNING. + + +Now the bright morning Star, Dayes harbinger, +Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her +The Flowry May, who from her green lap throws +The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose. +Hail bounteous May that dost inspire +Mirth and youth, and warm desire, +Woods and Groves, are of thy dressing, +Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing. +Thus we salute thee with our early Song, +And welcom thee, and wish thee long. 10 + + + +ON SHAKESPEAR. 1630. + + +WHAT needs my Shakespear for his honour'd Bones, +The labour of an age in piled Stones, +Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid +Under a Star-ypointing Pyramid? +Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame, +What need'st thou such weak witnes of thy name? +Thou in our wonder and astonishment +Hast built thy self a live-long Monument. +For whilst to th'sharne of slow-endeavouring art, +Thy easie numbers flow, and that each heart 10 +Hath from the Leaves of thy unvalu'd Book, +Those Delphick lines with deep impression took, +Then thou our fancy of it self bereaving, +Dost make us Marble with too much conceaving; +And so Sepulcher'd in such pomp dost lie, +That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die. + +Notes: On Shakespear. Reprinted 1632 in the second folio +Shakespeare: +Title] An epitaph on the admirable dramaticke poet W. +Shakespeare +1 needs] neede +6 weak] dull +8 live-long] lasting +10 heart] part +13 it] her + + + +ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER WHO SICKN'D IN THE TIME OF HIS +VACANCY, BEING FORBID TO GO TO LONDON, BY REASON OF THE +PLAGUE. + + +HERE lies old Hobson, Death hath broke his girt, +And here alas, hath laid him in the dirt, +Or els the ways being foul, twenty to one, +He's here stuck in a slough, and overthrown. +'Twas such a shifter, that if truth were known, +Death was half glad when he had got him down; +For he had any time this ten yeers full, +Dodg'd with him, betwixt Cambridge and the Bull. +And surely, Death could never have prevail'd, +Had not his weekly cours of carriage fail'd; 10 +But lately finding him so long at home, +And thinking now his journeys end was come, +And that he had tane up his latest Inne, +In the kind office of a Chamberlin +Shew'd him his room where he must lodge that night, +Pull'd off his Boots, and took away the light: +If any ask for him, it shall be sed, +Hobson has supt, and 's newly gon to bed. + + + +ANOTHER ON THE SAME. + + +HERE lieth one who did most truly prove, +That he could never die while he could move, +So hung his destiny never to rot +While he might still jogg on, and keep his trot, +Made of sphear-metal, never to decay +Untill his revolution was at stay. +Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime +'Gainst old truth) motion number'd out his time: +And like an Engin mov'd with wheel and waight, +His principles being ceast, he ended strait. 10 +Rest that gives all men life, gave him his death, +And too much breathing put him out of breath; +Nor were it contradiction to affirm +Too long vacation hastned on his term. +Meerly to drive the time away he sickn'd, +Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickn'd; +Nay, quoth he, on his swooning bed out-stretch'd, +If I may not carry, sure Ile ne're be fetch'd, +But vow though the cross Doctors all stood hearers, +For one Carrier put down to make six bearers. 20 +Ease was his chief disease, and to judge right, +He di'd for heavines that his Cart went light, +His leasure told him that his time was com, +And lack of load, made his life burdensom +That even to his last breath (ther be that say't) +As he were prest to death, he cry'd more waight; +But had his doings lasted as they were, +He had bin an immortall Carrier. +Obedient to the Moon he spent his date +In cours reciprocal, and had his fate 30 +Linkt to the mutual flowing of the Seas, +Yet (strange to think) his wain was his increase: +His Letters are deliver'd all and gon, +Onely remains this superscription. + + + +L'ALLEGRO. + + +HENCE loathed Melancholy +Of Cerberus, and blackest midnight born, +In Stygian Cave forlorn +'Mongst horrid shapes, and shreiks, and sights unholy, +Find out som uncouth cell, +Where brooding darknes spreads his jealous wings, +And the night-Raven sings; +There under Ebon shades and low-brow'd Rocks, +As ragged as thy Locks, +In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. 10 +But com thou Goddes fair and free, +In Heav'n ycleap'd Euphrosyne, +And by men, heart-easing Mirth, +Whom lovely Venus at a birth +With two sister Graces more +To Ivy-crowned Bacchus bore; +Or whether (as som Sager sing) +The frolick Wind that breathes the Spring, +Zephir with Aurora playing, +As he met her once a Maying, 20 +There on Beds of Violets blew, +And fresh-blown Roses washt in dew, +Fill'd her with thee a daughter fair, +So bucksom, blith, and debonair. +Haste thee nymph, and bring with thee +Jest and youthful Jollity, +Quips and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, +Nods, and Becks, and Wreathed Smiles, +Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, +And love to live in dimple sleek; 30 +Sport that wrincled Care derides, +And Laughter holding both his sides. +Com, and trip it as ye go +On the light fantastick toe, +And in thy right hand lead with thee, +The Mountain Nymph, sweet Liberty; +And if I give thee honour due, +Mirth, admit me of thy crue +To live with her, and live with thee, +In unreproved pleasures free; 40 +To hear the Lark begin his flight, +And singing startle the dull night, +>From his watch-towre in the skies, +Till the dappled dawn doth rise; +Then to com in spight of sorrow, +And at my window bid good morrow, +Through the Sweet-Briar, or the Vine, +Or the twisted Eglantine. +While the Cock with lively din, +Scatters the rear of darknes thin, 50 +And to the stack, or the Barn dore, +Stoutly struts his Dames before, +Oft list'ning how the Hounds and horn +Chearly rouse the slumbring morn, +>From the side of som Hoar Hill, +Through the high wood echoing shrill. +Som time walking not unseen +By Hedge-row Elms, on Hillocks green, +Right against the Eastern gate, +Wher the great Sun begins his state, 60 +Rob'd in flames, and Amber light, +The clouds in thousand Liveries dight. +While the Plowman neer at hand, +Whistles ore the Furrow'd Land, +And the Milkmaid singeth blithe, +And the Mower whets his sithe, +And every Shepherd tells his tale +Under the Hawthorn in the dale. +Streit mine eye hath caught new pleasures +Whilst the Lantskip round it measures, 70 +Russet Lawns, and Fallows Gray, +Where the nibling flocks do stray, +Mountains on whose barren brest +The labouring clouds do often rest: +Meadows trim with Daisies pide, +Shallow Brooks, and Rivers wide. +Towers, and Battlements it sees +Boosom'd high in tufted Trees, +Wher perhaps som beauty lies, +The Cynosure of neighbouring eyes. 80 +Hard by, a Cottage chimney smokes, +>From betwixt two aged Okes, +Where Corydon and Thyrsis met, +Are at their savory dinner set +Of Hearbs, and other Country Messes, +Which the neat-handed Phillis dresses; +And then in haste her Bowre she leaves, +With Thestylis to bind the Sheaves; +Or if the earlier season lead +To the tann'd Haycock in the Mead, 90 +Som times with secure delight +The up-land Hamlets will invite, +When the merry Bells ring round, +And the jocond rebecks sound +To many a youth, and many a maid, +Dancing in the Chequer'd shade; +And young and old com forth to play +On a Sunshine Holyday, +Till the live-long day-light fail, +Then to the Spicy Nut-brown Ale, 100 +With stories told of many a feat, +How Faery Mab the junkets eat, +She was pincht, and pull'd she sed, +And he by Friars Lanthorn led +Tells how the drudging Goblin swet, +To ern his Cream-bowle duly set, +When in one night, ere glimps of morn, +His shadowy Flale hath thresh'd the Corn +That ten day-labourers could not end, +Then lies him down the Lubbar Fend. 110 +And stretch'd out all the Chimney's length, +Basks at the fire his hairy strength; +And Crop-full out of dores he flings, +Ere the first Cock his Mattin rings. +Thus don the Tales, to bed they creep, +By whispering Windes soon lull'd asleep. +Towred Cities please us then, +And the busie humm of men, +Where throngs of Knights and Barons bold, +In weeds of Peace high triumphs hold, 120 +With store of Ladies, whose bright eies +Rain influence, and judge the prise +Of Wit, or Arms, while both contend +To win her Grace, whom all commend. +There let Hymen oft appear +In Saffron robe, with Taper clear, +And pomp, and feast, and revelry, +With mask, and antique Pageantry, +Such sights as youthfull Poets dream +On Summer eeves by haunted stream. 130 +Then to the well-trod stage anon, +If Jonsons learned Sock be on, +Or sweetest Shakespear fancies childe, +Warble his native Wood-notes wilde, +And ever against eating Cares, +Lap me in soft Lydian Aires, +Married to immortal verse +Such as the meeting soul may pierce +In notes, with many a winding bout +Of lincked sweetnes long drawn out, 140 +With wanton heed, and giddy cunning, +The melting voice through mazes running; +Untwisting all the chains that ty +The hidden soul of harmony. +That Orpheus self may heave his head +>From golden slumber on a bed +Of heapt Elysian flowres, and hear +Such streins as would have won the ear +Of Pluto, to have quite set free +His half regain'd Eurydice. 150 +These delights, if thou canst give, +Mirth with thee, I mean to live. + +Notes: +33 Ye] You 1673 +104 And he by] And by the 1673 + + + +IL PENSEROSO. + + +Hence vain deluding joyes, +The brood of folly without father bred, +How little you bested, +Or fill the fixed mind with all your toyes; +Dwell in som idle brain +And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess, +As thick and numberless +As the gay motes that people the Sun Beams, +Or likest hovering dreams +The fickle Pensioners of Morpheus train. 10 +But hail thou Goddess, sage and holy, +Hail divinest Melancholy +Whose Saintly visage is too bright +To hit the Sense of human sight; +And therefore to our weaker view, +Ore laid with black staid Wisdoms hue. +Black, but such as in esteem, +Prince Memnons sister might beseem, +Or that Starr'd Ethiope Queen that strove +To set her beauties praise above 20 +The Sea Nymphs, and their powers offended. +Yet thou art higher far descended, +Thee bright-hair'd Vesta long of yore, +To solitary Saturn bore; +His daughter she (in Saturns raign, +Such mixture was not held a stain) +Oft in glimmering Bowres, and glades +He met her, and in secret shades +Of woody Ida's inmost grove, +While yet there was no fear of Jove. 30 +Com pensive Nun, devout and pure, +Sober, stedfast, and demure, +All in a robe of darkest grain, +Flowing with majestick train, +And sable stole of Cipres Lawn, +Over thy decent shoulders drawn. +Com, but keep thy wonted state, +With eev'n step, and musing gate, +And looks commercing with the skies, +Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes: 40 +There held in holy passion still, +Forget thy self to Marble, till +With a sad Leaden downward cast, +Thou fix them on the earth as fast. +And joyn with thee calm Peace, and Quiet, +Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet, +And hears the Muses in a ring, +Ay round about Joves Altar sing. +And adde to these retired Leasure, +That in trim Gardens takes his pleasure; 50 +But first, and chiefest, with thee bring, +Him that yon soars on golden wing, +Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne, +The Cherub Contemplation, +And the mute Silence hist along, +'Less Philomel will daign a Song, +In her sweetest, saddest plight, +Smoothing the rugged brow of night, +While Cynthia checks her Dragon yoke, +Gently o're th'accustom'd Oke; 60 +Sweet Bird that shunn'st the noise of folly +Most musical!, most melancholy! +Thee Chauntress oft the Woods among +I woo to hear thy eeven-Song; +And missing thee, I walk unseen +On the dry smooth-shaven Green, +To behold the wandring Moon, +Riding neer her highest noon, +Like one that had bin led astray +Through the Heav'ns wide pathles way; 70 +And oft, as if her head she bow'd, +Stooping through a fleecy cloud. +Oft on a Plat of rising ground, +I hear the far-off Curfeu sound, +Over som wide-water'd shoar, +Swinging slow with sullen roar; +Or if the Ayr will not permit, +Som still removed place will fit, +Where glowing Embers through the room +Teach light to counterfeit a gloom 80 +Far from all resort of mirth, +Save the Cricket on the hearth, +Or the Belmans drowsie charm, +To bless the dores from nightly harm: +Or let my Lamp at midnight hour, +Be seen in som high lonely Towr, +Where I may oft out-watch the Bear, +With thrice great Hermes, or unsphear +The spirit of Plato to unfold +What Worlds, or what vast Regions hold 90 +The immortal mind that hath forsook +Her mansion in this fleshly nook: +And of those Daemons that are found +In fire, air, flood, or under ground, +Whose power hath a true consent +With planet or with Element. +Som time let Gorgeous Tragedy +In Scepter'd Pall com sweeping by, +Presenting Thebs, or Pelops line, +Or the tale of Troy divine. 100 +Or what (though rare) of later age, +Ennobled hath the Buskind stage. +But, O sad Virgin, that thy power +Might raise Musaeus from his bower, +Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing +Such notes as warbled to the string, +Drew Iron tears down Pluto's cheek, +And made Hell grant what Love did seek. +Or call up him that left half told +The story of Cambuscan bold, 110 +Of Camball, and of Algarsife, +And who had Canace to wife, +That own'd the vertuous Ring and Glass, +And of the wondrous Hors of Brass, +On which the Tartar King did ride; +And if ought els, great Bards beside, +In sage and solemn tunes have sung, +Of Turneys and of Trophies hung; +Of Forests, and inchantments drear, +Where more is meant then meets the ear. 120 +Thus night oft see me in thy pale career, +Till civil-suited Morn appeer, +Not trickt and frounc't as she was wont, +With the Attick Boy to hunt, +But Cherchef't in a comly Cloud, +While rocking Winds are Piping loud, +Or usher'd with a shower still, +When the gust hath blown his fill, +Ending on the russling Leaves, +With minute drops from off the Eaves. 130 +And when the Sun begins to fling +His flaring beams, me Goddes bring +To arched walks of twilight groves, +And shadows brown that Sylvan loves +Of Pine, or monumental Oake, +Where the rude Ax with heaved stroke, +Was never heard the Nymphs to daunt, +Or fright them from their hallow'd haunt. +There in close covert by som Brook, +Where no profaner eye may look, 140 +Hide me from Day's garish eie, +While the Bee with Honied thie, +That at her flowry work doth sing, +And the Waters murmuring +With such consort as they keep, +Entice the dewy-feather'd Sleep; +And let som strange mysterious dream, +Wave at his Wings in Airy stream, +Of lively portrature display'd, +Softly on my eye-lids laid. 150 +And as I wake, sweet musick breath +Above, about, or underneath, +Sent by som spirit to mortals good, +Or th'unseen Genius of the Wood. +But let my due feet never fail, +To walk the studious Cloysters pale, +And love the high embowed Roof +With antick Pillars massy proof, +And storied Windows richly dight, +Casting a dimm religious light. 160 +There let the pealing Organ blow, +To the full voic'd Quire below, +In Service high, and Anthems cleer, +As may with sweetnes, through mine ear, +Dissolve me into extasies, +And bring all Heav'n before mine eyes. +And may at last my weary age +Find out the peacefull hermitage, +The Hairy Gown and Mossy Cell, +Where I may sit and rightly spell 170 +Of every Star that Heav'n doth shew, +And every Herb that sips the dew; +Till old experience do attain +To somthing like prophetic strain. +These pleasures Melancholy give, +And I with thee will choose to live. + + + +SONNETS. + + +I + +O Nightingale, that on yon bloomy Spray +Warbl'st at eeve, when all the Woods are still, +Thou with fresh hope the Lovers heart dost fill, +While the jolly hours lead on propitious May, +Thy liquid notes that close the eye of Day, +First heard before the shallow Cuccoo's bill +Portend success in love; O if Jove's will +Have linkt that amorous power to thy soft lay, +Now timely sing, ere the rude Bird of Hate +Foretell my hopeles doom in som Grove ny: 10 +As thou from yeer to yeer hast sung too late +For my relief; yet hadst no reason why, +Whether the Muse, or Love call thee his mate, +Both them I serve, and of their train am I. + +II + +Donna leggiadra il cui bel nome honora +L'herbosa val di Rheno, e il nobil varco, +Ben e colui d'ogni valore scarco +Qual tuo spirto gentil non innamora, +Che dolcemente mostra si di fuora +De suoi atti soavi giamai parco, +E i don', che son d'amor saette ed arco, +La onde l' alta tua virtu s'infiora. +Quando tu vaga parli, O lieta canti +Che mover possa duro alpestre legno, 10 +Guardi ciascun a gli occhi ed a gli orecchi +L'entrata, chi di te si truova indegno; +Gratia sola di su gli vaglia, inanti +Che'l disio amoroso al cuor s'invecchi. + +III + +Qual in colle aspro, al imbrunir di sera +L'avezza giovinetta pastorella +Va bagnando l'herbetta strana e bella +Che mal si spande a disusata spera +Fuor di sua natia alma primavera, +Cosi Amor meco insu la lingua snella +Desta il fior novo di strania favella, +Mentre io di te, vezzosamente altera, +Canto, dal mio buon popol non inteso +E'l bel Tamigi cangio col bel Arno 10 +Amor lo volse, ed io a l'altrui peso +Seppi ch' Amor cosa mai volse indarno. +Deh! foss' il mio cuor lento e'l duro seno +A chi pianta dal ciel si buon terreno. + +Canzone. + +Ridonsi donne e giovani amorosi +M' occostandosi attorno, e perche scrivi, +Perche tu scrivi in lingua ignota e strana +Verseggiando d'amor, e conie t'osi ? +Dinne, se la tua speme sia mai vana +E de pensieri lo miglior t' arrivi; +Cosi mi van burlando, altri rivi +Altri lidi t' aspettan, & altre onde +Nelle cui verdi sponde +Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma 10 +L'immortal guiderdon d 'eterne frondi +Perche alle spalle tue soverchia soma? +Canzon dirotti, e tu per me rispondi +Dice mia Donna, e'l suo dir, e il mio cuore +Questa e lingua di cui si vanta Amore. + +IV + +Diodati, e te'l diro con maraviglia, +Quel ritroso io ch'amor spreggiar solea +E de suoi lacci spesso mi ridea +Gia caddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia. +Ne treccie d'oro, ne guancia vermiglia +M' abbaglian si, ma sotto nova idea +Pellegrina bellezza che'l cuor bea, +Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia +Quel sereno fulgor d' amabil nero, +Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una, 10 +E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero +Traviar ben puo la faticosa Luna, +E degil occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco +Che l 'incerar gli oreechi mi fia poco. + +V + +Per certo i bei vostr'occhi Donna mia +Esser non puo che non fian lo mio sole +Si mi percuoton forte, come ci suole +Per l'arene di Libia chi s'invia, +Mentre un caldo vapor (ne senti pria) +Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, +Che forsi amanti nelle lor parole +Chiaman sospir; io non so che si sia: +Parte rinchiusa, e turbida si cela +Scosso mi il petto, e poi n'uscendo poco 10 +Quivi d' attorno o s'agghiaccia, o s'ingiela; +Ma quanto a gli occhi giunge a trovar loco +Tutte le notti a me suol far piovose +Finche mia Alba rivien colma di rose. + +VI + +Giovane piano, e semplicetto amante +Poi che fuggir me stesso in dubbio sono, +Madonna a voi del mio cuor l'humil dono +Faro divoto; io certo a prove tante +L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante, +De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono; +Quando rugge il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono, +S 'arma di se, e d' intero diamante, +Tanto del forse, e d' invidia sicuro, +Di timori, e speranze al popol use 10 +Quanto d'ingegno, e d' alto valor vago, +E di cetra sonora, e delle muse: +Sol troverete in tal parte men duro +Ove amor mise l 'insanabil ago. + +VII +How soon hath Time the suttle theef of youth, +Stoln on his wing my three and twentith yeer ! +My hasting dayes flie on with full career, +But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th, +Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, +That I to manhood am arriv'd so near, +And inward ripenes doth much less appear, +That som more timely-happy spirits indu'th. +Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow. +It shall be still in strictest measure eev'n, 10 +To that same lot, however mean, or high, +Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heav'n; +All is, if I have grace to use it so, +As ever in my great task Masters eye. + + +VIII + +Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms, +Whose chance on these defenceless dores may sease, +If ever deed of honour did thee please, +Guard them, and him within protect from harms, +He can requite thee, for he knows the charms +That call Fame on such gentle acts as these, +And he can spred thy Name o're Lands and Seas, +What ever clime the Suns bright circle warms. +Lift not thy spear against the Muses Bowre, +The great Emathian Conqueror bid spare 10 +The house of Pindarus, when Temple and Towre +Went to the ground: And the repeated air +Of sad Electra's Poet had the power +To save th' Athenian Walls from ruine bare. + +Notes: +Camb. autograph supplies title, When the assault was intended +to the city. +3 If deed of honour did thee ever please, 1673. + +IX + +Lady that in the prime of earliest youth, +Wisely hath shun'd the broad way and the green, +And with those few art eminently seen, +That labour up the Hill of heav'nly Truth, +The better part with Mary and with Ruth, +Chosen thou hast, and they that overween, +And at thy growing vertues fret their spleen, +No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. +Thy care is fixt and zealously attends +To fill thy odorous Lamp with deeds of light, +And Hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure +Thou, when the Bridegroom with his feastfull friends +Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night, +Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure. + +Note: 5 with Ruth] the Ruth 1645. + +X + +Daughter to that good Earl, once President +Of Englands Counsel, and her Treasury, +Who liv'd in both, unstain'd with gold or fee, +And left them both, more in himself content, +Till the sad breaking of that Parlament +Broke him, as that dishonest victory +At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty +Kil'd with report that Old man eloquent, +Though later born, then to have known the dayes +Wherin your Father flourisht, yet by you 10 +Madam, me thinks I see him living yet; +So well your words his noble vertues praise, +That all both judge you to relate them true, +And to possess them, Honour'd Margaret. + +Note: Camb. autograph supplies title, To the Lady Margaret +Ley. + + + +ARCADES. + + +Part of an entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of +Darby at Harefield, by som Noble persons of her Family, who +appear on the Scene in pastoral habit, moving toward the seat +of State with this Song. + +I. SONG. + +LOOK Nymphs, and Shepherds look, +What sudden blaze of majesty +Is that which we from hence descry +Too divine to be mistook: +This this is she +To whom our vows and wishes bend, +Heer our solemn search hath end. + +Fame that her high worth to raise, +Seem'd erst so lavish and profuse, +We may justly now accuse 10 +Of detraction from her praise, +Less then half we find exprest, +Envy bid conceal the rest. + +Mark what radiant state she spreds, +In circle round her shining throne, +Shooting her beams like silver threds, +This this is she alone, +Sitting like a Goddes bright, +In the center of her light. +Might she the wise Latona be, 20 +Or the towred Cybele, +Mother of a hunderd gods; +Juno dare's not give her odds; +Who had thought this clime had held +A deity so unparalel'd? + +As they com forward, the genius of the Wood appears, and +turning toward them, speaks. + +GEN. Stay gentle Swains, for though in this disguise, +I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes, +Of famous Arcady ye are, and sprung +Of that renowned flood, so often sung, +Divine Alpheus, who by secret sluse, 30 +Stole under Seas to meet his Arethuse; +And ye the breathing Roses of the Wood, +Fair silver-buskind Nymphs as great and good, +I know this quest of yours, and free intent +Was all in honour and devotion ment +To the great Mistres of yon princely shrine, +Whom with low reverence I adore as mine, +And with all helpful service will comply +To further this nights glad solemnity; +And lead ye where ye may more neer behold 40 +What shallow-searching Fame hath left untold; +Which I full oft amidst these shades alone +Have sate to wonder at, and gaze upon: +For know by lot from Jove I am the powr +Of this fair wood, and live in Oak'n bowr, +To nurse the Saplings tall, and curl the grove +With Ringlets quaint, and wanton windings wove. +And all my Plants I save from nightly ill, +Of noisom winds, and blasting vapours chill. +And from the Boughs brush off the evil dew, 50 +And heal the harms of thwarting thunder blew, +Or what the cross dire-looking Planet smites, +Or hurtfull Worm with canker'd venom bites. +When Eev'ning gray doth rise, I fetch my round +Over the mount, and all this hallow'd ground, +And early ere the odorous breath of morn +Awakes the slumbring leaves, or tasseld horn +Shakes the high thicket, haste I all about, +Number my ranks, and visit every sprout +With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless, 60 +But els in deep of night when drowsines +Hath lockt up mortal sense, then listen I +To the celestial Sirens harmony, +That sit upon the nine enfolded Sphears, +And sing to those that hold the vital shears, +And turn the Adamantine spindle round, +On which the fate of gods and men is wound. +Such sweet compulsion doth in musick ly, +To lull the daughters of Necessity, +And keep unsteddy Nature to her law, 70 +And the low world in measur'd motion draw +After the heavenly tune, which none can hear +Of human mould with grosse unpurged ear; +And yet such musick worthiest were to blaze +The peerles height of her immortal praise, +Whose lustre leads us, and for her most fit, +If my inferior hand or voice could hit +Inimitable sounds, yet as we go, +What ere the skill of lesser gods can show, +I will assay, her worth to celebrate, 80 +And so attend ye toward her glittering state; +Where ye may all that are of noble stemm +Approach, and kiss her sacred vestures hemm. + + +2. SONG. + +O're the smooth enameld green +Where no print of step hath been, +Follow me as I sing, +And touch the warbled string. +Under the shady roof +Of branching Elm Star-proof, +Follow me, 90 +I will bring you where she sits +Clad in splendor as befits +Her deity. +Such a rural Queen +All Arcadia hath not seen. + + +3. SONG. + +Nymphs and Shepherds dance no more +By sandy Ladons Lillied banks. +On old Lycaeus or Cyllene hoar, +Trip no more in twilight ranks, +Though Erynanth your loss deplore, 100 +A better soyl shall give ye thanks. +>From the stony Maenalus, +Bring your Flocks, and live with us, +Here ye shall have greater grace, +To serve the Lady of this place. +Though Syrinx your Pans Mistres were, +Yet Syrinx well might wait on her. +Such a rural Queen +All Arcadia hath not seen. + +Note: 22 hunderd] Milton's own spelling here is hundred. But in +the Errata to Paradise Lost (i. 760) he corrects hundred to hunderd. + + + +Transcriber's note: Facsimile of Title page of Lycidas follows: + + + JUSTA + EDOVARDO KING + naufrago, + ab + Amicis Moerentibus, + amoris + & + mneias chaein +------------------------------------------------------------ +------------------------------------------------------------ + Sirecte calculam ponas, ubique naufragium est. + Pet. Arb. +------------------------------------------------------------ +------------------------------------------------------------ + CANTABRIGIAE: + Apud Thomam Buck, & Rogerum Daniel, celeberrimae + Academiae typographos. 1638. + + + +LYCIDAS. + + +In this Monody the Author bewails a learned Friend, +unfortunatly drown'd in his Passage from Chester on the Irish +Seas, 1637. And by occasion foretels the ruine of our +corrupted Clergy then in their height. + +YET once more, O ye Laurels, and once more +Ye Myrtles brown, with Ivy never-sear, +I com to pluck your Berries harsh and crude, +And with forc'd fingers rude, +Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. +Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear, +Compels me to disturb your season due: +For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime +Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer: +Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew +Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme. 10 +He must not flote upon his watry bear +Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, +Without the meed of som melodious tear. + +Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well, +That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring, +Begin, and somwhat loudly sweep the string. +Hence with denial vain, and coy excuse, +So may som gentle Muse +With lucky words favour my destin'd Urn, 20 +And as he passes turn, +And bid fair peace be to my sable shrowd. +For we were nurst upon the self-same hill, +Fed the same flock by fountain, shade, and rill. + +Together both, ere the high Lawns appear'd +Under the opening eye-lids of the morn, +We drove a field and both together heard +What time the Gray-fly winds her sultry horn, +Batt'ning our flocks with the fresh dews of night, +Oft till the Star that rose, at Ev'ning, bright 30 +Toward Heav'ns descent had slop'd his westering wheel. +Mean while the Rural ditties were not mute, +Temper'd to th'Oaten Flute; +Rough Satyrs danc'd, and Fauns with clov'n heel, +>From the glad sound would not be absent long, +And old Damoetas lov'd to hear our song. + +But O the heavy change, now thou art gon, +Now thou art gon, and never must return! +Thee Shepherd, thee the Woods, and desert Caves, +With wilde Thyme and the gadding Vine o'regrown, 40 +And all their echoes mourn. +The Willows, and the Hazle Copses green, +Shall now no more be seen, +Fanning their joyous Leaves to thy soft layes. +As killing as the Canker to the Rose, +Or Taint-worm to the weanling Herds that graze, +Or Frost to Flowers, that their gay wardrop wear, +When first the White thorn blows; +Such, Lycidas, thy loss to Shepherds ear. + +Where were ye Nymphs when the remorseless deep 50 +Clos'd o're the head of your lov'd Lycidas? +For neither were ye playing on the steep, +Where your old Bards, the famous Druids ly, +Nor on the shaggy top of Mona high, +Nor yet where Deva spreads her wisard stream: +Ay me, I fondly dream! +Had ye bin there -- for what could that have don? +What could the Muse her self that Orpheus bore, +The Muse her self, for her inchanting son +Whom Universal nature did lament, 60 +When by the rout that made the hideous roar, +His goary visage down the stream was sent, +Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore. + +Alas! What boots it with uncessant care +To tend the homely slighted Shepherds trade, +And strictly meditate the thankles Muse, +Were it not better don as others use, +To sport with Amaryllis in the shade, +Or with the tangles of Neaera's hair? +Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise 70 +(That last infirmity of Noble mind) +To scorn delights, and live laborious dayes: +But the fair Guerdon when we hope to find, +And think to burst out into sudden blaze. +Comes the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears, +And slits the thin spun life. But not the praise, +Phoebus repli'd, and touch'd my trembling ears; +Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil, +Nor in the glistering foil +Set off to th'world, nor in broad rumour lies, 80 +But lives and spreds aloft by those pure eyes, +And perfet witnes of all judging Jove; +As he pronounces lastly on each deed, +Of so much fame in Heav'n expect thy meed. + +O Fountain Arethuse, and thou honour'd floud, +Smooth-sliding Mincius, crown'd with vocall reeds, +That strain I heard was of a higher mood: +But now my Oate proceeds, +And listens to the Herald of the Sea +That came in Neptune's plea, 90 +He ask'd the Waves, and ask'd the Fellon winds, +What hard mishap hath doom'd this gentle swain? +And question'd every gust of rugged wings +That blows from off each beaked Promontory, +They knew not of his story, +And sage Hippotades their answer brings, +That not a blast was from his dungeon stray'd, +The Ayr was calm, and on the level brine, +Sleek Panope with all her sisters play'd. +It was that fatall and perfidious Bark 100 +Built in th'eclipse, and rigg'd with curses dark, +That sunk so low that sacred head of thine. + +Next Camus, reverend Sire, went footing slow, +His Mantle hairy, and his Bonnet sedge, +Inwrought with figures dim, and on the edge +Like to that sanguine flower inscrib'd with woe. +Ah; Who hath reft (quoth he) my dearest pledge? +Last came, and last did go, +The Pilot of the Galilean lake, +Two massy Keyes he bore of metals twain, 110 +(The Golden opes, the Iron shuts amain) +He shook his Miter'd locks, and stern bespake, +How well could I have spar'd for thee, young swain, +Anow of such as for their bellies sake, +Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold? +Of other care they little reck'ning make, +Then how to scramble at the shearers feast, +And shove away the worthy bidden guest. +Blind mouthes! that scarce themselves know how to hold +A Sheep-hook, or have learn'd ought els the least 120 +That to the faithfull Herdmans art belongs! +What recks it them? What need they? They are sped; +And when they list, their lean and flashy songs +Grate on their scrannel Pipes of wretched straw, +The hungry Sheep look up, and are not fed, +But swoln with wind, and the rank mist they draw, +Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread: +Besides what the grim Woolf with privy paw +Daily devours apace, and nothing sed, +But that two-handed engine at the door, 130 +Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more. + +Return Alpheus, the dread voice is past, +That shrunk thy streams; Return Sicilian Muse, +And call the Vales, and bid them hither cast +Their Bels, and Flourets of a thousand hues. +Ye valleys low where the milde whispers use, +Of shades and wanton winds, and gushing brooks, +On whose fresh lap the swart Star sparely looks, +Throw hither all your quaint enameld eyes, +That on the green terf suck the honied showres, 140 +And purple all the ground with vernal flowres. +Bring the rathe Primrose that forsaken dies. +The tufted Crow-toe, and pale Gessamine, +The white Pink, and the Pansie freakt with jeat, +The glowing Violet. +The Musk-rose, and the well attir'd Woodbine. +With Cowslips wan that hang the pensive hed, +And every flower that sad embroidery wears: +Bid Amaranthus all his beauty shed, +Daffadillies fill their cups with tears, 150 +And strew the Laureat Herse where Lycid lies. +For so to interpose a little ease, +Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise. +Ah me! Whilst thee the shores, and sounding Seas +Wash far away, where ere thy bones are hurl'd +Whether beyond the stormy Hebrides. +Where thou perhaps under the whelming tide +Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world; +Or whether thou to our moist vows deny'd, +Sleep'st by the fable of Bellerus old, 160 +Where the great vision of the guarded Mount +Looks toward Namancos and Bayona's hold; +Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth. +And, O ye Dolphins, waft the haples youth. + +Weep no more, woful Shepherds weep no more, +For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead, +Sunk though he be beneath the watry floar, +So sinks the day-star in the Ocean bed, +And yet anon repairs his drooping head, +And tricks his beams, and with new spangled Ore, 170 +Flames in the forehead of the morning sky: +So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high, +Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves +Where other groves, and other streams along, +With Nectar pure his oozy Lock's he laves, +And hears the unexpressive nuptiall Song, +In the blest Kingdoms meek of joy and love. +There entertain him all the Saints above, +In solemn troops, and sweet Societies +That sing, and singing in their glory move, 180 +And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes. +Now Lycidas the Shepherds weep no more; +Hence forth thou art the Genius of the shore, +In thy large recompense and shalt be good +To all that wander in that perilous flood. + +Thus sang the uncouth Swain to th'Okes and rills, +While the still morn went out with Sandals gray, +He touch'd the tender stops of various Quills, +With eager thought warbling his Dorick lay: +And now the Sun had stretch'd out all the hills, 190 +And now was dropt into the Western bay; +At last he rose, and twitch'd his Mantle blew: +To morrow to fresh Woods, and Pastures new. + +Notes: + 64 uncessant] Manuscript reads incessant, so that uncessant +is probably a misprint; though that spelling is retained in the Second +Edition. + 82 perfet] So in Comus, line 203. In both these places +the manuscript has perfect, as elsewhere where the word occurs. In +the Solemn Music, line 23, where the First Edition reads perfect, +the second reads perfet. +149 Amaranthus] Amarantus + + + +Transcriber's note: Facsimile of Title page of Comus follows: + + A MASKE + PRESENTED + At Ludlow Castle, + 1634: + + On Michalemasse night, before the + RIGHT HONORABLE, + IOHN Earle of Bridgewater, Viscount Brackly, + Lord President of WALES, and one of + His MAIESTIES most honorable + Privie Counsell. + +------------------------------------------------------------ + Eheu quid volui misero mihi! floribus austrum + Perditus ------------------ +------------------------------------------------------------ + + LONDON + Printed for HYMPHREY ROBINSON + at the signe of the Three Pidgeons in + Pauls Church-yard. 1637. + + + +To the Right Honourable, John Lord Vicount Bracly, Son and +Heir apparent to the Earl of Bridgewater, &c. + + +My LORD, + +This Poem, which receiv'd its first occasion of Birth from your +Self, and others of your Noble Family, and much honour from +your own Person in the performance, now returns again to +make a finall Dedication of it self to you. Although not openly +acknowledg'd by the Author, yet it is a legitimate off-spring, so +lovely, and so much desired, that the often Copying of it hath +tired my Pen to give my several friends satisfaction, and brought +me to a necessity of producing it to the publike view; and now +to offer it up in all rightfull devotion to those fair Hopes, and +rare endowments of your much-promising Youth, which give a +full assurance, to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live +sweet Lord to be the honour of your Name, and receive this as +your own, from the hands of him, who hath by many favours +been long oblig'd to your most honour'd Parents, and as in this +representation your attendant Thyrsis, so now in all reall +expression + +Your faithfull, and most humble Servant + +H. LAWES. + + +Note: Dedication to Vicount Bracly: Omitted in 1673. + + + +The Copy of a Letter writt'n by Sir HENRY WOOTTON, to +the Author, upon the following Poem. + + +>From the Colledge, this 13. of April, 1638. + +SIR, +It was a special favour, when you lately bestowed upon me +here, the first taste of your acquaintance, though no longer then +to make me know that I wanted more time to value it, and to +enjoy it rightly; and in truth, if I could then have imagined your +farther stay in these parts, which I understood afterwards by +Mr. H. I would have been bold in our vulgar phrase to mend my +draught (for you left me with an extreme thirst) and to have +begged your conversation again, joyntly with your said learned +Friend, at a poor meal or two, that we might have banded +together som good Authors of the antient time: Among which, I +observed you to have been familiar. + +Since your going, you have charg'd me with new Obligations, +both for a very kinde Letter from you dated the sixth of this +Month, and for a dainty peece of entertainment which came +therwith. Wherin I should much commend the Tragical part, if +the Lyrical did not ravish me with a certain Dorique delicacy in +your Songs and Odes, wherunto I must plainly confess to have +seen yet nothing parallel in our Language: Ipsa mollities. +But I must not omit to tell you, that I now onely owe you +thanks for intimating unto me (how modestly soever) the true +Artificer. For the work it self I had view'd som good while +before, with singular delight, having receiv'd it from our +common Friend Mr. R. in the very close of the late R's Poems, +Printed at Oxford, wherunto it was added (as I now suppose) +that the Accessory might help out the Principal, according to +the Art of Stationers, and to leave the Reader Con la bocca +dolce. + +Now Sir, concerning your travels, wherin I may challenge a +little more priviledge of Discours with you; I suppose you will +not blanch Paris in your way; therfore I have been bold to +trouble you with a few lines to Mr. M. B. whom you shall easily +find attending the young Lord S. as his Governour, and you +may surely receive from him good directions for the shaping of +your farther journey into Italy, where he did reside by my choice +som time for the King, after mine own recess from Venice. + +I should think that your best Line will be thorow the whole +length of France to Marseilles, and thence by Sea to Genoa, +whence the passage into Tuscany is as Diurnal as a Gravesend +Barge: I hasten as you do to Florence, or Siena, the rather tell +you a short story from the interest you have given me in your +safety. + +At Siena I was tabled in the House of one Alberto Scipioni, an +old Roman Courtier in dangerous times, having bin Steward to +the Duca di Pagliano, who with all his Family were strangled +save this onely man that escap'd by foresight of the Tempest: +With him I had often much chat of those affairs; Into which he +took pleasure to look back from his Native Harbour: and at my +departure toward Rome (which had been the center of his +experience) I had wonn confidence enough to beg his advice, +how I might carry my self securely there, without offence of +mine own conscience. Signor Arrigo mio (sayes he) I pensieri +stretti, & il viso sciolto, will go safely over the whole World: Of +which Delphian Oracle (for so I have found it) your judgement +doth need no commentary; and therfore (Sir) I will commit you +with it to the best of all securities, Gods dear love, remaining + +Your Friend as much at command as any of longer date, + +Henry Wootton. + +Postscript. + +SIR, I have expressly sent this my Foot-boy to prevent your +departure without som acknowledgement from me of the +receipt of your obliging Letter, having myself through som +busines, I know not how, neglected the ordinary conveyance. +In any part where I shall understand you fixed, I shall be glad, +and diligent to entertain you with Home-Novelties; even for +som fomentation of our friendship, too soon interrupted in the +Cradle. + +Note: Letter from Sir Henry Wootton: Omitted in 1673 + + + +A MASK PRESENTED At LUDLOW-Castle, 1634. &c. + + +The Persons. + +The attendant Spirit afterwards in the habit of Thyrsis. +Comus with his crew. +The Lady. +1. Brother. +2. Brother. +Sabrina the Nymph. + +The cheif persons which presented, were +The Lord Bracly. +Mr. Thomas Egerton his Brother, +The Lady Alice Egerton. + + +The first Scene discovers a wilde Wood. + +The attendant Spirit descends or enters. + +Spir: Before the starry threshold of Joves Court +My mansion is, where those immortal shapes +Of bright aereal Spirits live insphear'd +In Regions milde of calm and serene Ayr, +Above the smoak and stirr of this dim spot, +Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care +Confin'd, and pester'd in this pin-fold here, +Strive to keep up a frail, and Feaverish being +Unmindfull of the crown that Vertue gives +After this mortal change, to her true Servants 10 +Amongst the enthron'd gods on Sainted seats. +Yet som there he that by due steps aspire +To lay their just hands on that Golden Key +That ope's the Palace of Eternity: +To such my errand is, and but for such, +I would not soil these pure Ambrosial weeds, +With the rank vapours of this Sin-worn mould. +But to my task. Neptune besides the sway +Of every salt Flood, and each ebbing Stream, +Took in by lot 'twixt high, and neather Jove, 20 +Imperial rule of all the Sea-girt Iles +That like to rich, and various gemms inlay +The unadorned boosom of the Deep, +Which he to grace his tributary gods +By course commits to severall government, +And gives them leave to wear their Saphire crowns, +And weild their little tridents, but this Ile +The greatest, and the best of all the main +He quarters to his blu-hair'd deities, +And all this tract that fronts the falling Sun 30 +A noble Peer of mickle trust, and power +Has in his charge, with temper'd awe to guide +An old, and haughty Nation proud in Arms: +Where his fair off-spring nurs't in Princely lore, +Are coming to attend their Fathers state, +And new-entrusted Scepter, but their way +Lies through the perplex't paths of this drear Wood, +The nodding horror of whose shady brows +Threats the forlorn and wandring Passinger. +And here their tender age might suffer perill, 40 +But that by quick command from Soveran Jove +I was dispatcht for their defence, and guard; +And listen why, for I will tell ye now +What never yet was heard in Tale or Song +>From old, or modern Bard in Hall, or Bowr. +Bacchus that first from out the purple Grape, +Crush't the sweet poyson of mis-used Wine +After the Tuscan Mariners transform'd +Coasting the Tyrrhene shore, as the winds listed, +On Circes Hand fell (who knows not Circe 50 +The daughter of the Sun? Whose charmed Cup +Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape, +And downward fell into a groveling Swine) +This Nymph that gaz'd upon his clustring locks, +With Ivy berries wreath'd, and his blithe youth, +Had by him, ere he parted thence, a Son +Much like his Father, but his Mother more, +Whom therfore she brought up and Comus named, +Who ripe, and frolick of his full grown age, +Roving the Celtic, and Iberian fields, 60 +At last betakes him to this ominous Wood, +And in thick shelter of black shades imbowr'd, +Excells his Mother at her mighty Art, +Offring to every weary Travailer, +His orient liquor in a Crystal Glasse, +To quench the drouth of Phoebus, which as they taste +(For most do taste through fond intemperate thirst ) +Soon as the Potion works, their human count'nance, +Th' express resemblance of the gods, is chang'd +Into som brutish form of Woolf, or Bear, 70 +Or Ounce, or Tiger, Hog, or bearded Goat, +All other parts remaining as they were, +And they, so perfect is their misery, +Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, +But boast themselves more comely then before +And all their friends, and native home forget +To roule with pleasure in a sensual stie. +Therfore when any favour'd of high Jove, +Chances to pass through this adventrous glade, +Swift as the Sparkle of a glancing Star, 80 +I shoot from Heav'n to give him safe convoy, +As now I do: But first I must put off +These my skie robes spun out of Iris Wooff, +And take the Weeds and likenes of a Swain, +That to the service of this house belongs, +Who with his soft Pipe, and smooth-dittied Song, +Well knows to still the wilde winds when they roar, +And hush the waving Woods, nor of lesse faith, +And in this office of his Mountain watch, +Likeliest, and neerest to the present ayd 90 +Of this occasion. But I hear the tread +Of hatefull steps, I must be viewles now. + +Comus enters with a Charming Rod in one hand, his Glass in +the other, with him a rout of monsters, headed like sundry sorts +of wilde Beasts, but otherwise like Men and Women, their +Apparel glistring, they come in making a riotous and unruly +noise, with Torches in their hands. + +Co: The Star that bids the Shepherd fold, +Now the top of Heav'n doth hold, +And the gilded Car of Day, +His glowing Axle doth allay +In the steep Atlantick stream, +And the slope Sun his upward beam +Shoots against the dusky Pole, +Pacing toward the other gole 100 +Of his Chamber in the East. +Meanwhile welcom Joy, and Feast, +Midnight shout, and revelry, +Tipsie dance, and Jollity. +Braid your Locks with rosie Twine +Dropping odours, dropping Wine. +Rigor now is gon to bed, +And Advice with scrupulous head, +Strict Age, and sowre Severity, +With their grave Saws in slumber ly. 110 +We that are of purer fire +Imitate the Starry Quire, +Who in their nightly watchfull Sphears, +Lead in swift round the Months and Years. +The Sounds, and Seas with all their finny drove +Now to the Moon in wavering Morrice move, +And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves, +Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves; +By dimpled Brook, and Fountain brim, +The Wood-Nymphs deckt with Daisies trim, 120 +Their merry wakes and pastimes keep: +What hath night to do with sleep? +Night hath better sweets to prove, +Venus now wakes, and wak'ns Love. +Com let us our rights begin, +'Tis onely day-light that makes Sin +Which these dun shades will ne're report. +Hail Goddesse of Nocturnal sport +Dark vaild Cotytto, t' whom the secret flame +Of mid-night Torches burns; mysterious Dame 130 +That ne're art call'd, but when the Dragon woom +Of Stygian darknes spets her thickest gloom, +And makes one blot of all the ayr, +Stay thy cloudy Ebon chair, +Wherin thou rid'st with Hecat', and befriend +Us thy vow'd Priests, til utmost end +Of all thy dues be done, and none left out, +Ere the blabbing Eastern scout, +The nice Morn on th' Indian steep +>From her cabin'd loop hole peep, 140 +And to the tel-tale Sun discry +Our conceal'd Solemnity. +Com, knit hands, and beat the ground, +In a light fantastick round. + +The Measure. + +Break off; break off, I feel the different pace, +Of som chast footing neer about this ground. +Run to your shrouds, within these Brakes and Trees, +Our number may affright: Som Virgin sure +(For so I can distinguish by mine Art) +Benighted in these Woods. Now to my charms, 150 +And to my wily trains, I shall e're long +Be well stock't with as fair a herd as graz'd +About my Mother Circe. Thus I hurl +My dazling Spells into the spungy ayr, +Of power to cheat the eye with blear illusion, +And give it false presentments, lest the place +And my quaint habits breed astonishment, +And put the Damsel to suspicious flight, +Which must not be, for that's against my course; +I under fair pretence of friendly ends, 160 +And well plac't words of glozing courtesie +Baited with reasons not unplausible +Wind me into the easie-hearted man, +And hugg him into snares. When once her eye +Hath met the vertue of this Magick dust, +I shall appear som harmles Villager +Whom thrift keeps up about his Country gear, +But here she comes, I fairly step aside, +And hearken, if I may, her busines here. + +The Lady enters. + +La: This way the noise was, if mine ear be true, 170 +My best guide now, me thought it was the sound +Of Riot, and ill manag'd Merriment, +Such as the jocond Flute, or gamesom Pipe +Stirs up among the loose unleter'd Hinds, +When for their teeming Flocks, and granges full +In wanton dance they praise the bounteous Pan, +And thank the gods amiss. I should he loath +To meet the rudenesse, and swill'd insolence +of such late Wassailers; yet O where els +Shall I inform my unacquainted feet 180 +In the blind mazes of this tangl'd Wood? +My Brothers when they saw me wearied out +With this long way, resolving here to lodge +Under the spreading favour of these Pines, +Stept as they se'd to the next Thicket side +To bring me Berries, or such cooling fruit +As the kind hospitable Woods provide. +They left me then. when the gray-hooded Eev'n +Like a sad Votarist in Palmers weed +Rose from the hindmost wheels of Phoebus wain. 190 +But where they are, and why they came not back, +Is now the labour of my thoughts, 'tis likeliest +They had ingag'd their wandring steps too far, +And envious darknes, e're they could return, +Had stole them from me, els O theevish Night +Why shouldst thou, but for som fellonious end, +In thy dark lantern thus close up the Stars, +That nature hung in Heav'n, and fill'd their Lamps +With everlasting oil, to give due light +To the misled and lonely Travailer? 200 +This is the place as well as I may guess, +Whence eev'n now the tumult of loud Mirth +Was rife and perfect in my list'ning ear, +Yet nought but single darknes do I find. +What might this be? A thousand fantasies +Begin to throng into my memory +Of calling shapes, and beckning shadows dire, +And airy tongues, that syllable mens names +On Sands and Shoars and desert Wildernesses. +These thoughts may startle well, but not astound 210 +The vertuous mind that ever walks attended +By a strong siding champion Conscience.-- +O welcom pure-ey'd Faith, white-handed Hope, +Thou hovering Angel girt with golden wings. +And thou unblemish't form of Chastity, +I see ye visibly and now beleeve +That he, the Supreme good t'whom all things ill +Are but as slavish officers of vengeance, +Would send a glistring Guardian if need were +To keep my life and honour unassail'd. 220 +Was I deceiv'd, or did a sable cloud +Turn forth her silver lining on the night? +I did not err, there does a sable cloud +Turn forth her silver lining on the night, +And casts a gleam over this tufted Grove. +I cannot hallow to my Brothers, but +Such noise as I can make to be heard farthest +Ile venter, for my new enliv'nd spirits +Prompt me; and they perhaps are not far off. + +SONG. + +Sweet Echo, sweetest Nymph that liv'st unseen 230 +Within thy airy shell +By slow Meander's margent green, +And in the violet imbroider'd vale +Where the love-lorn Nightingale +Nightly to thee her sad Song mourneth well. +Canst thou not tell me of a gentle Pair +That likest thy Narcissus are? +O if thou have +Hid them in som flowry Cave, +Tell me but where 240 +Sweet Queen of Parly, Daughter of the Sphear, +So maist thou be translated to the skies, +And give resounding grace to all Heav'ns Harmonies. + +Co: Can any mortal mixture of Earths mould +Breath such Divine inchanting ravishment? +Sure somthing holy lodges in that brest, +And with these raptures moves the vocal air +To testifie his hidd'n residence; +How sweetly did they float upon the wings +Of silence, through the empty-vaulted night 250 +At every fall smoothing the Raven doune +Of darknes till it smil'd: I have oft heard +My mother Circe with the Sirens three, +Amid'st the flowry-kirtl'd Naiades +Culling their Potent hearbs, and balefull drugs. +Who as they sung, would take the prison'd soul, +And lap it in Elysium, Scylla wept, +And chid her barking waves into attention. +And fell Charybdis murmur'd soft applause: +Yet they in pleasing slumber lull'd the sense, 260 +And in sweet madnes rob'd it of it self, +But such a sacred, and home-felt delight, +Such sober certainty of waking bliss +I never heard till now. Ile speak to her +And she shall be my Queen. Hail forren wonder +Whom certain these rough shades did never breed +Unlesse the Goddes that in rurall shrine +Dwell'st here with Pan, or Silvan, by blest Song +Forbidding every bleak unkindly Fog +To touch the prosperous growth of this tall Wood. 270 + +La: Nay gentle Shepherd ill is lost that praise +That is addrest to unattending Ears, +Not any boast of skill, but extreme shift +How to regain my sever'd company +Compell'd me to awake the courteous Echo +To give me answer from her mossie Couch. + +Co: What chance good Lady hath bereft you thus? + +La: Dim darknes, and this heavy Labyrinth. + +Co: Could that divide you from neer-ushering guides? + +La: They left me weary on a grassie terf. 280 + +Co: By falshood. or discourtesie, or why? + +La: To seek in vally som cool friendly Spring. + +Co: And left your fair side all unguarded Lady? + +La: They were but twain, and purpos'd quick return. + +Co: Perhaps fore-stalling night prevented them. + +La: How easie my misfortune is to hit ! + +Co: Imports their loss, beside the present need? + +La: No less then if I should my brothers loose. + +Co: Were they of manly prime, or youthful bloom? + +La: As smooth as Hebe's their unrazor'd lips. 290 + +Co: Two such I saw, what time the labour'd Oxe +In his loose traces from the furrow came, +And the swink't hedger at his Supper sate; +I saw them under a green mantling vine +That crawls along the side of yon small hill, +Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots, +Their port was more then human, as they stood; +I took it for a faery vision +Of som gay creatures of the element +That in the colours of the Rainbow live 300 +And play i'th plighted clouds. I was aw-strook, +And as I past, I worshipt: if those you seek +It were a journey like the path to Heav'n, +To help you find them. La: Gentle villager +What readiest way would bring me to that place? + +Co: Due west it rises from this shrubby point. + +La: To find out that, good Shepherd, I suppose, +In such a scant allowance of Star-light, +Would overtask the best Land-Pilots art, +Without the sure guess of well-practiz'd feet, 310 + +Co: I know each lane, and every alley green +Dingle, or bushy dell of this wilde Wood, +And every bosky bourn from side to side +My daily walks and ancient neighbourhood, +And if your stray attendance be yet lodg'd, +Or shroud within these limits, I shall know +Ere morrow wake, or the low roosted lark +>From her thatch't pallat rowse, if otherwise +I can conduct you Lady to a low +But loyal cottage, where you may be safe 320 +Till further quest. + La: Shepherd I take thy word, +And trust thy honest offer'd courtesie, +Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds +With smoaky rafters, then in tapstry Halls +And Courts of Princes, where it first was nam'd, +And yet is most pretended: In a place +Less warranted then this, or less secure +I cannot be, that I should fear to change it. +Eie me blest Providence, and square my triall +To my proportion'd strength. Shepherd lead on.-- 330 + +The Two Brothers. + +Eld. Bro: Unmuffle ye faint stars, and thou fair Moon +That wontst to love the travailers benizon, +Stoop thy pale visage through an amber cloud, +And disinherit Chaos, that raigns here +In double night of darknes, and of shades; +Or if your influence be quite damm'd up +With black usurping mists, som gentle taper +Though a rush Candle from the wicker hole +Of som clay habitation visit us +With thy long levell'd rule of streaming light. 340 +And thou shalt be our star of Arcady, +Or Tyrian Cynosure. + 2. Bro: Or if our eyes +Be barr'd that happines, might we but hear +The folded flocks pen'd in their watled cotes, +Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops, +Or whistle from the Lodge, or village cock +Count the night watches to his feathery Dames, +'Twould be som solace yet, som little chearing +In this close dungeon of innumerous bowes. +But O that haples virgin our lost sister 350 +Where may she wander now, whether betake her +>From the chill dew, amongst rude burrs and thistles? +Perhaps som cold bank is her boulster now +Or 'gainst the rugged bark of som broad Elm +Leans her unpillow'd head fraught with sad fears. +What if in wild amazement, and affright, +Or while we speak within the direfull grasp +Of Savage hunger, or of Savage heat? + +Eld. Bro: Peace brother, be not over-exquisite +To cast the fashion of uncertain evils; 360 +For grant they be so, while they rest unknown, +What need a man forestall his date of grief +And run to meet what he would most avoid? +Or if they be but false alarms of Fear, +How bitter is such self delusion? +I do not think my sister so to seek, +Or so unprincipl'd in vertues book, +And the sweet peace that goodnes boosoms ever, +As that the single want of light and noise +(Not being in danger, as I trust she is not) 370 +Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts, +And put them into mis-becoming plight. +Vertue could see to do what vertue would +By her own radiant light, though Sun and Moon +Were in the salt sea sunk. And Wisdoms self +Oft seeks to sweet retired Solitude, +Where with her best nurse Contemplation +She plumes her feathers and lets grow her wings +That in the various bustle of resort +Were all too ruffled and sometimes impaired. 380 +He that has light within his own deer brest +May sit i'th center, and enjoy bright day, +But he that hides a dark soul, and foul thoughts +Benighted walks under the mid-day Sun; +Himself is his own dungeon. + +2. Bro: Tis most true +That musing meditation most affects +The pensive secrecy of desert cell, +Far from the cheerfull haunt of men, and herds, +And sits as safe as in a Senat house, +For who would rob a Hermit of his Weeds, 390 +His few Books, or his Beads, or Maple Dish, +Or do his gray hairs any violence? +But beauty like the fair Hesperian Tree +Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard +Of dragon watch with uninchanted eye, +To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit +>From the rash hand of bold Incontinence. +You may as well spred out the unsun'd heaps +Of Misers treasure by an out-laws den, +And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope 400 +Danger will wink on Opportunity, +And let a single helpless maiden pass +Uninjur'd in this wilde surrounding wast. +Of night, or lonelines it recks me not, +I fear the dred events that dog them both, +Lest som ill greeting touch attempt the person +Of our unowned sister. + +Eld. Bro: I do not, brother, +Inferr, as if I thought my sisters state +Secure without all doubt, or controversie: +Yet where an equall poise of hope and fear 410 +Does arbitrate th'event, my nature is +That I encline to hope, rather then fear, +And gladly banish squint suspicion. +My sister is not so defenceless left +As you imagine, she has a hidden strength +Which you remember not. + +2. Bro: What hidden strength, +Unless the strength of Heav'n, if you mean that? + +ELD Bro: I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength +Which if Heav'n gave it, may be term'd her own: +'Tis chastity, my brother, chastity: 420 +She that has that, is clad in compleat steel, +And like a quiver'd Nymph with Arrows keen +May trace huge Forests, and unharbour'd Heaths, +Infamous Hills, and sandy perilous wildes, +Where through the sacred rayes of Chastity, +No savage fierce, Bandite, or mountaneer +Will dare to soyl her Virgin purity, +Yea there, where very desolation dwels +By grots, and caverns shag'd with horrid shades, +She may pass on with unblench't majesty, 430 +Be it not don in pride, or in presumption. +Som say no evil thing that walks by night +In fog, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen, +Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost, +That breaks his magick chains at curfeu time, +No goblin, or swart faery of the mine, +Hath hurtfull power o're true virginity. +Do ye beleeve me yet, or shall I call +Antiquity from the old Schools of Greece +To testifie the arms of Chastity? 440 +Hence had the huntress Dian her dred bow +Fair silver-shafted Queen for ever chaste, +Wherwith she tam'd the brinded lioness +And spotted mountain pard, but set at nought +The frivolous bolt of Cupid, gods and men +Fear'd her stern frown, and she was queen oth' Woods. +What was that snaky-headed Gorgon sheild +That wise Minerva wore, unconquer'd Virgin, +Wherwith she freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone? +But rigid looks of Chast austerity, 450 +And noble grace that dash't brute violence +With sudden adoration, and blank aw. +So dear to Heav'n is Saintly chastity, +That when a soul is found sincerely so, +A thousand liveried Angels lacky her, +Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt, +And in cleer dream, and solemn vision +Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear, +Till oft convers with heav'nly habitants +Begin to cast a beam on th'outward shape, 460 +The unpolluted temple of the mind. +And turns it by degrees to the souls essence, +Till all be made immortal: but when lust +By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk, +But most by leud and lavish act of sin, +Lets in defilement to the inward parts, +The soul grows clotted by contagion, +Imbodies, and imbrutes, till she quite loose +The divine property of her first being. +Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp 470 +Oft seen in Charnell vaults, and Sepulchers +Lingering, and sitting by a new made grave, +As loath to leave the body that it lov'd, +And link't it self by carnal sensualty +To a degenerate and degraded state. + +2. Bro: How charming is divine Philosophy ! +Not harsh, and crabbed as dull fools suppose, +But musical as is Apollo's lute, +And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, +Where no crude surfet raigns. + Eld. Bro: List, list, I hear 480 +Som far off hallow break the silent Air. + +2. Bro: Me thought so too; what should it be? + +Eld. Bro: For certain +Either som one like us night-founder'd here, +Or els som neighbour Wood-man, or at worst, +Som roaving robber calling to his fellows. + +2. Bro: Heav'n keep my sister, agen agen and neer, +Best draw, and stand upon our guard. + +Eld. Bro: Ile hallow, +If he be friendly he comes well, if not, +Defence is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us. + +[Enter] The attendant Spirit habited like a Shepherd. + +That hallow I should know, what are you? speak; 490 +Com not too neer, you fall on iron stakes else. + +Spir: What voice is that, my young Lord? speak agen. + +2. Bro: O brother, 'tis my father Shepherd sure. + +Eld. Bro: Thyrsis? Whose artful strains have oft delaid +The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, +And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale, +How cam'st thou here good Swain? hath any ram +Slip't from the fold, or young Kid lost his dam, +Or straggling weather the pen't flock forsook? +How couldst thou find this dark sequester'd nook? 500 + +Spir: O my lov'd masters heir, and his next joy, +I came not here on such a trivial toy +As a stray'd Ewe, or to pursue the stealth +Of pilfering Woolf, not all the fleecy wealth +That doth enrich these Downs, is worth a thought +To this my errand, and the care it brought. +But O my Virgin Lady, where is she? +How chance she is not in your company? + +Eld. Bro: To tell thee sadly Shepherd, without blame +Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. 510 + +Spir: Ay me unhappy then my fears are true. + +Eld. Bro: What fears good Thyrsis? Prethee briefly shew. + +Spir: Ile tell ye, 'tis not vain or fabulous, +(Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance) +What the sage Poets taught by th' heav'nly Muse, +Storied of old in high immortal vers +Of dire Chimera's and inchanted Iles, +And rifted Rocks whose entrance leads to hell, +For such there be, but unbelief is blind. +Within the navil of this hideous Wood, 520 +Immur'd in cypress shades a Sorcerer dwels +Of Bacchus, and of Circe born, great Comus, +Deep skill'd in all his mothers witcheries, +And here to every thirsty wanderer, +By sly enticement gives his banefull cup, +With many murmurs mixt, whose pleasing poison +The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, +And the inglorious likenes of a beast +Fixes instead, unmoulding reasons mintage +Character'd in the Face; this have I learn't 530 +Tending my flocks hard by i'th hilly crofts, +That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night +He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl +Like stabl'd wolves, or tigers at their prey, +Doing abhorred rites to Hecate +In their obscured haunts of inmost bowres. +Yet have they many baits, and guilefull spells +To inveigle and invite th' unwary sense +Of them that pass unweeting by the way. +This evening late by then the chewing flocks 540 +Had ta'n their supper on the savoury Herb +Of Knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold, +I sate me down to watch upon a bank +With Ivy canopied, and interwove +With flaunting Hony-suckle, and began +Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy +To meditate my rural minstrelsie, +Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close +The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods, +And fill'd the Air with barbarous dissonance, 550 +At which I ceas' t, and listen'd them a while, +Till an unusuall stop of sudden silence +Gave respit to the drowsie frighted steeds +That draw the litter of close-curtain'd sleep. +At last a soft and solemn breathing sound +Rose like a steam of rich distill'd Perfumes, +And stole upon the Air, that even Silence +Was took e're she was ware, and wish't she might +Deny her nature, and be never more +Still to be so displac't. I was all eare, 560 +And took in strains that might create a soul +Under the ribs of Death, but O ere long +Too well I did perceive it was the voice +Of my most honour'd Lady, your dear sister. +Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with grief and fear, +And O poor hapless Nightingale thought I, +How sweet thou sing'st, how neer the deadly snare! +Then down the Lawns I ran with headlong hast +Through paths, and turnings oft'n trod by day, +Till guided by mine ear I found the place 570 +Where that damn'd wisard hid in sly disguise +(For so by certain signes I knew) had met +Already, ere my best speed could praevent, +The aidless innocent Lady his wish't prey, +Who gently ask't if he had seen such two, +Supposing him som neighbour villager; +Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess't +Ye were the two she mean't, with that I sprung +Into swift flight, till I had found you here, +But furder know I not. + 2. Bro: O night and shades, 580 +How are ye joyn'd with hell in triple knot +Against th'unarmed weakness of one Virgin +Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence +You gave me Brother? + Eld. Bro: Yes, and keep it still, +Lean on it safely, not a period +Shall be unsaid for me: against the threats +Of malice or of sorcery, or that power +Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm, +Vertue may be assail'd, but never hurt, +Surpriz'd by unjust force, but not enthrall'd, 590 +Yea even that which mischief meant most harm, +Shall in the happy trial prove most glory. +But evil on it self shall back recoyl, +And mix no more with goodness, when at last +Gather'd like scum, and setl'd to it self +It shall be in eternal restless change +Self-fed, and self-consum'd, if this fail, +The pillar'd firmament is rott'nness, +And earths base built on stubble. But corn let's on. +Against th' opposing will and arm of Heav'n 600 +May never this just sword be lifted up, +But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt +With all the greisly legions that troop +Under the sooty flag of Acheron, +Harpyies and Hydra's, or all the monstrous forms +'Twixt Africa and Inde, Ile find him out, +And force him to restore his purchase back, +Or drag him by the curls, to a foul death, +Curs'd as his life. + +Spir: Alas good ventrous youth, +I love thy courage yet, and bold Emprise, 610 +But here thy sword can do thee little stead, +Farr other arms, and other weapons must +Be those that quell the might of hellish charms, +He with his bare wand can unthred thy joynts, +And crumble all thy sinews. + +Eld. Bro: Why prethee Shepherd +How durst thou then thy self approach so neer +As to make this relation? + +Spir: Care and utmost shifts +How to secure the lady from surprisal, +Brought to my mind a certain Shepherd Lad +Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd 620 +In every vertuous plant and healing herb +That spreds her verdant leaf to th'morning ray, +He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing, +Which when I did, he on the tender grass +Would sit, and hearken even to extasie, +And in requitall ope his leather'n scrip, +And shew me simples of a thousand names +Telling their strange and vigorous faculties; +Amongst the rest a small unsightly root, +But of divine effect, he cull'd me out; 630 +The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it, +But in another Countrey, as he said, +Bore a bright golden flowre, but not in this soyl: +Unknown, and like esteem'd, and the dull swayn +Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon, +And yet more med'cinal is it then that Moly +That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave; +He call'd it Haemony, and gave it me, +And bad me keep it as of sov'ran use +'Gainst all inchantments, mildew blast, or damp 640 +Or gastly furies apparition; +I purs't it up, but little reck'ning made, +Till now that this extremity compell'd, +But now I find it true; for by this means +I knew the foul inchanter though disguis'd, +Enter'd the very lime-twigs of his spells, +And yet came off: if you have this about you +(As I will give you when we go) you may +Boldly assault the necromancers hall; +Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood, 650 +And brandish't blade rush on him, break his glass, +And shed the lushious liquor on the ground, +But sease his wand, though he and his curst crew +Feirce signe of battail make, and menace high, +Or like the sons of Vulcan vomit smoak, +Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink. + +Eld. Bro: Thyrsis lead on apace, Ile follow thee, +And som good angel bear a sheild before us. + +The scene changes to a stately Palace, set out with all manner of +deliciousness; Soft Musick, Tables spred with all dainties. +Comus appears with his rabble. and the Lady set in an inchanted +Chair, to whom he offers his Glass, which she puts by, and goes +about to rise. + +COMUS: Nay Lady sit; if I but wave this wand +Your nerves are all chain'd up in Alablaster, 660 +And you a statue; or as Daphne was +Root-bound, that fled Apollo. + +La: Fool do not boast, +Thou canst not touch the freedom of my minde +With all thy charms, although this corporal rinde +Thou haste immanacl'd, while Heav'n sees good. + +Co: Why are you vext Lady? why do you frown +Here dwell no frowns, nor anger, from these gates +Sorrow flies farr: See here be all the pleasures +That fancy can beget on youthfull thoughts, +When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns 670 +Brisk as the April buds in Primrose-season. +And first behold this cordial Julep here +That flames, and dances in his crystal bounds +With spirits of balm, and fragrant Syrops mixt. +Not that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone, +In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena +Is of such power to stir up joy as this, +To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst. +Why should you be so cruel to your self, +And to those dainty limms which nature lent 680 +For gentle usage, and soft delicacy? +But you invert the cov'nants of her trust, +And harshly deal like an ill borrower +With that which you receiv'd on other terms, +Scorning the unexempt condition +By which all mortal frailty must subsist, +Refreshment after toil, ease after pain, +That have been tir'd all day without repast, +And timely rest have wanted, but fair Virgin +This will restore all soon. + +La: 'Twill not false traitor, 690 +'Twill not restore the truth and honesty +That thou hast banish't from thy tongue with lies +Was this the cottage, and the safe abode +Thou told'st me of? What grim aspects are these +These oughly-headed Monsters? Mercy guard me! +Hence with thy brew'd inchantments, foul deceit +Hast thou betrai'd my credulous innocence +With visor'd falshood, and base forgery, +And wouldst thou seek again to trap me here +With lickerish baits fit to ensnare a brute? 700 +Were it a draft for Juno when she banquets, +I would not taste thy treasonous offer; none +But such as are good men can give good things, +And that which is not good, is not delicious +To a well-govern'd and wise appetite. + +Co: O foolishnes of men ! that lend their ears +To those budge doctors of the Stoick Furr, +And fetch their precepts from the Cynick Tub, +Praising the lean and sallow Abstinence. +Wherefore did Nature powre her bounties forth, 710 +With such a full and unwithdrawing hand, +Covering the earth with odours, fruits, and flocks, +Thronging the Seas with spawn innumerable, +But all to please, and sate the curious taste? +And set to work millions of spinning Worms, +That in their green shops weave the smooth-hair'd silk +To deck her Sons, and that no corner might +Be vacant of her plenty, in her own loyns +She hutch't th'all-worshipt ore, and precious gems +To store her children with; if all the world 720 +Should in a pet of temperance feed on Pulse, +Drink the clear stream, and nothing wear but Freize, +Th'all-giver would be unthank't, would be unprais'd, +Not half his riches known, and yet despis'd, +And we should serve him as a grudging master, +As a penurious niggard of his wealth, +And live like Natures bastards, not her sons, +Who would be quite surcharged with her own weight, +And strangl'd with her waste fertility; +Th'earth cumber'd, and the wing'd air dark't with plumes. 730 +The herds would over-multitude their Lords, +The Sea o'refraught would swell, and th'unsought diamonds +Would so emblaze the forhead of the Deep, +And so bested with Stars, that they below +Would grow inur'd to light, and com at last +To gaze upon the Sun with shameless brows. +List Lady be not coy, and be not cosen'd +With that same vaunted name Virginity, +Beauty is natures coyn, must not be hoorded, +But must be currant, and the good thereof 740 +Consists in mutual and partak'n bliss, +Unsavoury in th'injoyment of it self +If you let slip time, like a neglected rose +It withers on the stalk with languish't head. +Beauty is natures brag, and must be shown +In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities +Where most may wonder at the workmanship; +It is for homely features to keep home, +They had their name thence; course complexions +And cheeks of sorry grain will serve to ply 750 +The sampler, and to teize the huswifes wooll. +What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that +Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the Morn? +There was another meaning in these gifts, +Think what, and be adviz'd, you are but young yet. + +La: I had not thought to have unlockt my lips +In this unhallow'd air, but that this Jugler +Would think to charm my judgement, as mine eyes, +Obtruding false rules pranckt in reasons garb. +I hate when vice can bolt her arguments, 760 +And vertue has no tongue to check her pride: +Impostor do not charge most innocent nature, +As if she would her children should be riotous +With her abundance, she good cateress +Means her provision onely to the good +That live according to her sober laws, +And holy dictate of spare Temperance: +If every just man that now pines with want +Had but a moderate and heseeming share +Of that which lewdly-pamper'd Luxury 770 +Now heaps upon som few with vast excess, +Natures full blessings would be well dispenc't +In unsuperfluous eeven proportion, +And she no whit encomber'd with her store, +And then the giver would he better thank't, +His praise due paid, for swinish gluttony +Ne're looks to Heav'n amidst his gorgeous feast, +But with besotted base ingratitude +Cramms, and blasphemes his feeder. Shall I go on? +Or have I said anough? To him that dares 780 +Arm his profane tongue with contemptuous words +Against the Sun-clad power of Chastity, +Fain would I somthing say, yet to what end? +Thou hast nor Eare, nor Soul to apprehend +The sublime notion, and high mystery +That must be utter'd to unfold the sage +And serious doctrine of Virginity, +And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know +More happiness then this thy present lot. +Enjoy your deer Wit, and gay Rhetorick 790 +That hath so well been taught her dazling fence, +Thou art not fit to hear thy self convinc't; +Yet should I try, the uncontrouled worth +Of this pure cause would kindle my rap't spirits +To such a flame of sacred vehemence +That dumb things would be mov'd to sympathize, +And the brute Earth would lend her nerves, and shake, +Till all thy magick structures rear'd so high, +Were shatter'd into heaps o're thy false head. + +Co: She fables not, I feel that I do fear 800 +Her words set off by som superior power; +And though not mortal, yet a cold shuddring dew +Dips me all o're, as when the wrath of Jove +Speaks thunder, and the chains of Erebus +To som of Saturns crew. I must dissemble, +And try her yet more strongly. Com, no more, +This is meer moral babble, and direct +Against the canon laws of our foundation; +I must not suffer this, yet 'tis but the lees +And setlings of a melancholy blood; 810 +But this will cure all streight, one sip of this +Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight +Beyond the bliss of dreams. Be wise, and taste.-- + +The brothers rush in with Swords drawn, wrest his Glass out of +his hand, and break it against the ground; his rout make signe of +resistance, but are all driven in; The attendant Spirit comes in. + +Spir: What, have you let the false enchanter scape? +O ye mistook, ye should have snatcht his wand +And bound him fast; without his rod revers't, +And backward mutters of dissevering power, +We cannot free the Lady that sits here +In stony fetters fixt, and motionless; +Yet stay, be not disturb'd, now I bethink me 820 +Som other means I have which may he us'd +Which once of Meliboeus old I learnt +The soothest Shepherd that ere pip't on plains. +There is a gentle Nymph not farr from hence, +That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream, +Sabrina is her name, a Virgin pure, +Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine, +That had the Scepter from his father Brute. +The guiltless damsel flying the mad pursuit +Of her enraged stepdam Guendolen, 830 +Commended her fair innocence to the flood +That stay'd her flight with his cross-flowing course, +The water Nymphs that in the bottom plaid, +Held up their pearled wrists and took her in, +Bearing her straight to aged Nereus Hall, +Who piteous of her woes, rear'd her lank head, +And gave her to his daughters to imbathe +In nectar'd lavers strew'd with Asphodil, +And through the porch and inlet of each sense +Dropt in Ambrosial Oils till she reviv'd, 840 +And underwent a quick immortal change +Made Goddess of the River; still she retains +Her maid'n gentlenes, and oft at Eeve +Visits the herds along the twilight meadows, +Helping all urchin blasts, and ill luck signes +That the shrewd medling Elfe delights to make, +Which she with pretious viold liquors heals. +For which the Shepherds at their festivals +Carrol her goodnes lowd in rustick layes, +And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream 850 +Of pancies, pinks, and gaudy Daffadils. +And, as the old Swain said, she can unlock +The clasping charms, and thaw the numming spell, +If she be right invok't in warbled Song, +For maid'nhood she loves, and will be swift +To aid a Virgin, such as was her self +In hard besetting need, this will I try +And adde the power of som adjuring verse. + +SONG. + +Sabrina fair +Listen when thou art sitting 860 +Under the glassie, cool, translucent wave, +In twisted braids of Lillies knitting +The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair, +Listen for dear honour's sake, +Goddess of the silver lake, +Listen and save. + +Listen and appear to us +In name of great Oceanus, +By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace, +And Tethys grave majestick pace, 870 +By hoary Nereus wrincled look, +And the Carpathian wisards hook, +By scaly Tritons winding shell, +And old sooth-saying Glaucus spell, +By Leucothea's lovely hands, +And her son that rules the strands, +By Thetis tinsel-slipper'd feet, +And the Songs of Sirens sweet, +By dead Parthenope's dear tomb, +And fair Ligea's golden comb, 880 +Wherwith she sits on diamond rocks +Sleeking her soft alluring locks, +By all the Nymphs that nightly dance +Upon thy streams with wily glance, +Rise, rise, and heave thy rosie head +>From thy coral-pav'n bed, +And bridle in thy headlong wave, +Till thou our summons answered have. +Listen and save. + +Sabrina rises, attended by water-Nymphes, and sings. + +Sab: By the rushy-fringed bank, 890 +Where grows the Willow and the Osier dank, +My sliding Chariot stayes, +Thick set with Agat, and the azurn sheen +Of Turkis blew, and Emrauld green +That in the channell strayes, +Whilst from off the waters fleet +Thus I set my printless feet +O're the Cowslips Velvet head, +That bends not as I tread, +Gentle swain at thy request 900 +I am here. + +Spir: Goddess dear +We implore thy powerful hand +To undo the charmed band +Of true Virgin here distrest, +Through the force, and through the wile +Of unblest inchanter vile. + +Sab: Shepherd 'tis my office best +To help insnared chastity; +Brightest Lady look on me, 910 +Thus I sprinkle on thy brest +Drops that from my fountain pure, +I have kept of pretious cure, +Thrice upon thy fingers tip, +Thrice upon thy rubied lip, +Next this marble venom'd seat +Smear'd with gumms of glutenous heat +I touch with chaste palms moist and cold, +Now the spell hath lost his hold; +And I must haste ere morning hour 920 +To wait in Amphitrite's bowr. + +Sabrina descends, and the Lady rises out of her seat. + +Spir: Virgin, daughter of Locrine +Sprung of old Anchises line, +May thy brimmed waves for this +Their full tribute never miss +>From a thousand petty rills, +That tumble down the snowy hills: +Summer drouth, or singed air +Never scorch thy tresses fair, +Nor wet Octobers torrent flood 930 +Thy molten crystal fill with mudd, +May thy billows rowl ashoar +The beryl, and the golden ore, +May thy lofty head be crown'd +With many a tower and terrass round, +And here and there thy banks upon +With Groves of myrrhe, and cinnamon. + +Com Lady while Heaven lends us grace, +Let us fly this cursed place, +Lest the Sorcerer us intice 940 +With som other new device. +Not a waste, or needless sound +Till we com to holier ground, +I shall be your faithfull guide +Through this gloomy covert wide, +And not many furlongs thence +Is your Fathers residence, +Where this night are met in state +Many a friend to gratulate +His wish't presence, and beside 950 +All the Swains that there abide, +With Jiggs, and rural dance resort, +We shall catch them at their sport, +And our sudden coming there +Will double all their mirth and chere; +Com let us haste, the Stars grow high, +But night sits monarch yet in the mid sky. + +The Scene changes, presenting Ludlow Town and the President +Castle, then com in Countrey-Dancers, after them the attendant +Spirit, with the two Brothers and the Lady. + +SONG. + +Spir: Back Shepherds, back, anough your play, +Till next Sun-shine holiday, +Here be without duck or nod 960 +Other trippings to be trod +Of lighter toes, and such Court guise +As Mercury did first devise +With the mincing Dryades +On the Lawns, and on the Leas. + +This second Song presents them to their father and mother. + +Noble Lord, and Lady bright, +I have brought ye new delight, +Here behold so goodly grown +Three fair branches of your own, +Heav'n hath timely tri'd their youth. 970 +Their faith, their patience, and their truth +And sent them here through hard assays +With a crown of deathless Praise, +To triumph in victorious dance +O're sensual folly, and Intemperance. + +The dances ended, the Spirit Epiloguizes. + +Spir: To the Ocean now I fly, +And those happy climes that ly +Where day never shuts his eye, +Up in the broad fields of the sky: +There I suck the liquid ayr 980 +All amidst the Gardens fair +Of Hesperus, and his daughters three +That sing about the golden tree: +Along the crisped shades and bowres +Revels the spruce and jocond Spring, +The Graces, and the rosie-boosom'd Howres, +Thither all their bounties bring, +That there eternal Summer dwels, +And West winds, with musky wing +About the cedar'n alleys fling 990 +Nard, and Cassia's balmy smels. +Iris there with humid bow, +Waters the odorous banks that blow +Flowers of more mingled hew +Then her purfl'd scarf can shew, +And drenches with Elysian dew +(List mortals, if your ears be true) +Beds of Hyacinth, and roses +Where young Adonis oft reposes, +Waxing well of his deep wound 1000 +In slumber soft, and on the ground +Sadly sits th' Assyrian Queen; +But far above in spangled sheen +Celestial Cupid her fam'd son advanc't, +Holds his dear Psyche sweet intranc't +After her wandring labours long, +Till free consent the gods among +Make her his eternal Bride, +And from her fair unspotted side +Two blissful twins are to be born, +Youth and Joy; so Jove hath sworn. 1010 +But now my task is smoothly don, +I can fly, or I can run +Quickly to the green earths end, +Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend, +And from thence can soar as soon +To the corners of the Moon. +Mortals that would follow me, +Love vertue, she alone is free, +She can teach ye how to clime 1020 +Higher then the Spheary chime; +Or if Vertue feeble were, +Heav'n it self would stoop to her. + +Notes: +43 ye] you 1673 +167 omitted 1673 +168, 9 Thus 1637. Manuscript reads -- +but heere she comes I fairly step aside +& hearken, if I may, her buisnesse heere. +1673 reads -- +And hearken, if I may her business hear. +But here she comes, I fairly step aside. +474 sensualty] sensuality 1673. Manuscript also reads sensualtie, +as the metre requires. +493 father] So also 1673. Manuscript reads father's +547 meditate] meditate upon 1673 +553 drowsie frighted] Manuscript reads drowsie flighted. +556 steam] stream 1673 +580 furder] further 1673 +743 In the manuscript, which reads-- +If you let slip time like an neglected rose +a circle has been drawn round the an, but probably not by Milton. +780 anough] anow 1673 + + + + +POEMS ADDED IN THE 1673 EDITION. + + + +Anno aetatis 17. On the Death of a fair Infant dying of a Cough. + + +I + +O FAIREST flower no sooner blown but blasted, +Soft silken Primrose fading timelesslie, +Summers chief honour if thou hadst outlasted +Bleak winters force that made thy blossome drie; +For he being amorous on that lovely die +That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss +But kill'd alas, and then bewayl'd his fatal bliss. + +II + +For since grim Aquilo his charioter +By boistrous rape th' Athenian damsel got, +He thought it toucht his Deitie full neer, 10 +If likewise he some fair one wedded not, +Thereby to wipe away th' infamous blot, +Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, +Which 'mongst the wanton gods a foul reproach was held. + +III + +So mounting up in ycie-pearled carr, +Through middle empire of the freezing aire +He wanderd long, till thee he spy'd from farr, +There ended was his quest, there ceast his care +Down he descended from his Snow-soft chaire, +But all unwares with his cold-kind embrace 20 +Unhous'd thy Virgin Soul from her fair hiding place. + +IV + +Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; +For so Apollo, with unweeting hand +Whilome did slay his dearly-loved mate +Young Hyacinth born on Eurotas' strand, +Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land; +But then transform'd him to a purple flower +Alack that so to change thee winter had no power. + +V + +Yet can I not perswade me thou art dead +Or that thy coarse corrupts in earths dark wombe, 30 +Or that thy beauties lie in wormie bed, +Hid from the world in a low delved tombe; +Could Heav'n for pittie thee so strictly doom? +O no! for something in thy face did shine +Above mortalitie that shew'd thou wast divine. + +VI + +Resolve me then oh Soul most surely blest +(If so it be that thou these plaints dost hear) +Tell me bright Spirit where e're thou hoverest +Whether above that high first-moving Spheare +Or in the Elisian fields (if such there were.) 40 +Oh say me true if thou wert mortal wight +And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy flight. + +VII + +Wert thou some Starr which from the ruin'd roofe +Of shak't Olympus by mischance didst fall; +Which carefull Jove in natures true behoofe +Took up, and in fit place did reinstall? +Or did of late earths Sonnes besiege the wall +Of sheenie Heav'n, and thou some goddess fled +Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head + +VIII + +Or wert thou that just Maid who once before 50 +Forsook the hated earth, O tell me sooth +And cam'st again to visit us once more? +Or wert thou that sweet smiling Youth! +Or that c[r]own'd Matron sage white-robed Truth? +Or any other of that heav'nly brood +Let down in clowdie throne to do the world some good. + +Note: 53 Or wert thou] Or wert thou Mercy -- conjectured by +John Heskin Ch. Ch. Oxon. from Ode on Nativity, st. 15. + +IX + +Or wert thou of the golden-winged boast, +Who having clad thy self in humane weed, +To earth from thy praefixed seat didst poast, +And after short abode flie back with speed, 60 +As if to shew what creatures Heav'n doth breed, +Thereby to set the hearts of men on fire +To scorn the sordid world, and unto Heav'n aspire. + +X + +But oh why didst thou not stay here below +To bless us with thy heav'n-lov'd innocence, +To slake his wrath whom sin hath made our foe +To turn Swift-rushing black perdition hence, +Or drive away the slaughtering pestilence, +To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart +But thou canst best perform that office where thou art. 70 + +XI + +Then thou the mother of so sweet a child +Her false imagin'd loss cease to lament, +And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild; +Think what a present thou to God hast sent, +And render him with patience what he lent; +This if thou do he will an off-spring give, +That till the worlds last-end shall make thy name to live. + + + +Anno Aetatis 19. At a Vacation Exercise in the Colledge, part +Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus +began. + + +HAIL native Language, that by sinews weak +Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to speak, +And mad'st imperfect words with childish tripps, +Half unpronounc't, slide through my infant-lipps, +Driving dum silence from the portal dore, +Where he had mutely sate two years before: +Here I salute thee and thy pardon ask, +That now I use thee in my latter task: +Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee, +I know my tongue but little Grace can do thee: 10 +Thou needst not be ambitious to be first, +Believe me I have thither packt the worst: +And, if it happen as I did forecast, +The daintest dishes shall be serv'd up last. +I pray thee then deny me not thy aide +For this same small neglect that I have made: +But haste thee strait to do me once a Pleasure, +And from thy wardrope bring thy chiefest treasure; +Not those new fangled toys, and triming slight +Which takes our late fantasticks with delight, 20 +But cull those richest Robes, and gay'st attire +Which deepest Spirits, and choicest Wits desire: +I have some naked thoughts that rove about +And loudly knock to have their passage out; +And wearie of their place do only stay +Till thou hast deck't them in thy best aray; +That so they may without suspect or fears +Fly swiftly to this fair Assembly's ears; +Yet I had rather if I were to chuse, +Thy service in some graver subject use, 30 +Such as may make thee search thy coffers round +Before thou cloath my fancy in fit sound: +Such where the deep transported mind may scare +Above the wheeling poles, and at Heav'ns dore +Look in, and see each blissful Deitie +How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, +Listening to what unshorn Apollo sings +To th'touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings +Immortal Nectar to her Kingly Sire: +Then passing through the Spherse of watchful fire, 40 +And mistie Regions of wide air next under, +And hills of Snow and lofts of piled Thunder, +May tell at length how green-ey'd Neptune raves, +In Heav'ns defiance mustering all his waves; +Then sing of secret things that came to pass +When Beldam Nature in her cradle was; +And last of Kings and Queens and Hero's old, +Such as the wise Demodocus once told +In solemn Songs at King Alcinous feast, +While sad Ulisses soul and all the rest 50 +Are held with his melodious harmonie +In willing chains and sweet captivitie. +But fie my wandring Muse how thou dost stray ! +Expectance calls thee now another way, +Thou know'st it must he now thy only bent +To keep in compass of thy Predicament: +Then quick about thy purpos'd business come, +That to the next I may resign my Roome + +Then Ens is represented as Father of the Predicaments his ten +Sons, whereof the Eldest stood for Substance with his Canons, +which Ens thus speaking, explains. + +Good luck befriend thee Son; for at thy birth +The Faiery Ladies daunc't upon the hearth; 60 +Thy drowsie Nurse hath sworn she did them spie +Come tripping to the Room where thou didst lie; +And sweetly singing round about thy Bed +Strew all their blessings on thy sleeping Head. +She heard them give thee this, that thou should'st still +>From eyes of mortals walk invisible, +Yet there is something that doth force my fear, +For once it was my dismal hap to hear +A Sybil old, bow-bent with crooked age, +That far events full wisely could presage, +And in Times long and dark Prospective Glass +Fore-saw what future dayes should bring to pass, +Your Son, said she, (nor can you it prevent) +Shall subject be to many an Accident. +O're all his Brethren he shall Reign as King, +Yet every one shall make him underling, +And those that cannot live from him asunder +Ungratefully shall strive to keep him under, +In worth and excellence he shall out-go them, +Yet being above them, he shall be below them; 80 +>From others he shall stand in need of nothing, +Yet on his Brothers shall depend for Cloathing. +To find a Foe it shall not be his hap, +And peace shall lull him in her flowry lap; +Yet shall he live in strife, and at his dore +Devouring war shall never cease to roare; +Yea it shall be his natural property +To harbour those that are at enmity. +What power, what force, what mighty spell, if not +Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot? 90 + +The next Quantity and Quality, spake in Prose, then Relation +was call'd by his Name. + +Rivers arise; whether thou be the Son, +Of utmost Tweed, or Oose, or gulphie Dun, +Or Trent, who like some earth-born Giant spreads +His thirty Armes along the indented Meads, +Or sullen Mole that runneth underneath, +Or Severn swift, guilty of Maidens death, +Or Rockie Avon, or of Sedgie Lee, +Or Coaly Tine, or antient hallowed Dee, +Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythians Name, +Or Medway smooth, or Royal Towred Thame. 100 + +The rest was Prose. + + + +THE FIFTH ODE OF HORACE. LIB. I. -- +Quis multa gracilis te puer in Rosa +Rendred almost word for word without Rhyme according to the +Latin Measure, as near as the Language permit. + +WHAT slender Youth bedew'd with liquid odours +Courts thee on Roses in some pleasant Cave, +Pyrrha for whom bind'st thou +In wreaths thy golden Hair, +Plain in thy neatness; O how oft shall he +On Faith and changed Gods complain: and Seas +Rough with black winds and storms +Unwonted shall admire: +Who now enjoyes thee credulous, all Gold, +Who alwayes vacant, alwayes amiable 10 +Hopes thee; of flattering gales +Unmindfull. Hapless they +To whom thou untry'd seem'st fair. Me in my vow'd +Picture the sacred wall declares t' have hung +My dank and dropping weeds +To the stern God of Sea. +[The Latin text follows.] + + + +SONNETS. + + +XI + +A Book was writ of late call'd Tetrachordon; +And wov'n close, both matter, form and stile; +The Subject new: it walk'd the Town a while, +Numbring good intellects; now seldom por'd on. +Cries the stall-reader, bless us! what a word on +A title page is this! and some in file +Stand spelling fals, while one might walk to Mile- +End Green. Why is it harder Sirs then Gordon, +Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp? +Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek 10 +That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp. +Thy age, like ours, O Soul of Sir John Cheek, +Hated not Learning wors then Toad or Asp; +When thou taught'st Cambridge, and King Edward Greek. + +Note: Camb. Autograph supplies title, On the Detraction which +followed my writing certain Treatises. + + +XII. On the same. + +I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs +By the known rules of antient libertie, +When strait a barbarous noise environs me +Of Owles and Cuckoes, Asses, Apes and Doggs. +As when those Hinds that were transform'd to Froggs +Raild at Latona's twin-born progenie +Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee. +But this is got by casting Pearl to Hoggs; +That bawle for freedom in their senceless mood, +And still revolt when truth would set them free. 10 +Licence they mean when they cry libertie; +For who loves that, must first be wise and good; +But from that mark how far they roave we see +For all this wast of wealth, and loss of blood. + + +XIII + +To Mr. H. Lawes, on his Aires. + +Harry whose tuneful and well measur'd Song +First taught our English Musick how to span +Words with just note and accent, not to scan +With Midas Ears, committing short and long; +Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, +With praise enough for Envy to look wan; +To after age thou shalt be writ the man, +That with smooth aire couldst humor best our tongue +Thou honour'st Verse, and Verse must send her wing +To honour thee, the Priest of Phoebus Quire 10 +That tun'st their happiest lines in Hymn or Story +Dante shall give Fame leave to set thee higher +Then his Casella, whom he woo'd to sing +Met in the milder shades of Purgatory. + +Note: 9 send] lend Cambridge Autograph MS. + + +XIV + +When Faith and Love which parted from thee never, +Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God, +Meekly thou didst resign this earthy load +Of Death, call'd Life; which us from Life doth sever +Thy Works and Alms and all thy good Endeavour +Staid not behind, nor in the grave were trod; +But as Faith pointed with her golden rod, +Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. +Love led them on, and Faith who knew them best +Thy hand-maids, clad them o're with purple beams 10 +And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, +And speak the truth of thee on glorious Theams +Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest +And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams. + +Note: Camb. Autograph supplies title, On the Religious +Memory of Catherine Thomson, my Christian Friend, deceased +16 Decemb., 1646. + + +XV + +ON THE LATE MASSACHER IN PIEMONT. + +Avenge O lord thy slaughter'd Saints, whose bones +Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains cold, +Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old +When all our Fathers worship't Stocks and Stones, +Forget not: in thy book record their groanes +Who were thy Sheep and in their antient Fold +Slayn by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd +Mother with Infant down the Rocks. Their moans +The Vales redoubl'd to the Hills, and they +To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow 10 +O're all th'Italian fields where still doth sway +The triple Tyrant: that from these may grow +A hunder'd-fold, who having learnt thy way +Early may fly the Babylonian wo. + + + +XVI + + +When I consider how my light is spent, +E're half my days, in this dark world and wide, +And that one Talent which is death to hide, +Lodg'd with me useless, though my Soul more bent +To serve therewith my Maker, and present +My true account, least he returning chide, +Doth God exact day-labour, light deny'd, +I fondly ask; But patience to prevent +That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need +Either man's work or his own gifts, who best 10 +Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State +Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed +And post o're Land and Ocean without rest: +They also serve who only stand and waite. + + + +XVII + + +Lawrence of vertuous Father vertuous Son, +Now that the Fields are dank, and ways are mire, +Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire +Help wast a sullen day; what may be Won +>From the hard Season gaining: time will run +On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire +The frozen earth; and cloth in fresh attire +The Lillie and Rose, that neither sow'd nor spun. +What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, +Of Attick tast, with Wine, whence we may rise 10 +To hear the Lute well toucht, or artfull voice +Warble immortal Notes and Tuskan Ayre? +He who of those delights can judge, and spare +To interpose them oft, is not unwise. + + + +XVIII + + +Cyriack, whose Grandsire on the Royal Bench +Of Brittish Themis, with no mean applause +Pronounc't and in his volumes taught our Lawes, +Which others at their Barr so often wrench: +To day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench +In mirth, that after no repenting drawes; +Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause, +And what the Swede intend, and what the French. +To measure life, learn thou betimes, and know +Toward solid good what leads the nearest way; 10 +For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, +And disapproves that care, though wise in show, +That with superfluous burden loads the day, +And when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. + + + +XIX + + +Methought I saw my late espoused Saint +Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, +Whom Joves great Son to her glad Husband gave, +Rescu'd from death by force though pale and faint. +Mine as whom washt from spot of child-bed taint, +Purification in the old Law did save, +And such, as yet once more I trust to have +Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint, +Came vested all in white, pure as her mind: +Her face was vail'd, yet to my fancied sight, 10 +Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd +So clear, as in no face with more delight. +But O as to embrace me she enclin'd +I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night. + + + +On the new forcers of Conscience under the Long PARLIAMENT. + + +Because you have thrown of your Prelate Lord, +And with stiff Vowes renounc'd his Liturgie +To seise the widdow'd whore Pluralitie +>From them whose sin ye envi'd, not abhor'd, +Dare ye for this adjure the Civill Sword +To force our Consciences that Christ set free, +And ride us with a classic Hierarchy +Taught ye by meer A. S. and Rotherford? +Men whose Life, Learning, Faith and pure intent +Would have been held in high esteem with Paul 10 +Must now he nam'd and printed Hereticks +By shallow Edwards and Scotch what d'ye call: +But we do hope to find out all your tricks, +Your plots and packing wors then those of Trent, +That so the Parliament +May with their wholsom and preventive Shears +Clip your Phylacteries, though bauk your Ears, +And succour our just Fears +When they shall read this clearly in your charge +New Presbyter is but Old Priest Writ Large. 20 + + +The four following sonnets were not published until 1694, and +then in a mangled form by Phillips, in his Life of Milton; they +are here printed from the Cambridge MS., where that to Fairfax +is in Milton's autograph. + + + +ON THE LORD GEN. FAIRFAX AT THE SEIGE OF COLCHESTER. + + +Fairfax, whose name in armes through Europe rings +Filling each mouth with envy, or with praise, +And all her jealous monarchs with amaze, +And rumors loud, that daunt remotest kings, +Thy firm unshak'n vertue ever brings +Victory home, though new rebellions raise +Their Hydra heads, & the fals North displaies +Her brok'n league, to impe their serpent wings, +O yet a nobler task awaites thy hand; +Yet what can Warr, but endless warr still breed, 10 +Till Truth, & Right from Violence be freed, +And Public Faith cleard from the shamefull brand +Of Public Fraud. In vain doth Valour bleed +While Avarice, & Rapine share the land. + + + +To the Lord Generall Cromwell May 1652. +ON THE PROPOSALLS OF CERTAINE MINISTERS AT THE COMMITTEE FOR +PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPELL. + + +Cromwell, our cheif of men, who through a cloud +Not of warr onely, but detractions rude, +Guided by faith & matchless Fortitude +To peace & truth thy glorious way hast plough'd, +And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud +Hast reard Gods Trophies, & his work pursu'd, +While Darwen stream with blood of Scotts imbru'd, +And Dunbarr field resounds thy praises loud, +And Worsters laureat wreath; yet much remaines +To conquer still; peace hath her victories 10 +No less renownd then warr, new foes aries +Threatning to bind our soules with secular chaines: +Helpe us to save free Conscience from the paw +Of hireling wolves whose Gospell is their maw. + + + +TO SR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER. + + +Vane, young in yeares, but in sage counsell old, +Then whome a better Senatour nere held +The helme of Rome, when gownes not armes repelld +The feirce Epeirot & the African bold, +Whether to settle peace, or to unfold +The drift of hollow states, hard to be spelld, +Then to advise how warr may best, upheld, +Move by her two maine nerves, Iron & Gold +In all her equipage: besides to know +Both spirituall powre & civill, what each meanes 10 +What severs each thou hast learnt, which few have don +The bounds of either sword to thee wee ow. +Therfore on thy firme hand religion leanes +In peace, & reck'ns thee her eldest son. + + + +TO MR. CYRIACK SKINNER UPON HIS BLINDNESS. + + +Cyriack, this three years day these eys, though clear +To outward view, of blemish or of spot; +Bereft of light thir seeing have forgot, +Nor to thir idle orbs doth sight appear +Of Sun or Moon or Starre throughout the year, +Or man or woman. Yet I argue not +Against heavns hand or will, nor bate a jot +Of heart or hope; but still bear vp and steer +Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask? +The conscience, Friend, to have lost them overply'd 10 +In libertyes defence, my noble task, +Of which all Europe talks from side to side. +This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask +Content though blind, had I no better guide. + + + +PSAL. I. Done into Verse, 1653. + + +BLESS'D is the man who hath not walk'd astray +In counsel of the wicked, and ith'way +Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat +Of scorners hath not sate. But in the great +Jehovahs Law is ever his delight, +And in his law he studies day and night. +He shall be as a tree which planted grows +By watry streams, and in his season knows +To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall. +And what he takes in hand shall prosper all. 10 +Not so the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd +The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand +In judgment, or abide their tryal then +Nor sinners in th'assembly of just men. +For the Lord knows th'upright way of the just +And the way of bad men to ruine must. + + + +PSAL. II Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzetti. + + +WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the Nations +Muse a vain thing, the Kings of th'earth upstand +With power, and Princes in their Congregations +Lay deep their plots together through each Land, +Against the Lord and his Messiah dear. +Let us break off; say they, by strength of hand +Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear, +Their twisted cords: he who in Heaven doth dwell +Shall laugh, the Lord shall scoff them, then severe +Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell 10 +And fierce ire trouble them; but I saith hee +Anointed have my King (though ye rebell) +On Sion my holi' hill. A firm decree +I will declare; the Lord to me hath say'd +Thou art my Son I have begotten thee +This day, ask of me, and the grant is made; +As thy possession I on thee bestow +Th'Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd +Earths utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low +With Iron Sceptir bruis'd, and them disperse 20 +Like to a potters vessel shiver'd so. +And now be wise at length ye Kings averse +Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear +Jehovah serve and let your joy converse +With trembling; Kiss the Son least he appear +In anger and ye perish in the way +If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere. +Happy all those who have in him their stay. + + + +PSAL. III. Aug. 9. 1653 +WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM. + + +LORD how many are my foes +How many those +That in arms against me rise +Many are they +That of my life distrustfully thus say, +No help for him in God there lies. +But thou Lord art my shield my glory, +Thee through my story +Th' exalter of my head I count +Aloud I cry'd 10 +Unto Jehovah, he full soon reply'd +And heard me from his holy mount. +I lay and slept, I wak'd again, +For my sustain +Was the Lord. Of many millions +The populous rout +I fear not though incamping round about +They pitch against me their Pavillions. +Rise Lord, save me my God for thou +Hast smote ere now 20 +On the cheek-bone all my foes, +Of men abhor'd +Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; +Thy blessing on thy people flows. + + + +PSAL. IV. Aug. 10.1653. + + +ANSWER me when I call +God of my righteousness; +In straights and in distress +Thou didst me disinthrall +And set at large; now spare, +Now pity me, and hear my earnest prai'r. + +Great ones how long will ye +My glory have in scorn +How long be thus forlorn +Still to love vanity, 10 +To love, to seek, to prize +Things false and vain and nothing else but lies? + +Yet know the Lord hath chose +Chose to himself a part +The good and meek of heart +(For whom to chuse he knows) +Jehovah from on high +Will hear my voyce what time to him I crie. + +Be aw'd, and do not sin, +Speak to your hearts alone, 20 +Upon your beds, each one, +And be at peace within. +Offer the offerings just +Of righteousness and in Jehovah trust. + +Many there be that say +Who yet will shew us good? +Talking like this worlds brood; +But Lord, thus let me pray, +On us lift up the light +Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright. 30 + +Into my heart more joy +And gladness thou hast put +Then when a year of glut +Their stores doth over-cloy +And from their plenteous grounds +With vast increase their corn and wine abounds. + +In peace at once will I +Both lay me down and sleep +For thou alone dost keep +Me safe where ere I lie 40 +As in a rocky Cell +Thou Lord alone in safety mak'st me dwell. + + + +PSAL. V. Aug. 12.1653. + + +JEHOVAH to my words give ear +My meditation waigh +The voyce of my complaining hear +My King and God for unto thee I pray. +Jehovah thou my early voyce +Shalt in the morning hear +Ith'morning I to thee with choyce +Will rank my Prayers, and watch till thou appear. +For thou art not a God that takes +In wickedness delight 10 +Evil with thee no biding makes +Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight. +All workers of iniquity +Thou wilt destroy that speak a ly +The bloodi' and guileful man God doth detest. +But I will in thy mercies dear +Thy numerous mercies go +Into thy house; I in thy fear +Will towards thy holy temple worship low. 20 +Lord lead me in thy righteousness +Lead me because of those +That do observe if I transgress, +Set thy wayes right before, where my step goes. +For in his faltring mouth unstable +No word is firm or sooth +Their inside, troubles miserable; +An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth. +God, find them guilty, let them fall +By their own counsels quell'd; 30 +Push them in their rebellions all +Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd; +Then all who trust in thee shall bring +Their joy, while thou from blame +Defend'st them, they shall ever sing +And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name. +For thou Jehovah wilt be found +To bless the just man still, +As with a shield thou wilt surround +Him with thy lasting favour and good will. 40 + + + +PSAL. VI Aug. 13. 1653. + + +LORD in thine anger do not reprehend me +Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct; +Pity me Lord for I am much deject +Am very weak and faint; heal and amend me, +For all my bones, that even with anguish ake, +Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore +And thou O Lord how long? turn Lord, restore +My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake +For in death no remembrance is of thee; +Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise? 10 +Wearied I am with sighing out my dayes. +Nightly my Couch I make a kind of Sea; +My Bed I water with my tears; mine Eie +Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark +Ith' mid'st of all mine enemies that mark. +Depart all ye that work iniquitie. +Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping +The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my prai'r +My supplication with acceptance fair +The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping. 20 +Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash't +With much confusion; then grow red with shame, +They shall return in hast the way they came +And in a moment shall be quite abash't. + + + +PSAL. VII. Aug. 14. 1653. +UPON THE WORDS OF CHUSH THE BENJAMITE AGAINST HIM. + + +Lord my God to thee I flie +Save me and secure me under +Thy protection while I crie +Least as a Lion (and no wonder) +He hast to tear my Soul asunder +Tearing and no rescue nigh. + +Lord my God if I have thought +Or done this, if wickedness +Be in my hands, if I have wrought +Ill to him that meant me peace, 10 +Or to him have render'd less, +And fre'd my foe for naught; + +Let th'enemy pursue my soul +And overtake it, let him tread +My life down to the earth and roul +In the dust my glory dead, +In the dust and there out spread +Lodge it with dishonour foul. + +Rise Jehovah in thine ire +Rouze thy self amidst the rage 20 +Of my foes that urge like fire; +And wake for me, their furi' asswage; +Judgment here thou didst ingage +And command which I desire. + +So th' assemblies of each Nation +Will surround thee, seeking right, +Thence to thy glorious habitation +Return on high and in their sight. +Jehovah judgeth most upright +All people from the worlds foundation. 30 + +Judge me Lord, be judge in this +According to my righteousness +And the innocence which is +Upon me: cause at length to cease +Of evil men the wickedness +And their power that do amiss. + +But the just establish fast, +Since thou art the just God that tries +Hearts and reins. On God is cast +My defence, and in him lies 40 +In him who both just and wise +Saves th' upright of Heart at last. + +God is a just Judge and severe, +And God is every day offended; +If th' unjust will not forbear, +His Sword he whets, his Bow hath bended +Already, and for him intended +The tools of death, that waits him near. + +(His arrows purposely made he +For them that persecute.) Behold 50 +He travels big with vanitie, +Trouble he hath conceav'd of old +As in a womb, and from that mould +Hath at length brought forth a Lie. + +He dig'd a pit, and delv'd it deep, +And fell into the pit he made, +His mischief that due course doth keep, +Turns on his head, and his ill trade +Of violence will undelay'd +Fall on his crown with ruine steep. 60 + +Then will I Jehovah's praise +According to his justice raise +And sing the Name and Deitie +Of Jehovah the most high. + + + +PSAL. VIII. Aug. 14. 1653. + + +O JEHOVAH our Lord how wondrous great +And glorious is thy name through all the earth? +So as above the Heavens thy praise to set +Out of the tender mouths of latest bearth, + +Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou +Hast founded strength because of all thy foes +To stint th'enemy, and slack th'avengers brow +That bends his rage thy providence to oppose. + +When I behold thy Heavens, thy Fingers art, +The Moon and Starrs which thou so bright hast set, 10 +In the pure firmament, then saith my heart, +O What is man that thou remembrest yet, + +And think'st upon him; or of man begot +That him thou visit'st and of him art found; +Scarce to be less then Gods, thou mad'st his lot, +With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd. + +O're the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord, +Thou hast put all under his lordly feet, +All Flocks, and Herds, by thy commanding word, +All beasts that in the field or forrest meet. 20 + +Fowl of the Heavens, and Fish that through the wet +Sea-paths in shoals do slide. And know no dearth. +O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous great +And glorious is thy name through all the earth. + + + + +April, 1648. J. M. +Nine of the Psalms done into Metre, wherein all but what is +in a different Character, are the very words of the Text, +translated from the Original. + + + +PSAL. LXXX. + + +1 THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep + Give ear in time of need, + Who leadest like a flock of sheep + Thy loved Josephs seed, + That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright + Between their wings out-spread + Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, + And on our foes thy dread. +2 In Ephraims view and Benjamins, + And in Manasse's sight 10 + Awake* thy strength, come, and be seen *Gnorera. + To save us by thy might. +3 Turn us again, thy grace divine + To us O God vouchsafe; + Cause thou thy face on us to shine + And then we shall be safe. +4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, + How long wilt thou declare + Thy *smoaking wrath, and angry brow *Gnashanta. + Against thy peoples praire. 20 +5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears, + Their bread with tears they eat, + And mak'st them* largely drink the tears *Shalish. + Wherewith their cheeks are wet. +6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey + To every neighbour foe, + Among themselves they *laugh, they *play, *Jilgnagu. + And *flouts at us they throw. +7 Return us, and thy grace divine, + O God of Hosts vouchsafe 30 + Cause thou thy face on us to shine, + And then we shall be safe. +8 A Vine from Aegypt thou hast brought, + Thy free love made it thine, + And drov'st out Nations proud and haut + To plant this lovely Vine. +9 Thou did'st prepare for it a place + And root it deep and fast + That it began to grow apace, + And fill'd the land at last. 40 +10 With her green shade that cover'd all, + The Hills were over-spread + Her Bows as high as Cedars tall + Advanc'd their lofty head. +11 Her branches on the western side + Down to the Sea she sent, + And upward to that river wide + Her other branches went. +12 Why hast thou laid her Hedges low + And brok'n down her Fence, 50 + That all may pluck her, as they go, + With rudest violence? +13 The tusked Boar out of the wood + Up turns it by the roots, + Wild Beasts there brouze, and make their food + Her Grapes and tender Shoots. +14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down + From Heav'n, thy Seat divine, + Behold us, but without a frown, + And visit this thy Vine. 60 +15 Visit this Vine, which thy right hand + Hath set, and planted long, + And the young branch, that for thy self + Thou hast made firm and strong. +16 But now it is consum'd with fire, + And cut with Axes down, + They perish at thy dreadfull ire, + At thy rebuke and frown. +17 Upon the man of thy right hand + Let thy good hand be laid, 70 + Upon the Son of Man, whom thou + Strong for thyself hast made. +18 So shall we not go back from thee + To wayes of sin and shame, + Quick'n us thou, then gladly wee + Shall call upon thy Name. + Return us, and thy grace divine + Lord God of Hosts voutsafe, + Cause thou thy face on us to shine, + And then we shall be safe. 80 + + + +PSAL. LXXXI. + + +1 To God our strength sing loud, and clear, + Sing loud to God our King, + To Jacobs God, that all may hear + Loud acclamations ring. +2 Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song + The Timbrel hither bring + The cheerfull Psaltry bring along + And Harp with pleasant string. +3 Blow, as is wont, in the new Moon + With Trumpets lofty sound, 10 + Th'appointed time, the day wheron + Our solemn Feast comes round. +4 This was a Statute giv'n of old + For Israel to observe + A Law of Jacobs God, to hold + From whence they might not swerve. +5 This he a Testimony ordain'd + In Joseph, not to change, + When as he pass'd through Aegypt land; + The Tongue I heard, was strange. 20 +6 From burden, and from slavish toyle + I set his shoulder free; + His hands from pots, and mirie soyle + Deliver'd were by me. +7 When trouble did thee sore assaile, + On me then didst thou call, + And I to free thee did not faile, + And led thee out of thrall. + I answer'd thee in *thunder deep *Be Sether ragnam. + With clouds encompass'd round; 30 + I tri'd thee at the water steep + Of Meriba renown'd. +8 Hear O my people, heark'n well, + I testifie to thee + Thou antient flock of Israel, + If thou wilt list to mee, +9 Through out the land of thy abode + No alien God shall be + Nor shalt thou to a forein God + In honour bend thy knee. 40 +10 I am the Lord thy God which brought + Thee out of Aegypt land + Ask large enough, and I, besought, + Will grant thy full demand. +11 And yet my people would not hear, + Nor hearken to my voice; + And Israel whom I lov'd so dear + Mislik'd me for his choice. +12 Then did I leave them to their will + And to their wandring mind; 50 + Their own conceits they follow'd still + Their own devises blind +13 O that my people would be wise + To serve me all their daies, + And O that Israel would advise + To walk my righteous waies. +14 Then would I soon bring down their foes + That now so proudly rise, + And turn my hand against all those + That are their enemies. 60 +15 Who hate the Lord should then be fain + To bow to him and bend, + But they, His should remain, + Their time should have no end. +16 And he would free them from the shock + With flower of finest wheat, + And satisfie them from the rock + With Honey for their Meat. + + + +PSAL. LXXXII. + + +1 GOD in the *great *assembly stands *Bagnadath-el + Of Kings and lordly States, + Among the gods* on both his hands. *Bekerev. + He judges and debates. +2 How long will ye *pervert the right *Tishphetu + With *judgment false and wrong gnavel. + Favouring the wicked by your might, + Who thence grow bold and strong? +3 *Regard the *weak and fatherless *Shiphtu-dal. + *Dispatch the *poor mans cause, 10 + And **raise the man in deep distress + By **just and equal Lawes. **Hatzdiku. +4 Defend the poor and desolate, + And rescue from the hands + Of wicked men the low estate + Of him that help demands. +5 They know not nor will understand, + In darkness they walk on, + The Earths foundations all are *mov'd *Jimmotu. + And *out of order gon. 20 +6 I said that ye were Gods, yea all + The Sons of God most high +7 But ye shall die like men, and fall + As other Princes die. +8 Rise God, *judge thou the earth in might, + This wicked earth *redress, *Shiphta. + For thou art he who shalt by right + The Nations all possess. + + + + +PSAL. LXXXIII. + +1 BE not thou silent now at length + O God hold not thy peace, + Sit not thou still O God of strength + We cry and do not cease. +2 For lo thy furious foes now *swell + And *storm outrageously, *Jehemajun. + And they that hate thee proud and fill + Exalt their heads full hie. +3 Against thy people they *contrive *Jagnarimu. + *Their Plots and Counsels deep, *Sod. 10 + *Them to ensnare they chiefly strive *Jithjagnatsu gnal. + *Whom thou dost hide and keep. *Tsephuneca. +4 Come let us cut them off say they, + Till they no Nation be + That Israels name for ever may + Be lost in memory. +5 For they consult *with all their might, *Lev jachdau. + And all as one in mind + Themselves against thee they unite + And in firm union bind. 20 +6 The tents of Edom, and the brood + Of scornful Ishmael, + Moab, with them of Hagars blood + That in the Desart dwell, +7 Gebal and Ammon there conspire, + And hateful Amalec, + The Philistims, and they of Tyre + Whose bounds the sea doth check. +8 With them great Asshur also bands + And doth confirm the knot, 30 + All these have lent their armed hands + To aid the Sons of Lot. +9 Do to them as to Midian bold + That wasted all the Coast. + To Sisera, and as is told + Thou didst to Jabins hoast, + When at the brook of Kishon old + They were repulst and slain, +10 At Endor quite cut off, and rowl'd + As dung upon the plain. 40 +11 As Zeb and Oreb evil sped + So let their Princes speed + As Zeba, and Zalmunna bled + So let their Princes bleed. +12 For they amidst their pride have said + By right now shall we seize + Gods houses, and will now invade + *Their stately Palaces. *Neoth Elohim bears both. +13 My God, oh make them as a wheel + No quiet let them find, 50 + Giddy and restless let them reel + Like stubble from the wind. +14 As when an aged wood takes fire + Which on a sudden straies, + The greedy flame runs hier and hier + Till all the mountains blaze, +15 So with thy whirlwind them pursue, + And with thy tempest chase; +16 *And till they *yield thee honour due, *They seek thy + Lord fill with shame their face. Name. Heb. +17 Asham'd and troubl'd let them be, 60 + Troubl'd and sham'd for ever, + Ever confounded, and so die + With shame, and scape it never. +18 Then shall they know that thou whose name + Jehova is alone, + Art the most high, and thou the same + O're all the earth art one. + + + +PSAL. LXXXIV. + + +1 How lovely are thy dwellings fair! + O Lord of Hoasts, how dear + The pleasant Tabernacles are! + Where thou do'st dwell so near. +2 My Soul doth long and almost die + Thy Courts O Lord to see, + My heart and flesh aloud do crie, + O living God, for thee. +3 There ev'n the Sparrow freed from wrong + Hath found a house of rest, 10 + The Swallow there, to lay her young + Hath built her brooding nest, + Ev'n by thy Altars Lord of Hoasts + They find their safe abode, + And home they fly from round the Coasts + Toward thee, My King, my God +4 Happy, who in thy house reside + Where thee they ever praise, +5 Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide, + And in their hearts thy waies. 20 +6 They pass through Baca's thirstie Vale, + That dry and barren ground + As through a fruitfull watry Dale + Where Springs and Showrs abound. +7 They journey on from strength to strength + With joy and gladsom cheer + Till all before our God at length + In Sion do appear. +8 Lord God of Hoasts hear now my praier + O Jacobs God give ear, 30 +9 Thou God our shield look on the face + Of thy anointed dear. +10 For one day in thy Courts to be + Is better, and mere blest + Then in the joyes of Vanity, + A thousand daies at best. + I in the temple of my God + Had rather keep a dore, + Then dwell in Tents, and rich abode + With Sin for evermore 40 +11 For God the Lord both Sun and Shield + Gives grace and glory bright, + No good from him shall be with-held + Whose waies are just and right. +12 Lord God of Hoasts that raign 'st on high, + That man is truly blest + Who only on thee doth relie. + And in thee only rest. + + + +PSAL LXXXV. + + +1 THY Land to favour graciously + Thou hast not Lord been slack, + Thou hast from hard Captivity + Returned Jacob back. +2 Th' iniquity thou didst forgive + That wrought thy people woe, + And all their Sin, that did thee grieve + Hast hid where none shall know. +3 Thine anger all thou hadst remov'd, + And calmly didst return 10 + From thy *fierce wrath which we had prov'd *Heb. The burning + Far worse then fire to burn. heat of thy +4 God of our saving health and peace, wrath. + Turn us, and us restore, + Thine indignation cause to cease + Toward us, and chide no more. +5 Wilt thou be angry without end, + For ever angry thus + Wilt thou thy frowning ire extend + From age to age on us? 20 +6 Wilt thou not * turn, and hear our voice * Heb. Turn to + And us again * revive , quicken us. + That so thy people may rejoyce + By thee preserv'd alive. +7 Cause us to see thy goodness Lord, + To us thy mercy shew + Thy saving health to us afford + And lift in us renew. +8 And now what God the Lord will speak + I will go strait and hear, 30 + For to his people he speaks peace + And to his Saints full dear, + To his dear Saints he will speak peace, + But let them never more + Return to folly, but surcease + To trespass as before. +9 Surely to such as do him fear + Salvation is at hand + And glory shall ere long appear + To dwell within our Land. 40 +10 Mercy and Truth that long were miss'd + Now joyfully are met + Sweet Peace and Righteousness have kiss'd + And hand in hand are set. +11 Truth from the earth like to a flowr + Shall bud and blossom then, + And Justice from her heavenly bowr + Look down on mortal men. +12 The Lord will also then bestow + Whatever thing is good 50 + Our Land shall forth in plenty throw + Her fruits to be our food. +13 Before him Righteousness shall go + His Royal Harbinger, + Then * will he come, and not be slow *Heb. He will set his + His footsteps cannot err. steps to the way. + + + +PSAL. LXXXVI. + + +1 THY gracious ear, O Lord, encline, + O hear me I thee pray, + For I am poor, and almost pine + With need, and sad decay. +2 Preserve my soul, for *I have trod Heb. I am good, loving, + Thy waies, and love the just, a doer of good and + Save thou thy servant O my God holy things + Who still in thee doth trust. +3 Pity me Lord for daily thee + I call; 4 O make rejoyce 10 + Thy Servants Soul; for Lord to thee + I lift my soul and voice, +5 For thou art good, thou Lord art prone + To pardon, thou to all + Art full of mercy, thou alone + To them that on thee call. +6 Unto my supplication Lord + Give ear, and to the crie + Of my incessant praiers afford + Thy hearing graciously. 20 +7 I in the day of my distress + Will call on thee for aid; + For thou wilt grant me free access + And answer, what I pray'd. +8 Like thee among the gods is none + O Lord, nor any works + Of all that other Gods have done + Like to thy glorious works. +9 The Nations all whom thou hast made + Shall come, and all shall frame 30 + To bow them low before thee Lord, + And glorifie thy name. +10 For great thou art, and wonders great + By thy strong hand are done, + Thou in thy everlasting Seat + Remainest God alone. +11 Teach me O Lord thy way most right, + I in thy truth will hide, + To fear thy name my heart unite + So shall it never slide. 40 +12 Thee will I praise O Lord my God + Thee honour, and adore + With my whole heart, and blaze abroad + Thy name for ever more. +13 For great thy mercy is toward me, + And thou hast free'd my Soul + Eev'n from the lowest Hell set free + From deepest darkness foul. +14 O God the proud against me rise + And violent men are met 50 + To seek my life, and in their eyes + No fear of thee have set. +15 But thou Lord art the God most mild + Readiest thy grace to shew, + Slow to be angry, and art stil'd + Most mercifull, most true. +16 O turn to me thy face at length, + And me have mercy on, + Unto thy servant give thy strength, + And save thy hand-maids Son. 60 +17 Some sign of good to me afford, + And let my foes then see + And be asham'd, because thou Lord + Do'st help and comfort me. + + + +PSAL. LXXXVII + + +1 AMONG the holy Mountains high + Is his foundation fast, + There Seated in his Sanctuary, + His Temple there is plac't. +2 Sions fair Gates the Lord loves more + Then all the dwellings faire + Of Jacobs Land, though there be store, + And all within his care. +3 City of God, most glorious things + Of thee abroad are spoke; 10 +4 I mention Egypt, where proud Kings + Did our forefathers yoke, + I mention Babel to my friends, + Philistia full of scorn, + And Tyre with Ethiops utmost ends, + Lo this man there was born: +5 But twise that praise shall in our ear + Be said of Sion last + This and this man was born in her, + High God shall fix her fast. 20 +6 The Lord shall write it in a Scrowle + That ne're shall be out-worn + When he the Nations doth enrowle + That this man there was born. +7 Both they who sing, and they who dance + With sacred Songs are there, + In thee fresh brooks, and soft streams glance + And all my fountains clear. + + + +PSAL. LXXXVIII + + +1 LORD God that dost me save and keep, + All day to thee I cry; + And all night long, before thee weep + Before thee prostrate lie. +2 Into thy presence let my praier + With sighs devout ascend + And to my cries, that ceaseless are, + Thine ear with favour bend. +3 For cloy'd with woes and trouble store + Surcharg'd my Soul doth lie, 10 + My life at death's uncherful dore + Unto the grave draws nigh. +4 Reck'n'd I am with them that pass + Down to the dismal pit + I am a *man, but weak alas * Heb. A man without manly + And for that name unfit. strength. +5 From life discharg'd and parted quite + Among the dead to sleep + And like the slain in bloody fight + That in the grave lie deep. 20 + Whom thou rememberest no more, + Dost never more regard, + Them from thy hand deliver'd o're + Deaths hideous house hath barr'd. +6 Thou in the lowest pit profound' + Hast set me all forlorn, + Where thickest darkness hovers round, + In horrid deeps to mourn. +7 Thy wrath from which no shelter saves + Full sore doth press on me; 30 + *Thou break'st upon me all thy waves, *The Heb. + *And all thy waves break me bears both. +8 Thou dost my friends from me estrange, + And mak'st me odious, + Me to them odious, for they change, + And I here pent up thus. +9 Through sorrow, and affliction great + Mine eye grows dim and dead, + Lord all the day I thee entreat, + My hands to thee I spread. 40 +10 Wilt thou do wonders on the dead, + Shall the deceas'd arise + And praise thee from their loathsom bed + With pale and hollow eyes ? +11 Shall they thy loving kindness tell + On whom the grave hath hold, + Or they who in perdition dwell + Thy faithfulness unfold? +12 In darkness can thy mighty hand + Or wondrous acts be known, 50 + Thy justice in the gloomy land + Of dark oblivion? +13 But I to thee O Lord do cry + E're yet my life be spent, + And up to thee my praier doth hie + Each morn, and thee prevent. +14 Why wilt thou Lord my soul forsake, + And hide thy face from me, +15 That am already bruis'd, and *shake *Heb. Prae Concussione. + With terror sent from thee; 60 + Bruz'd, and afflicted and so low + As ready to expire, + While I thy terrors undergo + Astonish'd with thine ire. +16 Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow + Thy threatnings cut me through. +17 All day they round about me go, + Like waves they me persue. +18 Lover and friend thou hast remov'd + And sever'd from me far. 70 + They fly me now whom I have lov'd, + And as in darkness are. + + +Finis. + + + + +COLLECTION OF PASSAGES TRANSLATED IN THE PROSE WRITINGS. + + + +[From Of Reformation in England, 1641.] + + +Ah Constantine, of how much ill was cause +Not thy Conversion, but those rich demains +That the first wealthy Pope receiv'd of thee. +DANTE, Inf. xix. 115. + +Founded in chast and humble Poverty, +'Gainst them that rais'd thee dost thou lift thy horn, +Impudent whoore, where hast thou plac'd thy hope? +In thy Adulterers, or thy ill got wealth? +Another Constantine comes not in hast. +PETRARCA, Son. 108. + +And to be short, at last his guid him brings +Into a goodly valley, where he sees +A mighty mass of things strangely confus'd +Things that on earth were lost or were abus'd. + . . . . . +Then past he to a flowry Mountain green, +Which once smelt sweet, now stinks as odiously; +This was that gift (if you the truth will have) +That Constantine to good Sylvestro gave. +ARIOSTO, Orl. Fur. xxxiv. 80. + + + +[From Reason of Church Government, 1641.] + + +When I die, let the Earth be roul'd in flames. + + + +[From Apology for Smectymnuus, 1642.] + + +Laughing to teach the truth +What hinders? as some teachers give to Boys +Junkets and knacks, that they may learne apace. +HORACE, Sat. 1. 24. + +Jesting decides great things +Stronglier, and better oft than earnest can. +IBID. i. 10. 14. + +'Tis you that say it, not I: you do the deeds +And your ungodly deeds find me the words. +SOPHOCLES, Elec. 624. + + + +[From Areopagitica, 1644.] + + +This is true Liberty, when free-born Men, +Having to advise the Public, may speak free, +Which he who can, and will, deserv's high praise; +Who neither can nor will, may hold his peace, +What can be juster in a state then this? +EURIPIDES, Supp. 438 + + + +[From Tetrachordon, 1645.] + + +Whom do we count a good man, whom but he +Who keeps the laws and statutes of the Senate, +Who judges in great suits and controversies, +Whose witness and opinion wins the cause? +But his own house, and the whole neighbourhood +See his foul inside through his whited skin. +HORACE, Ep. i. 16. 40. + + + +[From The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, 1649.] + + + There can be slaine +No sacrifice to God more acceptable +Than an unjust and wicked king. +SENECA, Herc. Fur. 922. + + + +[From History of Britain, 1670.] + + +Brutus thus addresses Diana in the country of Leogecia. + +Goddess of Shades, and Huntress, who at will +Walk'st on the rowling Sphear, and through the deep, +On thy third Reign the Earth look now, and tell +What Land, what Seat of rest thou bidst me seek, +What certain Seat, where I may worship thee +For aye, with Temples vow'd, and Virgin quires. + +To whom sleeping before the altar, Diana in a Vision that night +thus answer'd. + +Brutus far to the West, in th' Ocean wide +Beyond the Realm of Gaul, a Land there lies, +Sea-girt it lies, where Giants dwelt of old, +Now void, it fits thy People; thether bend +Thy course, there shalt thou find a lasting seat, +There to thy Sons another Troy shall rise, +And Kings be born of thee, whose dredded might +Shall aw the World, and conquer Nations bold. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Title page of first (1667) edition of +Paradise Lost follows: + + + Paradise lost. + A + POEM + Written in + TEN BOOKS + By John Milton +------------------------------------------------------------ + Licensed and Entred according + to Order +------------------------------------------------------------ + LONDON. + Printed, and are to be sold by Peter Parker + under Creed Church neer Aldgate; And by + Robert Boulter at the Turk's head in Bishopsgate-street + And Matthias Walker, under St. Dunstan's Church + in Fleet-street, 1667. + + + +Transcriber's Note: Title page of second (1674) edition of +Paradise Lost follows: + + + Paradise Lost. + A + POEM + IN + TWELVE BOOKS. +------------------------------------------------------------ + The Author + JOHN MILTON. +------------------------------------------------------------ + The Second Edition + Revised and Augmented by the + Same Author. +------------------------------------------------------------ + LONDON. + Printed by S. Simmons next door to the + Golden Lion in Aldergate-street, 1674. + + + + +PARADISE LOST. + + + +ON Paradise Lost. + + +WHEN I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, +In slender Book his vast Design unfold, +Messiah Crown'd, Gods Reconcil'd Decree, +Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, +Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument +Held me a while misdoubting his Intent, +That he would ruine (for I saw him strong) +The sacred Truths to Fable and old Song +(So Sampson groap'd the Temples Posts in spight) +The World o'rewhelming to revenge his sight. + +Yet as I read soon growing less severe, +I lik'd his Project, the success did fear; +Through that wide Field how he his way should find +O're which lame Faith leads Understanding blind; +Lest he perplex'd the things he would explain, +And what was easie he should render vain. + +Or if a Work so infinite he spann'd, +Jealous I was that some less skilful hand +(Such as disquiet always what is well, +And by ill imitating would excell) +Might hence presume the whole Creations day +To change in Scenes. and show it in a Play. + +Pardon me, Mighty Poet, nor despise +My causeless, yet not impious, surmise. +But I am now convinc'd, and none will dare +Within thy Labours to pretend a share, +Thou hast not miss'd one thought that could be fit, +And all that was improper dost omit: +So that no room is here for Writers left, +But to detect their Ignorance or Theft. + +That Majesty which through thy Work doth Reign +Draws the Devout, deterring the Profane, +And things divine thou treatst of in such state +As them preserves, and thee, inviolate. +At once delight and horrour on us seise, +Thou singst with so much gravity and ease; +And above humane flight dost soar aloft +With Plume so strong, so equal, and so soft. +The Bird nam'd from that Paradise you sing +So never flaggs, but always keeps on Wing. + +Where couldst thou words of such a compass find? +Whence furnish such a vast expence of mind? +Just Heav'n thee like Tiresias to requite +Rewards with Prophesie thy loss of sight. + +Well mightst thou scorn thy Readers to allure +With tinkling Rhime, of thy own sense secure; +While the Town-Bayes writes all the while and spells, +And like a Pack-horse tires without his Bells: +Their Fancies like our Bushy-points appear, +The Poets tag them, we for fashion wear. +I too transported by the Mode offend, +And while I meant to Praise thee must Commend. +Thy Verse created like thy Theme sublime, +In Number, Weight, and Measure, needs not Rhime. + + A.M. + +Note: On Paradise Lost] Added in the second edition 1674. + + + +The Printer to the Reader. + + +Courteous Reader, there was no Argument at first intended to +the Book, but for the satisfaction of many that have desired it, I +have procur'd it, and withall a reason of that which stumbled +many others, why the Poem Rimes not. +S. Simmons. + +Notes: +The Printer to the Reader] Added in 1668 to the copies then +remaining of the first edition, amended in 1669, and omitted in +1670. +I have procur'd it, and . . . . not. 1669] is procured. 1668. + + + +THE VERSE. + + +THE measure is English Heroic Verse without Rime as that of +Homer in Greek, and of Virgil in Latin; Rime being no +necessary Adjunct or true Ornament of Poem or good Verse, in +longer Works especially, but the Invention of a barbarous Age, +to set off wretched matter and lame Meeter; grac't indeed since +by the use of some famous modern Poets, carried away by +Custom, but much to thir own vexation, hindrance, and +constraint to express many things otherwise, and for the most +part worse then else they would have exprest them. Not +without cause therefore some both Italian and Spanish Poets of +prime note have rejected Rime both in longer and shorter +Works, as have also long since our best English Tragedies, as a +thing of it self, to all judicious eares, triveal and of no true +musical delight: which consists only in apt Numbers, fit quantity +of Syllables, and the sense variously drawn out from one Verse +into another, not in the jingling sound of like endings, a fault +avoyded by the learned Ancients both in Poetry and all good +Oratory This neglect then of Rime so little is to be taken for a +defect though it may seem so perhaps to vulgar Readers, that it +rather is to be esteem'd an example set, the first in English, of +ancient liberty recover'd to Heroic Poem from the troublesom +and modern bondage of Rimeing. + +Note: The Verse] Added in 1668 to the copies then remaining +of the first edition; together with the Argument. In the second +edition (1674) the Argument, with the necessary adjustment to +the division made in Books vii and x, was distributed through +the several books of the poem, as it is here printed. + + + +BOOK I. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +THIS first Book proposes first in brief the whole Subject, Mans +disobedience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise wherein he +was plac't: Then touches the prime cause of his fall, the Serpent, +or rather Satan in the Serpent; who revolting from God, and +drawing to his side many Legions of Angels, was by the +command of God driven out of Heaven with all his Crew into +the great Deep. Which action past over, the Poem hasts into the +midst of things, presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen +into Hell describ'd here, not in the Center (for Heaven and Earth +may be suppos'd as yet not made, certainly not yet accurst) but +in a place of utter darknesse, fitliest call'd Chaos: Here Satan +with his Angels lying on the burning Lake, thunder-struck and +astonisht, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls +up him who next in Order and Dignity lay by him; they confer of +thir miserable fall. Satan awakens all his Legions, who lay till +then in the same manner confounded; They rise, thir Numbers, +array of Battel, thir chief Leaders nam'd according to the Idols +known afterwards in Canaan and the Countries adjoyning. To +these Satan directs his Speech, comforts them with hope yet of +gaining Heaven, but tells them lastly of a new World and new +kind of Creature to be created, according to an ancient +Prophesie or report in Heaven; for that Angels were long +before this visible Creation, was the opinion of many ancient +Fathers. To find out the truth of this Prophesie, and what to +determin thereon he refers to a full councell. What his +Associates thence attempt. Pandemonium the palace of Satan +rises, suddenly built out of the Deep: The infernal Peers there sit +in Counsel. + +Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit +Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast +Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, +With loss of Eden, till one greater Man +Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, +Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top +Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire +That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed, +In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth +Rose out of Chaos: Or if Sion Hill 10 +Delight thee more, and Siloa's Brook that flow'd +Fast by the Oracle of God; I thence +Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song, +That with no middle flight intends to soar +Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues +Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime. +And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer +Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure, +Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first +Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread 20 +Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss +And mad'st it pregnant: What in me is dark +Illumine, what is low raise and support; +That to the highth of this great Argument +I may assert th' Eternal Providence, +And justifie the wayes of God to men. +Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view +Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause +Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State, +Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off 30 +>From their Creator, and transgress his Will +For one restraint, Lords of the World besides? +Who first seduc'd them to that fowl revolt? +Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile +Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd +The Mother of Mankinde, what time his Pride +Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host +Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring +To set himself in Glory above his Peers, +He trusted to have equal'd the most High, 40 +If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim +Against the Throne and Monarchy of God +Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud +With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power +Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie +With hideous ruine and combustion down +To bottomless perdition, there to dwell +In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, +Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. +Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night 50 +To mortal men, he with his horrid crew +Lay vanquisht, rowling in the fiery Gulfe +Confounded though immortal: But his doom +Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought +Both of lost happiness and lasting pain +Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes +That witness'd huge affliction and dismay +Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate: +At once as far as Angels kenn he views +The dismal Situation waste and wilde, 60 +A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round +As one great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flames +No light, but rather darkness visible +Serv'd only to discover sights of woe, +Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace +And rest can never dwell, hope never comes +That comes to all; but torture without end +Still urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed +With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd: +Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd 70 +For those rebellious, here their Prison ordain'd +In utter darkness, and their portion set +As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n +As from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole. +O how unlike the place from whence they fell! +There the companions of his fall, o'rewhelm'd +With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, +He soon discerns, and weltring by his side +One next himself in power, and next in crime, +Long after known in Palestine, and nam'd 80 +Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, +And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words +Breaking the horrid silence thus began. +If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd +>From him, who in the happy Realms of Light +Cloth'd with transcendent brightnes didst outshine +Myriads though bright: If he whom mutual league, +United thoughts and counsels, equal hope, +And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize, +Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd 90 +In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest +>From what highth fal'n, so much the stronger provd +He with his Thunder: and till then who knew +The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those +Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage +Can else inflict do I repent or change, +Though chang'd in outward lustre; that fixt mind +And high disdain, from sence of injur'd merit, +That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend, +And to the fierce contention brought along 100 +Innumerable force of Spirits arm'd +That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, +His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd +In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav'n, +And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? +All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, +And study of revenge, immortal hate, +And courage never to submit or yield: +And what is else not to be overcome? +That Glory never shall his wrath or might 110 +Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace +With suppliant knee, and deifie his power +Who from the terrour of this Arm so late +Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed, +That were an ignominy and shame beneath +This downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods +And this Empyreal substance cannot fail, +Since through experience of this great event +In Arms not worse, in foresight much advanc't, +We may with more successful hope resolve 120 +To wage by force or guile eternal Warr +Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe, +Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy +Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n. +So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain, +Vaunting aloud, but rackt with deep despare: +And him thus answer'd soon his bold Compeer. +O Prince, O Chief of many Throned Powers, +That led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr +Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds 130 +Fearless, endanger'd Heav'ns perpetual King; +And put to proof his high Supremacy, +Whether upheld by strength, or Chance, or Fate, +Too well I see and rue the dire event, +That with sad overthrow and foul defeat +Hath lost us Heav'n, and all this mighty Host +In horrible destruction laid thus low, +As far as Gods and Heav'nly Essences +Can Perish: for the mind and spirit remains +Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 140 +Though all our Glory extinct, and happy state +Here swallow'd up in endless misery. +But what if he our Conquerour, (whom I now +Of force believe Almighty, since no less +Then such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours) +Have left us this our spirit and strength intire +Strongly to suffer and support our pains, +That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, +Or do him mightier service as his thralls +By right of Warr, what e're his business be 150 +Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire, +Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep; +What can it then avail though yet we feel +Strength undiminisht, or eternal being +To undergo eternal punishment? +Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd. +Fall'n Cherube, to be weak is miserable +Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure, +To do ought good never will be our task, +But ever to do ill our sole delight, 160 +As being the contrary to his high will +Whom we resist. If then his Providence +Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, +Our labour must be to pervert that end, +And out of good still to find means of evil; +Which oft times may succeed, so as perhaps +Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb +His inmost counsels from their destind aim. +But see the angry Victor hath recall'd +His Ministers of vengeance and pursuit 170 +Back to the Gates of Heav'n: The Sulphurous Hail +Shot after us in storm, oreblown hath laid +The fiery Surge, that from the Precipice +Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling, and the Thunder, +Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage, +Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now +To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. +Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn, +Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. +Seest thou yon dreary Plain, forlorn and wilde, 180 +The seat of desolation, voyd of light, +Save what the glimmering of these livid flames +Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend +>From off the tossing of these fiery waves, +There rest, if any rest can harbour there, +And reassembling our afflicted Powers, +Consult how we may henceforth most offend +Our Enemy, our own loss how repair, +How overcome this dire Calamity, +What reinforcement we may gain from Hope, 190 +If not what resolution from despare. +Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate +With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes +That sparkling blaz'd, his other Parts besides +Prone on the Flood, extended long and large +Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge +As whom the Fables name of monstrous size, +Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr'd on Jove, +Briarios or Typhon, whom the Den +By ancient Tarsus held, or that Sea-beast 200 +Leviathan, which God of all his works +Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream: +Him haply slumbring on the Norway foam +The Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff, +Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell, +With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind +Moors by his side under the Lee, while Night +Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes: +So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay +Chain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thence 210 +Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will +And high permission of all-ruling Heaven +Left him at large to his own dark designs, +That with reiterated crimes he might +Heap on himself damnation, while he sought +Evil to others, and enrag'd might see +How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth +Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn +On Man by him seduc't, but on himself +Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd. 220 +Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool +His mighty Stature; on each hand the flames +Drivn backward slope their pointing spires, & rowld +In billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid Vale. +Then with expanded wings he stears his flight +Aloft, incumbent on the dusky Air +That felt unusual weight, till on dry Land +He lights, if it were Land that ever burn'd +With solid, as the Lake with liquid fire; +And such appear'd in hue, as when the force 230 +Of subterranean wind transports a Hill +Torn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd side +Of thundring Aetna, whose combustible +And fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire, +Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds, +And leave a singed bottom all involv'd +With stench and smoak: Such resting found the sole +Of unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate, +Both glorying to have scap't the Stygian flood +As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, 240 +Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. +Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime, +Said then the lost Arch Angel, this the seat +That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom +For that celestial light? Be it so, since hee +Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid +What shall be right: fardest from him is best +Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream +Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields +Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail 250 +Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell +Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings +A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time. +The mind is its own place, and in it self +Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. +What matter where, if I be still the same, +And what I should be, all but less then hee +Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least +We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built +Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: 260 +Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce +To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: +Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n. +But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, +Th' associates and copartners of our loss +Lye thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool, +And call them not to share with us their part +In this unhappy Mansion, or once more +With rallied Arms to try what may be yet +Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? 270 +So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub +Thus answer'd. Leader of those Armies bright, +Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld, +If once they hear that voyce, their liveliest pledge +Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft +In worst extreams, and on the perilous edge +Of battel when it rag'd, in all assaults +Their surest signal, they will soon resume +New courage and revive, though now they lye +Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire, 280 +As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd, +No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious highth. +He scarce had ceas't when the superiour Fiend +Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield +Ethereal temper, massy, large and round, +Behind him cast; the broad circumference +Hung on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb +Through Optic Glass the Tuscan Artist views +At Ev'ning from the top of Fesole, +Or in Valdarno, to descry new Lands, 290 +Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe. +His Spear, to equal which the tallest Pine +Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the Mast +Of some great Ammiral, were but a wand, +He walkt with to support uneasie steps +Over the burning Marle, not like those steps +On Heavens Azure, and the torrid Clime +Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire; +Knotholes he so endur'd, till on the Beach +Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd 300 +His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't +Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks +In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades +High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge +Afloat, when with fierce Winds Orion arm'd +Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew +Busiris and his Memphian Chivalrie, +While with perfidious hatred they pursu'd +The Sojourners of Goshen, who beheld +>From the safe shore their floating Carkases 310 +And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown +Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood, +Under amazement of their hideous change. +He call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep +Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates, +Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now lost, +If such astonishment as this can sieze +Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place +After the toyl of Battel to repose +Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find 320 +To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n? +Or in this abject posture have ye sworn +To adore the Conquerour? who now beholds +Cherube and Seraph rowling in the Flood +With scatter'd Arms and Ensigns, till anon +His swift pursuers from Heav'n Gates discern +Th' advantage, and descending tread us down +Thus drooping, or with linked Thunderbolts +Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulfe. +Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n. 330 +They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung +Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch +On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, +Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. +Nor did they not perceave the evil plight +In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; +Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd +Innumerable. As when the potent Rod +Of Amrams Son in Egypts evill day +Wav'd round the Coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 340 +Of Locusts, warping on the Eastern Wind, +That ore the Realm of impious Pharoah hung +Like Night, and darken'd all the Land of Nile: +So numberless were those bad Angels seen +Hovering on wing under the Cope of Hell +'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding Fires; +Till, as a signal giv'n, th' uplifted Spear +Of their great Sultan waving to direct +Thir course, in even ballance down they light +On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain; 350 +A multitude, like which the populous North +Pour'd never from her frozen loyns, to pass +Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous Sons +Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread +Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands. +Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band +The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood +Their great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms +Excelling human, Princely Dignities, +And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones; 360 +Though of their Names in heav'nly Records now +Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd +By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life. +Nor had they yet among the Sons of Eve +Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth, +Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man, +By falsities and lyes the greatest part +Of Mankind they corrupted to forsake +God their Creator, and th' invisible +Glory of him, that made them, to transform 370 +Oft to the Image of a Brute, adorn'd +With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold, +And Devils to adore for Deities: +Then were they known to men by various Names, +And various Idols through the Heathen World. +Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who last, +Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch, +At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth +Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, +While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof? 380 +The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell +Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix +Their Seats long after next the Seat of God, +Their Altars by his Altar, Gods ador'd +Among the Nations round, and durst abide +Jehovah thundring out of Sion, thron'd +Between the Cherubim; yea, often plac'd +Within his Sanctuary it self their Shrines, +Abominations; and with cursed things +His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan'd, 390 +And with their darkness durst affront his light. +First Moloch, horrid King besmear'd with blood +Of human sacrifice, and parents tears, +Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud +Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire +To his grim Idol. Him the Ammonite +Worshipt in Rabba and her watry Plain, +In Argob and in Basan, to the stream +Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such +Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 400 +Of Solomon he led by fraud to build +His Temple right against the Temple of God +On that opprobrious Hill, and made his Grove +The pleasant Vally of Hinnom, Tophet thence +And black Gehenna call'd, the Type of Hell. +Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moabs Sons, +>From Aroer to Nebo, and the wild +Of Southmost Abarim; in Hesebon +And Heronaim, Seons Realm, beyond +The flowry Dale of Sibma clad with Vines, 410 +And Eleale to th' Asphaltick Pool. +Peor his other Name, when he entic'd +Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile +To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. +Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd +Even to that Hill of scandal, by the Grove +Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate; +Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. +With these came they, who from the bordring flood +Of old Euphrates to the Brook that parts 420 +Egypt from Syrian ground, had general Names +Of Baalim and Ashtaroth, those male, +These Feminine. For Spirits when they please +Can either Sex assume, or both; so soft +And uncompounded is their Essence pure, +Not ti'd or manacl'd with joynt or limb, +Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, +Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose +Dilated or condens't, bright or obscure, +Can execute their aerie purposes, 430 +And works of love or enmity fulfill. +For those the Race of Israel oft forsook +Their living strength, and unfrequented left +His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down +To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low +Bow'd down in Battel, sunk before the Spear +Of despicable foes. With these in troop +Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd +Astarte, Queen of Heav'n, with crescent Horns; +To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon 440 +Sidonian Virgins paid their Vows and Songs, +In Sion also not unsung, where stood +Her Temple on th' offensive Mountain, built +By that uxorious King, whose heart though large, +Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses, fell +To Idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, +Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd +The Syrian Damsels to lament his fate +In amorous dittyes all a Summers day, +While smooth Adonis from his native Rock 450 +Ran purple to the Sea, suppos'd with blood +Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the Love-tale +Infected Sions daughters with like heat, +Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch +Ezekiel saw, when by the Vision led +His eye survay'd the dark Idolatries +Of alienated Judah. Next came one +Who mourn'd in earnest, when the Captive Ark +Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopt off +In his own Temple, on the grunsel edge, 460 +Where he fell flat, and sham'd his Worshipers: +Dagon his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man +And downward Fish: yet had his Temple high +Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the Coast +Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, +And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. +Him follow'd Rimmon, whose delightful Seat +Was fair Damascus, on the fertil Banks +Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. +He also against the house of God was bold: 470 +A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King, +Ahaz his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew +Gods Altar to disparage and displace +For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn +His odious offrings, and adore the Gods +Whom he had vanquisht. After these appear'd +A crew who under Names of old Renown, +Osiris, Isis, Orus and their Train +With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd +Fanatic Egypt and her Priests, to seek 480 +Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms +Rather then human. Nor did Israel scape +Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd +The Calf in Oreb: and the Rebel King +Doubl'd that sin in Bethel and in Dan, +Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox, +Jehovah, who in one Night when he pass'd +>From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke +Both her first born and all her bleating Gods. +Belial came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd 490 +Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love +Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood +Or Altar smoak'd; yet who more oft then hee +In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest +Turns Atheist, as did Ely's Sons, who fill'd +With lust and violence the house of God. +In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns +And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse +Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs, +And injury and outrage: And when Night 500 +Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons +Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. +Witness the Streets of Sodom, and that night +In Gibeah, when hospitable Dores +Yielded thir Matrons to prevent worse rape. +These were the prime in order and in might; +The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, +Th' Ionian Gods, of Javans Issue held +Gods, yet confest later then Heav'n and Earth +Thir boasted Parents; Titan Heav'ns first born 510 +With his enormous brood, and birthright seis'd +By younger Saturn, he from mightier Jove +His own and Rhea's Son like measure found; +So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Creet +And Ida known, thence on the Snowy top +Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle Air +Thir highest Heav'n; or on the Delphian Cliff, +Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds +Of Doric Land; or who with Saturn old +Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian Fields, 520 +And ore the Celtic roam'd the utmost Isles. +All these and more came flocking; but with looks +Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appear'd +Obscure som glimps of joy, to have found thir chief +Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost +In loss it self; which on his count'nance cast +Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride +Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore +Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd +Their fainted courage, and dispel'd their fears. 530 +Then strait commands that at the warlike sound +Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard +His mighty Standard; that proud honour claim'd +Azazel as his right, a Cherube tall: +Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld +Th' Imperial Ensign, which full high advanc't +Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind +With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz'd, +Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while +Sonorous mettal blowing Martial sounds: 540 +At which the universal Host upsent +A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond +Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night. +All in a moment through the gloom were seen +Ten thousand Banners rise into the Air +With Orient Colours waving: with them rose +A Forrest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms +Appear'd, and serried Shields in thick array +Of depth immeasurable: Anon they move +In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood 550 +Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as rais'd +To highth of noblest temper Hero's old +Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage +Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd +With dread of death to flight or foul retreat, +Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage +With solemn touches, troubl'd thoughts, and chase +Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain +>From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they +Breathing united force with fixed thought 560 +Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes that charm'd +Thir painful steps o're the burnt soyle; and now +Advanc't in view they stand, a horrid Front +Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise +Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield, +Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief +Had to impose: He through the armed Files +Darts his experienc't eye, and soon traverse +The whole Battalion views, thir order due, +Thir visages and stature as of Gods, 570 +Thir number last he summs. And now his heart +Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength +Glories: For never since created man, +Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these +Could merit more then that small infantry +Warr'd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood +Of Phlegra with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd +That fought at Theb's and Ilium, on each side +Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds +In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son 580 +Begirt with British and Armoric Knights; +And all who since, Baptiz'd or Infidel +Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban, +Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, +Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore +When Charlemain with all his Peerage fell +By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond +Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd +Thir dread Commander: he above the rest +In shape and gesture proudly eminent 590 +Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost +All her Original brightness, nor appear'd +Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess +Of Glory obscur'd: As when the Sun new ris'n +Looks through the Horizontal misty Air +Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon +In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds +On half the Nations, and with fear of change +Perplexes Monarchs. Dark'n'd so, yet shon +Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face 600 +Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care +Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes +Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride +Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast +Signs of remorse and passion to behold +The fellows of his crime, the followers rather +(Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd +For ever now to have their lot in pain, +Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't +Of Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung 610 +For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood, +Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire +Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines, +With singed top their stately growth though bare +Stands on the blasted Heath. He now prepar'd +To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend +>From Wing to Wing, and half enclose him round +With all his Peers: attention held them mute. +Thrice he assayd, and thrice in spite of scorn, +Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 620 +Words interwove with sighs found out their way. +O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers +Matchless, but with th' Almighty, and that strife +Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, +As this place testifies, and this dire change +Hateful to utter: but what power of mind +Foreseeing or presaging, from the Depth +Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd, +How such united force of Gods, how such +As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 630 +For who can yet beleeve, though after loss, +That all these puissant Legions, whose exile +Hath emptied Heav'n, shall faile to re-ascend +Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat. +For me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n, +If counsels different, or danger shun'd +By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns +Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one secure +Sat on his Throne, upheld by old repute, +Consent or custome, and his Regal State 640 +Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd, +Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. +Henceforth his might we know, and know our own +So as not either to provoke, or dread +New warr, provok't; our better part remains +To work in close design, by fraud or guile +What force effected not: that he no less +At length from us may find, who overcomes +By force, hath overcome but half his foe. +Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife 650 +There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long +Intended to create, and therein plant +A generation, whom his choice regard +Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven: +Thither, if but to prie, shall be perhaps +Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere: +For this Infernal Pit shall never hold +Caelestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abysse +Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts +Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird, 660 +For who can think Submission? Warr then, Warr +Open or understood must be resolv'd. +He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew +Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs +Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze +Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd +Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's +Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war, +Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n. +There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top 670 +Belch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire +Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign +That in his womb was hid metallic Ore, +The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed +A numerous Brigad hasten'd. As when bands +Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe arm'd +Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field, +Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on, +Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell +>From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks and thoughts 680 +Were always downward bent, admiring more +The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold, +Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'd +In vision beatific: by him first +Men also, and by his suggestion taught, +Ransack'd the Center, and with impious hands +Rifl'd the bowels of thir mother Earth +For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew +Op'nd into the Hill a spacious wound +And dig'd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire 690 +That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best +Deserve the pretious bane. And here let those +Who boast in mortal things, and wondring tell +Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings, +Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame, +And Strength and Art are easily outdone +By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour +What in an age they with incessant toyle +And hands innumerable scarce perform +Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar'd, 700 +That underneath had veins of liquid fire +Sluc'd from the Lake, a second multitude +With wondrous Art founded the massie Ore, +Severing each kinde, and scum'd the Bullion dross: +A third as soon had form'd within the ground +A various mould, and from the boyling cells +By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook, +As in an Organ from one blast of wind +To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths. +Anon out of the earth a Fabrick huge 710 +Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound +Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet, +Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round +Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid +With Golden Architrave; nor did there want +Cornice or Freeze, with bossy Sculptures grav'n, +The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babilon, +Nor great Alcairo such magnificence +Equal'd in all thir glories, to inshrine +Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat 720 +Thir Kings, when Aegypt with Assyria strove +In wealth and luxurie. Th' ascending pile +Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores +Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide +Within, her ample spaces, o're the smooth +And level pavement: from the arched roof +Pendant by suttle Magic many a row +Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed +With Naphtha and Asphaltus yeilded light +As from a sky. The hasty multitude 730 +Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise +And some the Architect: his hand was known +In Heav'n by many a Towred structure high, +Where Scepter'd Angels held thir residence, +And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King +Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, +Each in his Herarchie, the Orders bright. +Nor was his name unheard or unador'd +In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land +Men call'd him Mulciber; and how he fell 740 +>From Heav'n, they fabl'd, thrown by angry Jove +Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn +To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve, +A Summers day; and with the setting Sun +Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, +On Lemnos th' Aegaean Ile: thus they relate, +Erring; for he with this rebellious rout +Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now +To have built in Heav'n high Towrs; nor did he scape +By all his Engins, but was headlong sent 750 +With his industrious crew to build in hell. +Mean while the winged Haralds by command +Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony +And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim +A solemn Councel forthwith to be held +At Pandaemonium, the high Capital +Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call'd +>From every and Band squared Regiment +By place or choice the worthiest; they anon +With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 760 +Attended: all access was throng'd, the Gates +And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall +(Though like a cover'd field, where Champions bold +Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair +Defi'd the best of Panim chivalry +To mortal combat or carreer with Lance) +Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air, +Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees +In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides, +Poure forth thir populous youth about the Hive 770 +In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers +Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank, +The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel, +New rub'd with Baume, expatiate and confer +Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd +Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n, +Behold a wonder! they but now who seemd +In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons +Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room +Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race 780 +Beyond the Indian Mount, or Faerie Elves, +Whose midnight Revels, by a Forrest side +Or Fountain fome belated Peasant sees, +Or dreams he sees, while over head the Moon +Sits Arbitress, and neerer to the Earth +Wheels her pale course, they on thir mirth & dance +Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear; +At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. +Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms +Reduc'd thir shapes immense, and were at large, 790 +Though without number still amidst the Hall +Of that infernal Court. But far within +And in thir own dimensions like themselves +The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim +In close recess and secret conclave sat +A thousand Demy-Gods on golden seat's, +Frequent and full. After short silence then +And summons read, the great consult began. + +Notes: +504, 505 hospitable Dores Yielded thir Matrons] the hospitable +door Expos'd a Matron 1674. +530 fainted] fa(i)nting 1674. +703 founded] found out 1674. +737 Herarchie] Hierarchie 1674. + +The End Of The First Book. + + + +BOOK II. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +The Consultation begun, Satan debates whether another Battel +be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: some advise it, +others dissuade: A third proposal is prefer'd, mention'd before +by Satan, to search the truth of that Prophesie or Tradition in +Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature +equal or much inferiour to themselves, about this time to be +created: Thir doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: +Satan thir cheif undertakes alone the voyage, is honourd and +applauded. The Councel thus ended, the rest betake them +several wayes and to several imployments, as thir inclinations +lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on +his Journey to Hell Gates, finds them shut, and who sat there to +guard them, by whom at length they are op'nd, and discover to +him the great Gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what +difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos the Power of +that place, to the sight of this new World which he sought. + +Note: who shall be sent] who should be sent 1669. + + +High on a Throne of Royal State, which far +Outshon the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, +Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand +Showrs on her Kings Barbaric Pearl & Gold, +Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd +To that bad eminence; and from despair +Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires +Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue +Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught +His proud imaginations thus displaid. 10 +Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n, +For since no deep within her gulf can hold +Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall'n, +I give not Heav'n for lost. From this descent +Celestial vertues rising, will appear +More glorious and more dread then from no fall, +And trust themselves to fear no second fate: +Mee though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n +Did first create your Leader, next, free choice, +With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight, 20 +Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss +Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more +Establisht in a safe unenvied Throne +Yielded with full consent. The happier state +In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw +Envy from each inferior; but who here +Will envy whom the highest place exposes +Formost to stand against the Thunderers aime +Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share +Of endless pain? where there is then no good 30 +For which to strive, no strife can grow up there +>From Faction; for none sure will claim in hell +Precedence, none, whose portion is so small +Of present pain, that with ambitious mind +Will covet more. With this advantage then +To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord, +More then can be in Heav'n, we now return +To claim our just inheritance of old, +Surer to prosper then prosperity +Could have assur'd us; and by what best way, 40 +Whether of open Warr or covert guile, +We now debate; who can advise, may speak. +He ceas'd, and next him Moloc, Scepter'd King +Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit +That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair: +His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd +Equal in strength, and rather then be less +Car'd not to be at all; with that care lost +Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse +He reckd not, and these words thereafter spake. 50 +My sentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles, +More unexpert, I boast not: them let those +Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. +For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, +Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait +The Signal to ascend, sit lingring here +Heav'ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place +Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame, +The Prison of his Tyranny who Reigns +By our delay? no, let us rather choose 60 +Arm'd with Hell flames and fury all at once +O're Heav'ns high Towrs to force resistless way, +Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms +Against the Torturer; when to meet the noise +Of his Almighty Engin he shall hear +Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see +Black fire and horror shot with equal rage +Among his Angels; and his Throne it self +Mixt with Tartarean Sulphur, and strange fire, +His own invented Torments. But perhaps 70 +The way seems difficult and steep to scale +With upright wing against a higher foe. +Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench +Of that forgetful Lake benumme not still, +That in our proper motion we ascend +Up to our native seat: descent and fall +To us is adverse. Who but felt of late +When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear +Insulting, and pursu'd us through the Deep, +With what compulsion and laborious flight 80 +We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easie then; +Th' event is fear'd; should we again provoke +Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find +To our destruction: if there be in Hell +Fear to be worse destroy'd: what can be worse +Then to dwell here, driv'n out from bliss, condemn'd +In this abhorred deep to utter woe; +Where pain of unextinguishable fire +Must exercise us without hope of end +The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge 90 +Inexorably, and the torturing houre +Calls us to Penance? More destroy'd then thus +We should be quite abolisht and expire. +What fear we then? what doubt we to incense +His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd, +Will either quite consume us, and reduce +To nothing this essential, happier farr +Then miserable to have eternal being: +Or if our substance be indeed Divine, +And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 100 +On this side nothing; and by proof we feel +Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n, +And with perpetual inrodes to Allarme, +Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne: +Which if not Victory is yet Revenge. +He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd +Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous +To less then Gods. On th' other side up rose +Belial, in act more graceful and humane; +A fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd 110 +For dignity compos'd and high exploit: +But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue +Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear +The better reason, to perplex and dash +Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low; +To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds +Timorous and slothful: yet he pleas'd the eare, +And with perswasive accent thus began. +I should be much for open Warr, O Peers, +As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd 120 +Main reason to perswade immediate Warr, +Did not disswade me most, and seem to cast +Ominous conjecture on the whole success: +When he who most excels in fact of Arms, +In what he counsels and in what excels +Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair +And utter dissolution, as the scope +Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. +First, what Revenge? the Towrs of Heav'n are fill'd +With Armed watch, that render all access 130 +Impregnable; oft on the bordering Deep +Encamp thir Legions, or with obscure wing +Scout farr and wide into the Realm of night, +Scorning surprize. Or could we break our way +By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise +With blackest Insurrection, to confound +Heav'ns purest Light, yet our great Enemie +All incorruptible would on his Throne +Sit unpolluted, and th' Ethereal mould +Incapable of stain would soon expel 140 +Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire +Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope +Is flat despair: we must exasperate +Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage, +And that must end us, that must be our cure, +To be no more; sad cure; for who would loose, +Though full of pain, this intellectual being, +Those thoughts that wander through Eternity, +To perish rather, swallowd up and lost +In the wide womb of uncreated night, 150 +Devoid of sense and motion? and who knows, +Let this be good, whether our angry Foe +Can give it, or will ever? how he can +Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. +Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, +Belike through impotence, or unaware, +To give his Enemies thir wish, and end +Them in his anger, whom his anger saves +To punish endless? wherefore cease we then? +Say they who counsel Warr, we are decreed, 160 +Reserv'd and destin'd to Eternal woe; +Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, +What can we suffer worse? is this then worst, +Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in Arms? +What when we fled amain, pursu'd and strook +With Heav'ns afflicting Thunder, and besought +The Deep to shelter us? this Hell then seem'd +A refuge from those wounds: or when we lay +Chain'd on the burning Lake? that sure was worse. +What if the breath that kindl'd those grim fires 170 +Awak'd should blow them into sevenfold rage +And plunge us in the Flames? or from above +Should intermitted vengeance Arme again +His red right hand to plague us? what if all +Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament +Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire, +Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall +One day upon our heads; while we perhaps +Designing or exhorting glorious Warr, +Caught in a fierie Tempest shall be hurl'd 180 +Each on his rock transfixt, the sport and prey +Of racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk +Under yon boyling Ocean, wrapt in Chains; +There to converse with everlasting groans, +Unrespited, unpitied, unrepreevd, +Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse. +Warr therefore, open or conceal'd, alike +My voice disswades; for what can force or guile +With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye +Views all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth 190 +All these our motions vain, sees and derides; +Not more Almighty to resist our might +Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. +Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n +Thus trampl'd, thus expell'd to suffer here +Chains and these Torments? better these then worse +By my advice; since fate inevitable +Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree, +The Victors will. To suffer, as to doe, +Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust 200 +That so ordains: this was at first resolv'd, +If we were wise, against so great a foe +Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. +I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold +And vent'rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear +What yet they know must follow, to endure +Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain, +The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now +Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, +Our Supream Foe in time may much remit 210 +His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd +Not mind us not offending, satisfi'd +With what is punish't; whence these raging fires +Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames. +Our purer essence then will overcome +Thir noxious vapour, or enur'd not feel, +Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd +In temper and in nature, will receive +Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; +This horror will grow milde, this darkness light, 220 +Besides what hope the never-ending flight +Of future days may bring, what chance, what change +Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers +For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, +If we procure not to our selves more woe. +Thus Belial with words cloath'd in reasons garb +Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath, +Not peace: and after him thus Mammon spake. +Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n +We warr, if warr be best, or to regain 230 +Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then +May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yeild +To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife: +The former vain to hope argues as vain +The latter: for what place can be for us +Within Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord supream +We overpower? Suppose he should relent +And publish Grace to all, on promise made +Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we +Stand in his presence humble, and receive 240 +Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne +With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing +Forc't Halleluiah's; while he Lordly sits +Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes +Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers, +Our servile offerings. This must be our task +In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom +Eternity so spent in worship paid +To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue +By force impossible, by leave obtain'd 250 +Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state +Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek +Our own good from our selves, and from our own +Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, +Free, and to none accountable, preferring +Hard liberty before the easie yoke +Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear +Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, +Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse +We can create, and in what place so e're 260 +Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain +Through labour and endurance. This deep world +Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst +Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire +Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur'd, +And with the Majesty of darkness round +Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar +Must'ring thir rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell? +As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light +Imitate when we please? This Desart soile 270 +Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold; +Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise +Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more? +Our torments also may in length of time +Become our Elements, these piercing Fires +As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd +Into their temper; which must needs remove +The sensible of pain. All things invite +To peaceful Counsels, and the settl'd State +Of order, how in safety best we may 280 +Compose our present evils, with regard +Of what we are and where, dismissing quite +All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise. +He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld +Th' Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain +The sound of blustring winds, which all night long +Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull +Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance +Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay +After the Tempest: Such applause was heard 290 +As Mammon ended, and his Sentence pleas'd, +Advising peace: for such another Field +They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear +Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael +Wrought still within them; and no less desire +To found this nether Empire, which might rise +By pollicy, and long process of time, +In emulation opposite to Heav'n. +Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, then whom, +Satan except, none higher sat, with grave 300 +Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd +A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven +Deliberation sat and publick care; +And Princely counsel in his face yet shon, +Majestick though in ruin: sage he stood +With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear +The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look +Drew audience and attention still as Night +Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake. +Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n, 310 +Ethereal Vertues; or these Titles now +Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd +Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote +Inclines, here to continue, and build up here +A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream, +And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd +This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat +Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt +>From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League +Banded against his Throne, but to remaine 320 +In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, +Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd +His captive multitude: For he, be sure, +In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign +Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part +By our revolt, but over Hell extend +His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule +Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n. +What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr? +Warr hath determin'd us, and foild with loss 330 +Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none +Voutsaf't or sought; for what peace will be giv'n +To us enslav'd, but custody severe, +And stripes, and arbitrary punishment +Inflicted? and what peace can we return, +But to our power hostility and hate, +Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow, +Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least +May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce +In doing what we most in suffering feel? 340 +Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need +With dangerous expedition to invade +Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege, +Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find +Some easier enterprize? There is a place +(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n +Err not) another World, the happy seat +Of som new Race call'd Man, about this time +To be created like to us, though less +In power and excellence, but favour'd more 350 +Of him who rules above; so was his will +Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath, +That shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd. +Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn +What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, +Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power, +And where thir weakness, how attempted best, +By force or suttlety: Though Heav'n be shut, +And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure +In his own strength, this place may lye expos'd 360 +The utmost border of his Kingdom, left +To their defence who hold it: here perhaps +Som advantagious act may be achiev'd +By sudden onset, either with Hell fire +To waste his whole Creation, or possess +All as our own, and drive as we were driven, +The punie habitants, or if not drive, +Seduce them to our Party, that thir God +May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand +Abolish his own works. This would surpass 370 +Common revenge, and interrupt his joy +In our Confusion, and our Joy upraise +In his disturbance; when his darling Sons +Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse +Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss, +Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth +Attempting, or to sit in darkness here +Hatching vain Empires. Thus Beelzebub +Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd +By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 380 +But from the Author of all ill could Spring +So deep a malice, to confound the race +Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell +To mingle and involve, done all to spite +The great Creatour? But thir spite still serves +His glory to augment. The bold design +Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy +Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full assent +They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews. +Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390 +Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, +Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep +Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate, +Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view +Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms +And opportune excursion we may chance +Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some milde Zone +Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns fair Light +Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam +Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air, 400 +To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires +Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send +In search of this new world, whom shall we find +Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet +The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss +And through the palpable obscure find out +His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight +Upborn with indefatigable wings +Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive +The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then 410 +Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe +Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick +Of Angels watching round? Here he had need +All circumspection, and we now no less +Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send, +The weight of all and our last hope relies. +This said, he sat; and expectation held +His look suspence, awaiting who appeer'd +To second, or oppose, or undertake +The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, 420 +Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each +In others count'nance red his own dismay +Astonisht: none among the choice and prime +Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found +So hardie as to proffer or accept +Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last +Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd +Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride +Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake. +O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones, 430 +With reason hath deep silence and demurr +Seis'd us, though undismaid: long is the way +And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light; +Our prison strong, this huge convex of Fire, +Outrageous to devour, immures us round +Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant +Barr'd over us prohibit all egress. +These past, if any pass, the void profound +Of unessential Night receives him next +Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being 440 +Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf. +If thence he scape into what ever world, +Or unknown Region, what remains him less +Then unknown dangers and as hard escape. +But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers, +And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd +With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd +And judg'd of public moment, in the shape +Of difficulty or danger could deterre +Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 450 +These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign, +Refusing to accept as great a share +Of hazard as of honour, due alike +To him who Reigns, and so much to him due +Of hazard more, as he above the rest +High honourd sits? Go therfore mighty powers, +Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, +While here shall be our home, what best may ease +The present misery, and render Hell +More tollerable; if there be cure or charm 460 +To respite or deceive, or slack the pain +Of this ill Mansion: intermit no watch +Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad +Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek +Deliverance for us all: this enterprize +None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose +The Monarch, and prevented all reply, +Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd +Others among the chief might offer now +(Certain to be refus'd) what erst they feard; 470 +And so refus'd might in opinion stand +His rivals, winning cheap the high repute +Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they +Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice +Forbidding; and at once with him they rose; +Thir rising all at once was as the sound +Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend +With awful reverence prone; and as a God +Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n: +Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 480 +That for the general safety he despis'd +His own: for neither do the Spirits damn'd +Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast +Thir specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, +Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal. +Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark +Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief: +As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds +Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread +Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element 490 +Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or showre; +If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet +Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive, +The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds +Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings. +O shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd +Firm concord holds, men onely disagree +Of Creatures rational, though under hope +Of heavenly Grace: and God proclaiming peace, +Yet live in hatred, enmitie, and strife 500 +Among themselves, and levie cruel warres, +Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy: +As if (which might induce us to accord) +Man had not hellish foes anow besides, +That day and night for his destruction waite. +The Stygian Councel thus dissolv'd; and forth +In order came the grand infernal Peers, +Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd +Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less +Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream, 510 +And God-like imitated State; him round +A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd +With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms. +Then of thir Session ended they bid cry +With Trumpets regal sound the great result: +Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim +Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie +By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss +Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell +With deafning shout, return'd them loud acclaim. 520 +Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais'd +By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers +Disband, and wandring, each his several way +Pursues, as inclination or sad choice +Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find +Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain +The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. +Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime +Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, +As at th' Olympian Games or Pythian fields; 530 +Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal +With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form. +As when to warn proud Cities warr appears +Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rush +To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van +Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears +Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms +>From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. +Others with vast Typhoean rage more fell +Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air 540 +In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar. +As when Alcides from Oealia Crown'd +With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore +Through pain up by the roots Thessalian Pines, +And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw +Into th' Euboic Sea. Others more milde, +Retreated in a silent valley, sing +With notes Angelical to many a Harp +Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall +By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate 550 +Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance. +Thir song was partial, but the harmony +(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) +Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment +The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet +(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,) +Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd, +In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high +Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate, +Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 560 +And found no end, in wandring mazes lost. +Of good and evil much they argu'd then, +Of happiness and final misery, +Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame, +Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie: +Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm +Pain for a while or anguish, and excite +Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured brest +With stubborn patience as with triple steel. +Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands, 570 +On bold adventure to discover wide +That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps +Might yeild them easier habitation, bend +Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks +Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge +Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams; +Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate, +Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; +Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud +Heard on the ruful stream; fierce Phlegeton 580 +Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. +Farr off from these a slow and silent stream, +Lethe the River of Oblivion roules +Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks, +Forthwith his former state and being forgets, +Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. +Beyond this flood a frozen Continent +Lies dark and wilde, beat with perpetual storms +Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land +Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 590 +Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, +A gulf profound as that Serbonian Bog +Betwixt Damiata and mount Casius old, +Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air +Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of Fire. +Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd, +At certain revolutions all the damn'd +Are brought: and feel by turns the bitter change +Of fierce extreams, extreams by change more fierce, +>From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice 600 +Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine +Immovable, infixt, and frozen round, +Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire. +They ferry over this Lethean Sound +Both to and fro, thir sorrow to augment, +And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach +The tempting stream, with one small drop to loose +In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, +All in one moment, and so neer the brink; +But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt 610 +Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards +The Ford, and of it self the water flies +All taste of living wight, as once it fled +The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on +In confus'd march forlorn, th' adventrous Bands +With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast +View'd first thir lamentable lot, and found +No rest: through many a dark and drearie Vaile +They pass'd, and many a Region dolorous, +O're many a Frozen, many a Fierie Alpe, 620 +Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens, and shades of death, +A Universe of death, which God by curse +Created evil, for evil only good, +Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, +Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, +Abominable, inutterable, and worse +Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd, +Gorgons and Hydra's, and Chimera's dire. +Mean while the Adversary of God and Man, +Satan with thoughts inflam'd of highest design, 630 +Puts on swift wings, and toward the Gates of Hell +Explores his solitary flight; som times +He scours the right hand coast, som times the left, +Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soares +Up to the fiery concave touring high. +As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd +Hangs in the Clouds, by Aequinoctial Winds +Close sailing from Bengala, or the Iles +Of Ternate and Tidore, whence Merchants bring +Thir spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood 640 +Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape +Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole. So seem'd +Farr off the flying Fiend: at last appeer +Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof, +And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass +Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock, +Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire, +Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there sat +On either side a formidable shape; +The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair, 650 +But ended foul in many a scaly fould +Voluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'd +With mortal sting: about her middle round +A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'd +With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung +A hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep, +If aught disturb'd thir noyse, into her woomb, +And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'd +Within unseen. Farr less abhorrd then these +Vex'd Scylla bathing in the Sea that parts 660 +Calabria from the hoarce Trinacrian shore: +Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'd +In secret, riding through the Air she comes +Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance +With Lapland Witches, while the labouring Moon +Eclipses at thir charms. The other shape, +If shape it might be call'd that shape had none +Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb, +Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, +For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, 670 +Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, +And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his head +The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on. +Satan was now at hand, and from his seat +The Monster moving onward came as fast, +With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode. +Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd, +Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except, +Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd; +And with disdainful look thus first began. 680 +Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, +That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance +Thy miscreated Front athwart my way +To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass, +That be assur'd, without leave askt of thee: +Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, +Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n. +To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd, +Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee, +Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith, till then 690 +Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious Arms +Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons +Conjur'd against the highest, for which both Thou +And they outcast from God, are here condemn'd +To waste Eternal daies in woe and pain? +And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n, +Hell-doomd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, +Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more, +Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment, +False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, 700 +Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue +Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart +Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before. +So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape, +So speaking and so threatning, grew ten fold +More dreadful and deform: on th' other side +Incenc't with indignation Satan stood +Unterrifi'd, and like a Comet burn'd, +That fires the length of Ophiucus huge +In th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair 710 +Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head +Level'd his deadly aime; thir fatall hands +No second stroke intend, and such a frown +Each cast at th' other, as when two black Clouds +With Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling on +Over the Caspian, then stand front to front +Hov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blow +To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air: +So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell +Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood; 720 +For never but once more was either like +To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds +Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, +Had not the Snakie Sorceress that sat +Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key, +Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. +O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, +Against thy only Son? What fury O Son, +Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart +Against thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom; 730 +For him who sits above and laughs the while +At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute +What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids, +His wrath which one day will destroy ye both. +She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest +Forbore, then these to her Satan return'd: +So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange +Thou interposest, that my sudden hand +Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds +What it intends; till first I know of thee, 740 +What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why +In this infernal Vaile first met thou call'st +Me Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son? +I know thee not, nor ever saw till now +Sight more detestable then him and thee. +T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd; +Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem +Now in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fair +In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight +Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd 750 +In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King, +All on a sudden miserable pain +Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm +In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast +Threw forth, till on the left side op'ning wide, +Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, +Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd +Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seis'd +All th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraid +At first, and call'd me Sin, and for a Sign 760 +Portentous held me; but familiar grown, +I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won +The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft +Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing +Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st +With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd +A growing burden. Mean while Warr arose, +And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind +(For what could else) to our Almighty Foe +Cleer Victory, to our part loss and rout 770 +Through all the Empyrean: down they fell +Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down +Into this Deep, and in the general fall +I also; at which time this powerful Key +Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep +These Gates for ever shut, which none can pass +Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat +Alone, but long I sat not, till my womb +Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown +Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 780 +At last this odious offspring whom thou seest +Thine own begotten, breaking violent way +Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain +Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew +Transform'd: but he my inbred enemie +Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart +Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death; +Hell trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'd +>From all her Caves, and back resounded Death. +I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems, 790 +Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far, +Me overtook his mother all dismaid, +And in embraces forcible and foule +Ingendring with me, of that rape begot +These yelling Monsters that with ceasless cry +Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'd +And hourly born, with sorrow infinite +To me, for when they list into the womb +That bred them they return, and howle and gnaw +My Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth 800 +Afresh with conscious terrours vex me round, +That rest or intermission none I find. +Before mine eyes in opposition sits +Grim Death my Son and foe, who sets them on, +And me his Parent would full soon devour +For want of other prey, but that he knows +His end with mine involvd; and knows that I +Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane, +When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd. +But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun 810 +His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope +To be invulnerable in those bright Arms, +Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint, +Save he who reigns above, none can resist. +She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his lore +Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth. +Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire, +And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge +Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys +Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 820 +Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know +I come no enemie, but to set free +>From out this dark and dismal house of pain, +Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly Host +Of Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'd +Fell with us from on high: from them I go +This uncouth errand sole, and one for all +My self expose, with lonely steps to tread +Th' unfounded deep, & through the void immense +To search with wandring quest a place foretold 830 +Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now +Created vast and round, a place of bliss +In the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac't +A race of upstart Creatures, to supply +Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd, +Least Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitude +Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught +Then this more secret now design'd, I haste +To know, and this once known, shall soon return, +And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 840 +Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen +Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'd +With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd +Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey. +He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and Death +Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear +His famine should be fill'd, and blest his mawe +Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'd +His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire. +The key of this infernal Pit by due, 850 +And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful King +I keep, by him forbidden to unlock +These Adamantine Gates; against all force +Death ready stands to interpose his dart, +Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might. +But what ow I to his commands above +Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down +Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, +To sit in hateful Office here confin'd, +Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born, 860 +Here in perpetual agonie and pain, +With terrors and with clamors compasst round +Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed: +Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou +My being gav'st me; whom should I obey +But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon +To that new world of light and bliss, among +The Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign +At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems +Thy daughter and thy darling, without end. 870 +Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key, +Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; +And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train, +Forthwith the huge Portcullis high up drew, +Which but her self not all the Stygian powers +Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns +Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar +Of massie Iron or sollid Rock with ease +Unfast'ns: on a sudden op'n flie +With impetuous recoile and jarring sound 880 +Th' infernal dores, and on thir hinges great +Harsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shook +Of Erebus. She op'nd, but to shut +Excel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood, +That with extended wings a Bannerd Host +Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through +With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array; +So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouth +Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame. +Before thir eyes in sudden view appear 890 +The secrets of the hoarie deep, a dark +Illimitable Ocean without bound, +Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth, +And time and place are lost; where eldest Night +And Chaos, Ancestors of Nature, hold +Eternal Anarchie, amidst the noise +Of endless warrs and by confusion stand. +For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierce +Strive here for Maistrie, and to Battel bring +Thir embryon Atoms; they around the flag 900 +Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns, +Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow, +Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the Sands +Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, +Levied to side with warring Winds, and poise +Thir lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, +Hee rules a moment; Chaos Umpire sits, +And by decision more imbroiles the fray +By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter +Chance governs all. Into this wilde Abyss, 910 +The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave, +Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire, +But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt +Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight, +Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain +His dark materials to create more Worlds, +Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiend +Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while, +Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith +He had to cross. Nor was his eare less peal'd 920 +With noises loud and ruinous (to compare +Great things with small) then when Bellona storms, +With all her battering Engines bent to rase +Som Capital City, or less then if this frame +Of Heav'n were falling, and these Elements +In mutinie had from her Axle torn +The stedfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad Vannes +He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoak +Uplifted spurns the ground, thence many a League +As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides 930 +Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets +A vast vacuitie: all unawares +Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops +Ten thousand fadom deep, and to this hour +Down had been falling, had not by ill chance +The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud +Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him +As many miles aloft: that furie stay'd, +Quencht in a Boggie Syrtis, neither Sea, +Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares, 940 +Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, +Half flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile. +As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness +With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale, +Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stelth +Had from his wakeful custody purloind +The guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiend +Ore bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, +With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way, +And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes: 950 +At length a universal hubbub wilde +Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd +Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare +With loudest vehemence: thither he plyes, +Undaunted to meet there what ever power +Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss +Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask +Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes +Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne +Of Chaos, and his dark Pavilion spread 960 +Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'd +Sat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things, +The consort of his Reign; and by them stood +Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name +Of Demogorgon; Rumor next and Chance, +And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild, +And Discord with a thousand various mouths. +T' whom Satan turning boldly, thus. Ye Powers +And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss, +Chaos and Ancient Night, I come no Spie, 970 +With purpose to explore or to disturb +The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint +Wandring this darksome desart, as my way +Lies through your spacious Empire up to light, +Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek +What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds +Confine with Heav'n; or if som other place +>From your Dominion won, th' Ethereal King +Possesses lately, thither to arrive +I travel this profound, direct my course; 980 +Directed, no mean recompence it brings +To your behoof, if I that Region lost, +All usurpation thence expell'd, reduce +To her original darkness and your sway +(Which is my present journey) and once more +Erect the Standerd there of Ancient Night; +Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge. +Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old +With faultring speech and visage incompos'd +Answer'd. I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 990 +That mighty leading Angel, who of late +Made head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown. +I saw and heard, for such a numerous host +Fled not in silence through the frighted deep +With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, +Confusion worse confounded; and Heav'n Gates +Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands +Pursuing. I upon my Frontieres here +Keep residence; if all I can will serve, +That little which is left so to defend 1000 +Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles +Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell +Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath; +Now lately Heaven and Earth, another World +Hung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden Chain +To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell: +If that way be your walk, you have not farr; +So much the neerer danger; goe and speed; +Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain. +He ceas'd; and Satan staid not to reply, 1010 +But glad that now his Sea should find a shore, +With fresh alacritie and force renew'd +Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire +Into the wilde expanse, and through the shock +Of fighting Elements, on all sides round +Environ'd wins his way; harder beset +And more endanger'd, then when Argo pass'd +Through Bosporus betwixt the justling Rocks: +Or when Ulysses on the Larbord shunnd +Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steard. 1020 +So he with difficulty and labour hard +Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee; +But hee once past, soon after when man fell, +Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain +Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n, +Pav'd after him a broad and beat'n way +Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling Gulf +Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length +>From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe +Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 1030 +With easie intercourse pass to and fro +To tempt or punish mortals, except whom +God and good Angels guard by special grace. +But now at last the sacred influence +Of light appears, and from the walls of Heav'n +Shoots farr into the bosom of dim Night +A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins +Her fardest verge, and Chaos to retire +As from her outmost works a brok'n foe +With tumult less and with less hostile din, 1040 +That Satan with less toil, and now with ease +Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light +And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds +Gladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn; +Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air, +Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to behold +Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide +In circuit, undetermind square or round, +With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd +Of living Saphire, once his native Seat; 1050 +And fast by hanging in a golden Chain +This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr +Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon. +Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge, +Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies. + +Notes: +282 where] were 1674. +402 breath] misprint for breathe. +483 thir] her 1674. +527 his] this 1674. +542 Oealia] Oechalia 1674. +631 toward] towards 1674. + +The End Of The Second Book. + + +BOOK III. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +God sitting on his Throne sees Satan flying towards this world, +then newly created; shews him to the Son who sat at his right +hand; foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind; +clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation, having +created Man free and able enough to have withstood his +Tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in +regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him +seduc't. The Son of God renders praises to his father for the +manifestation of his gracious purpose towards Man; God again +declares, that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without +the satisfaction of divine Justice; Man hath offended the majesty +of God by aspiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his +progeny devoted to death must dye, unless some one can be +found sufficient to answer for his offence, and undergoe his +Punishment. The Son of God freely offers himself a Ransome +for Man: the Father accepts him, ordains his incarnation, +pronounces his exaltation above all in Heaven and Earth, +commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, amid +hymning to their Harps in full Quire, celebrate the Father and +the Son.. Mean while Satan alights upon the bare convex of this +Worlds outermost Orb; where wandring he first finds a place +since call'd The Lymbo of Vanity, what persons and things fly +up thither; thence comes to the Gate of Heaven, describ'd +ascending by stairs and the waters above the Firmament that +flow about it: His passage thence to the Orb of the Sun; he finds +there Uriel the Regent of that Orb, but first changes himself into +the shape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous desire to +behold the new Creation and Man whom God had plac't here, +inquires of him the place of his habitation, and is directed; +alights first on Mount Niphates. + +Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born, +Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam +May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, +And never but in unapproached light +Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee, +Bright effluence of bright essence increate. +Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream, +Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun, +Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice +Of God, as with a Mantle didst invest 10 +The rising world of waters dark and deep, +Won from the void and formless infinite. +Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, +Escap't the Stygian Pool, though long detain'd +In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight +Through utter and through middle darkness borne +With other notes then to th' Orphean Lyre +I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night, +Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down +The dark descent, and up to reascend, 20 +Though hard and rare: thee I revisit safe, +And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou +Revisit'st not these eyes, that rowle in vain +To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; +So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs, +Or dim suffusion veild. Yet not the more +Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt +Cleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill, +Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief +Thee Sion and the flowrie Brooks beneath 30 +That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow, +Nightly I visit: nor somtimes forget +Those other two equal'd with me in Fate, +So were I equal'd with them in renown, +Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, +And Tiresias and Phineus Prophets old. +Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move +Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird +Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid +Tunes her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year 40 +Seasons return, but not to me returns +Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn, +Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose, +Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; +But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark +Surrounds me, from the chearful waies of men +Cut off, and for the book of knowledg fair +Presented with a Universal blanc +Of Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd, +And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out. 50 +So much the rather thou Celestial light +Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers +Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence +Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell +Of things invisible to mortal sight. +Now had the Almighty Father from above, +>From the pure Empyrean where he sits +High Thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye, +His own works and their works at once to view: +About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 60 +Stood thick as Starrs, and from his sight receiv'd +Beatitude past utterance; on his right +The radiant image of his Glory sat, +His onely Son; On Earth he first beheld +Our two first Parents, yet the onely two +Of mankind, in the happie Garden plac't, +Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, +Uninterrupted joy, unrivald love +In blissful solitude; he then survey'd +Hell and the Gulf between, and Satan there 70 +Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night +In the dun Air sublime, and ready now +To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet +On the bare outside of this World, that seem'd +Firm land imbosom'd without Firmament, +Uncertain which, in Ocean or in Air. +Him God beholding from his prospect high, +Wherein past, present, future he beholds, +Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake. +Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage 80 +Transports our adversarie, whom no bounds +Prescrib'd, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chains +Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss +Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems +On desperat revenge, that shall redound +Upon his own rebellious head. And now +Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way +Not farr off Heav'n, in the Precincts of light, +Directly towards the new created World, +And Man there plac't, with purpose to assay 90 +If him by force he can destroy, or worse, +By som false guile pervert; and shall pervert; +For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes, +And easily transgress the sole Command, +Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall +Hee and his faithless Progenie: whose fault? +Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of mee +All he could have; I made him just and right, +Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. +Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 100 +And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild; +Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. +Not free, what proof could they have givn sincere +Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love, +Where onely what they needs must do, appeard, +Not what they would? what praise could they receive? +What pleasure I from such obedience paid, +When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice) +Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild, +Made passive both, had servd necessitie, 110 +Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd, +So were created, nor can justly accuse +Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate; +As if Predestination over-rul'd +Thir will, dispos'd by absolute Decree +Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed +Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew, +Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, +Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown. +So without least impulse or shadow of Fate, 120 +Or aught by me immutablie foreseen, +They trespass, Authors to themselves in all +Both what they judge and what they choose; for so +I formd them free, and free they must remain, +Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change +Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree +Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain'd +Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall. +The first sort by thir own suggestion fell, +Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd 130 +By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, +The other none: in Mercy and Justice both, +Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel, +But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine. +Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd +All Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits elect +Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd: +Beyond compare the Son of God was seen +Most glorious, in him all his Father shon +Substantially express'd, and in his face 140 +Divine compassion visibly appeerd, +Love without end, and without measure Grace, +Which uttering thus he to his Father spake. +O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd +Thy sovran sentence, that Man should find grace; +For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extoll +Thy praises, with th' innumerable sound +Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne +Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. +For should Man finally be lost, should Man 150 +Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest Son +Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd +With his own folly? that be from thee farr, +That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge +Of all things made, and judgest onely right. +Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain +His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill +His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught, +Or proud return though to his heavier doom, +Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell 160 +Draw after him the whole Race of mankind, +By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy self +Abolish thy Creation, and unmake, +For him, what for thy glorie thou hast made? +So should thy goodness and thy greatness both +Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence. +To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd. +O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight, +Son of my bosom, Son who art alone +My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 170 +All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all +As my Eternal purpose hath decreed: +Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will, +Yet not of will in him, but grace in me +Freely voutsaft; once more I will renew +His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd +By sin to foul exorbitant desires; +Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand +On even ground against his mortal foe, +By me upheld, that he may know how frail 180 +His fall'n condition is, and to me ow +All his deliv'rance, and to none but me. +Some I have chosen of peculiar grace +Elect above the rest; so is my will: +The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd +Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes +Th' incensed Deitie, while offerd grace +Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark, +What may suffice, and soft'n stonie hearts +To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 190 +To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, +Though but endevord with sincere intent, +Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. +And I will place within them as a guide +My Umpire Conscience, whom if they will hear, +Light after light well us'd they shall attain, +And to the end persisting, safe arrive. +This my long sufferance and my day of grace +They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; +But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more, 200 +That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; +And none but such from mercy I exclude. +But yet all is not don; Man disobeying, +Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinns +Against the high Supremacie of Heav'n, +Affecting God-head, and so loosing all, +To expiate his Treason hath naught left, +But to destruction sacred and devote, +He with his whole posteritie must die, +Die hee or Justice must; unless for him 210 +Som other able, and as willing, pay +The rigid satisfaction, death for death. +Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love, +Which of ye will be mortal to redeem +Mans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save, +Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare? +He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute, +And silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalf +Patron or Intercessor none appeerd, +Much less that durst upon his own head draw 220 +The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. +And now without redemption all mankind +Must have bin lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell +By doom severe, had not the Son of God, +In whom the fulness dwels of love divine, +His dearest mediation thus renewd. +Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace; +And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, +The speediest of thy winged messengers, +To visit all thy creatures, and to all 230 +Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought, +Happie for man, so coming; he her aide +Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost; +Attonement for himself or offering meet, +Indebted and undon, hath none to bring: +Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life +I offer, on mee let thine anger fall; +Account mee man; I for his sake will leave +Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee +Freely put off, and for him lastly die 240 +Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage; +Under his gloomie power I shall not long +Lie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess +Life in my self for ever, by thee I live, +Though now to Death I yeild, and am his due +All that of me can die, yet that debt paid, +Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave +His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soule +For ever with corruption there to dwell; +But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue 250 +My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile; +Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop +Inglorious, of his mortall sting disarm'd. +I through the ample Air in Triumph high +Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show +The powers of darkness bound. Thou at the sight +Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, +While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes, +Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave: +Then with the multitude of my redeemd 260 +Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne, +Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud +Of anger shall remain, but peace assur'd, +And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more +Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire. +His words here ended, but his meek aspect +Silent yet spake, and breath'd immortal love +To mortal men, above which only shon +Filial obedience: as a sacrifice +Glad to be offer'd, he attends the will 270 +Of his great Father. Admiration seis'd +All Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tend +Wondring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd: +O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peace +Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou +My sole complacence! well thou know'st how dear, +To me are all my works, nor Man the least +Though last created, that for him I spare +Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, +By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost. 280 +Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme, +Thir Nature also to thy Nature joyne; +And be thy self Man among men on Earth, +Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed, +By wondrous birth: Be thou in Adams room +The Head of all mankind, though Adams Son. +As in him perish all men, so in thee +As from a second root shall be restor'd, +As many as are restor'd, without thee none. +His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit 290 +Imputed shall absolve them who renounce +Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, +And live in thee transplanted, and from thee +Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, +Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die, +And dying rise, and rising with him raise +His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life. +So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate, +Giving to death, and dying to redeeme, +So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate 300 +So easily destroy'd, and still destroyes +In those who, when they may, accept not grace. +Nor shalt thou by descending to assume +Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne. +Because thou hast, though Thron'd in highest bliss +Equal to God, and equally enjoying +God-like fruition, quitted all to save +A World from utter loss, and hast been found +By Merit more then Birthright Son of God, +Found worthiest to be so by being Good, 310 +Farr more then Great or High; because in thee +Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds, +Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt +With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne; +Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt Reigne +Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, +Anointed universal King; all Power +I give thee, reign for ever, and assume +Thy Merits; under thee as Head Supream +Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce: 320 +All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide +In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell; +When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n +Shalt in the Skie appeer, and from thee send +The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime +Thy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Windes +The living, and forthwith the cited dead +Of all past Ages to the general Doom +Shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep. +Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge 330 +Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sink +Beneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full, +Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while +The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring +New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell +And after all thir tribulations long +See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, +With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth. +Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by, +For regal Scepter then no more shall need, 340 +God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods, +Adore him, who to compass all this dies, +Adore the Son, and honour him as mee. +No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all +The multitude of Angels with a shout +Loud as from numbers without number, sweet +As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung +With Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's fill'd +Th' eternal Regions: lowly reverent +Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground 350 +With solemn adoration down they cast +Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold, +Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once +In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life +Began to bloom, but soon for mans offence +To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows, +And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life, +And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn +Rowls o're Elisian Flours her Amber stream; +With these that never fade the Spirits Elect 360 +Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams, +Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright +Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon +Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd. +Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took, +Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side +Like Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet +Of charming symphonie they introduce +Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high; +No voice exempt, no voice but well could joine 370 +Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n. +Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent, +Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, +Eternal King; thee Author of all being, +Fountain of Light, thy self invisible +Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st +Thron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st +The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud +Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine, +Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer, 380 +Yet dazle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim +Approach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes. +Thee next they sang of all Creation first, +Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, +In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud +Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines, +Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee +Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides, +Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests. +Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein 390 +By thee created, and by thee threw down +Th' aspiring Dominations: thou that day +Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare, +Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels, that shook +Heav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're the necks +Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid. +Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime +Thee only extold, Son of thy Fathers might, +To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, +Not so on Man; him through their malice fall'n, 400 +Father of Mercie and Grace, thou didst not doome +So strictly, but much more to pitie encline: +No sooner did thy dear and onely Son +Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man +So strictly, but much more to pitie enclin'd, +He to appease thy wrauth, and end the strife +Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd, +Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee sat +Second to thee, offerd himself to die +For mans offence. O unexampl'd love, 410 +Love no where to be found less then Divine! +Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy Name +Shall be the copious matter of my Song +Henceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praise +Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine. +Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear, +Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent. +Mean while upon the firm opacous Globe +Of this round World, whose first convex divides +The luminous inferior Orbs, enclos'd 420 +>From Chaos and th' inroad of Darkness old, +Satan alighted walks: a Globe farr off +It seem'd, now seems a boundless Continent +Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night +Starless expos'd, and ever-threatning storms +Of Chaos blustring round, inclement skie; +Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'n +Though distant farr som small reflection gaines +Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud: +Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field. 430 +As when a Vultur on Imaus bred, +Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds, +Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey +To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids +On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs +Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; +But in his way lights on the barren plaines +Of Sericana, where Chineses drive +With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light: +So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend 440 +Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey, +Alone, for other Creature in this place +Living or liveless to be found was none, +None yet, but store hereafter from the earth +Up hither like Aereal vapours flew +Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin +With vanity had filld the works of men: +Both all things vain, and all who in vain things +Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame, +Or happiness in this or th' other life; 450 +All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits +Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal, +Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find +Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds; +All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, +Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, +Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, +Till final dissolution, wander here, +Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd; +Those argent Fields more likely habitants, 460 +Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold +Betwixt th' Angelical and Human kinde: +Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born +First from the ancient World those Giants came +With many a vain exploit, though then renownd: +The builders next of Babel on the Plain +Of Sennaar, and still with vain designe +New Babels, had they wherewithall, would build: +Others came single; hee who to be deemd +A God, leap'd fondly into Aetna flames, 470 +Empedocles, and hee who to enjoy +Plato's Elysium, leap'd into the Sea, +Cleombrotus, and many more too long, +Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers +White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie. +Here Pilgrims roam, that stray'd so farr to seek +In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heav'n; +And they who to be sure of Paradise +Dying put on the weeds of Dominic, +Or in Franciscan think to pass disguis'd; 480 +They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixt, +And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs +The Trepidation talkt, and that first mov'd; +And now Saint Peter at Heav'ns Wicket seems +To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot +Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe +A violent cross wind from either Coast +Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry +Into the devious Air; then might ye see +Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost 490 +And flutterd into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads, +Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, +The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft +Fly o're the backside of the World farr off +Into a Limbo large and broad, since calld +The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown +Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod; +All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd, +And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame +Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste 500 +His travell'd steps; farr distant hee descries +Ascending by degrees magnificent +Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high, +At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd +The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate +With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold +Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes +The Portal shon, inimitable on Earth +By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn. +The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 510 +Angels ascending and descending, bands +Of Guardians bright, when he from Esau fled +To Padan-aram in the field of Luz, +Dreaming by night under the open Skie, +And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav'n. +Each Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood +There alwaies, but drawn up to Heav'n somtimes +Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flow'd +Of Jasper, or of liquid Pearle, whereon +Who after came from Earth, sayling arriv'd, 520 +Wafted by Angels, or flew o're the Lake +Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds. +The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare +The Fiend by easie ascent, or aggravate +His sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss. +Direct against which op'nd from beneath, +Just o're the blissful seat of Paradise, +A passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide, +Wider by farr then that of after-times +Over Mount Sion, and, though that were large, 530 +Over the Promis'd Land to God so dear, +By which, to visit oft those happy Tribes, +On high behests his Angels to and fro +Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard +>From Paneas the fount of Jordans flood +To Beersaba, where the Holy Land +Borders on Aegypt and the Arabian shoare; +So wide the op'ning seemd, where bounds were set +To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave. +Satan from hence now on the lower stair 540 +That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate +Looks down with wonder at the sudden view +Of all this World at once. As when a Scout +Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone +All night; at last by break of chearful dawne +Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill, +Which to his eye discovers unaware +The goodly prospect of some forein land +First-seen, or some renownd Metropolis +With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd, 550 +Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams. +Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen, +The Spirit maligne, but much more envy seis'd +At sight of all this World beheld so faire. +Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood +So high above the circling Canopie +Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point +Of Libra to the fleecie Starr that bears +Andromeda farr off Atlantick Seas +Beyond th' Horizon; then from Pole to Pole 560 +He views in bredth, and without longer pause +Down right into the Worlds first Region throws +His flight precipitant, and windes with ease +Through the pure marble Air his oblique way +Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon +Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds, +Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles, +Like those Hesperian Gardens fam'd of old, +Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales, +Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there 570 +He stayd not to enquire: above them all +The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven +Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends +Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe +By center, or eccentric, hard to tell, +Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie +Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick, +That from his Lordly eye keep distance due, +Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move +Thir Starry dance in numbers that compute 580 +Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing Lamp +Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd +By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms +The Univers, and to each inward part +With gentle penetration, though unseen, +Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep: +So wondrously was set his Station bright. +There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps +Astronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe +Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw. 590 +The place he found beyond expression bright, +Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone; +Not all parts like, but all alike informd +Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire; +If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer; +If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite, +Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon +In Aarons Brest-plate, and a stone besides +Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen, +That stone, or like to that which here below 600 +Philosophers in vain so long have sought, +In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde +Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound +In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea, +Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme. +What wonder then if fields and regions here +Breathe forth Elixir pure, and Rivers run +Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch +Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote +Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixt 610 +Here in the dark so many precious things +Of colour glorious and effect so rare? +Here matter new to gaze the Devil met +Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands, +For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, +But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon +Culminate from th' Aequator, as they now +Shot upward still direct, whence no way round +Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire, +No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray 620 +To objects distant farr, whereby he soon +Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand, +The same whom John saw also in the Sun: +His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid; +Of beaming sunnie Raies, a golden tiar +Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind +Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings +Lay waving round; on som great charge imploy'd +Hee seemd, or fixt in cogitation deep. +Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope 630 +To find who might direct his wandring flight +To Paradise the happie seat of Man, +His journies end and our beginning woe. +But first he casts to change his proper shape, +Which else might work him danger or delay: +And now a stripling Cherube he appeers, +Not of the prime, yet such as in his face +Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb +Sutable grace diffus'd, so well he feignd; +Under a Coronet his flowing haire 640 +In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore +Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold, +His habit fit for speed succinct, and held +Before his decent steps a Silver wand. +He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, +Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd, +Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known +Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seav'n +Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne +Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes 650 +That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth +Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, +O're Sea and Land: him Satan thus accostes; +Uriel, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand +In sight of God's high Throne, gloriously bright, +The first art wont his great authentic will +Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, +Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend; +And here art likeliest by supream decree +Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye 660 +To visit oft this new Creation round; +Unspeakable desire to see, and know +All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, +His chief delight and favour, him for whom +All these his works so wondrous he ordaind, +Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim +Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell +In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man +His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, +But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell; 670 +That I may find him, and with secret gaze, +Or open admiration him behold +On whom the great Creator hath bestowd +Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd; +That both in him and all things, as is meet, +The Universal Maker we may praise; +Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes +To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss +Created this new happie Race of Men +To serve him better: wise are all his wayes. 680 +So spake the false dissembler unperceivd; +For neither Man nor Angel can discern +Hypocrisie, the only evil that walks +Invisible, except to God alone, +By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth: +And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps +At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie +Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill +Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd +Uriel, though Regent of the Sun, and held 690 +The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n; +Who to the fraudulent Impostor foule +In his uprightness answer thus returnd. +Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know +The works of God, thereby to glorifie +The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess +That reaches blame, but rather merits praise +The more it seems excess, that led thee hither +>From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone, +To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps 700 +Contented with report heare onely in heav'n: +For wonderful indeed are all his works, +Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all +Had in remembrance alwayes with delight; +But what created mind can comprehend +Thir number, or the wisdom infinite +That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep. +I saw when at his Word the formless Mass, +This worlds material mould, came to a heap: +Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar 710 +Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd; +Till at his second bidding darkness fled, +Light shon, and order from disorder sprung: +Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then +The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire, +And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav'n +Flew upward, spirited with various forms, +That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs +Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; +Each had his place appointed, each his course, 720 +The rest in circuit walles this Universe. +Look downward on that Globe whose hither side +With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; +That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light +His day, which else as th' other Hemisphere +Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon +(So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide +Timely interposes, and her monthly round +Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n; +With borrowd light her countenance triform 730 +Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth, +And in her pale dominion checks the night. +That spot to which I point is Paradise, +Adams abode, those loftie shades his Bowre. +Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. +Thus said, he turnd, and Satan bowing low, +As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, +Where honour due and reverence none neglects, +Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, +Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, 740 +Throws his steep flight with many an Aerie wheele, +Nor staid, till on Niphates top he lights. + +The End Of The Third Book. + + + +BOOK IV. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he +must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone +against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and +many passions, fear, envy, and despare; but at length confirms +himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward +prospect and scituation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits +in the shape of a Cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the +Garden to look about him. The Garden describ'd; Satans first +sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at thir excellent form and +happy state but with resolution to work thir fall; overhears thir +discourse, thence gathers that the Tree of knowledge was +forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon +intends to found his temptation, by seducing them to transgress: +then leaves them a while. to know further of thir state by some +other means. Mean while Uriel descending on a Sun-beam +warns Gabriel, who had in charge the Gate of Paradise, that +some evil spirit had escap'd the Deep, and past at Noon by his +Sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, +discovered after by his furious gestures in the Mount. Gabriel +promises to find him out ere morning. Night coming on, Adam +and Eve discourse of going to thir rest: thir Bower describ'd; +thir Evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night- +watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong +Angels to Adams Bower, least the evill spirit should be there +doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him +at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, +though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom question'd. he scornfully +answers, prepares resistance, but hinder'd by a Sign from +Heaven, flies out of Paradise. + +O For that warning voice, which he who saw +Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud, +Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, +Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, +Wo To The Inhabitants On Earth! that now, +While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd +The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd +Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now +Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, +The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind, 10 +To wreck on innocent frail man his loss +Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell: +Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold, +Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, +Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth +Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest, +And like a devillish Engine back recoiles +Upon himself; horror and doubt distract +His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom stirr +The Hell within him, for within him Hell 20 +He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell +One step no more then from himself can fly +By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair +That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie +Of what he was, what is, and what must be +Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. +Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view +Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad, +Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun, +Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre: 30 +Then much revolving, thus in sighs began. +O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd, +Look'st from thy sole Dominion like the God +Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs +Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call, +But with no friendly voice, and add thy name +O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams +That bring to my remembrance from what state +I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; +Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down 40 +Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King: +Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return +>From me, whom he created what I was +In that bright eminence, and with his good +Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. +What could be less then to afford him praise, +The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, +How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, +And wrought but malice; lifted up so high +I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher 50 +Would set me highest, and in a moment quit +The debt immense of endless gratitude, +So burthensome, still paying, still to ow; +Forgetful what from him I still receivd, +And understood not that a grateful mind +By owing owes not, but still pays, at once +Indebted and dischargd; what burden then? +O had his powerful Destiny ordaind +Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood +Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60 +Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power +As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean +Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great +Fell not, but stand unshak'n, from within +Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. +Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand? +Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, +But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all? +Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate, +To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 70 +Nay curs'd be thou; since against his thy will +Chose freely what it now so justly rues. +Me miserable! which way shall I flie +Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire? +Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell; +And in the lowest deep a lower deep +Still threatning to devour me opens wide, +To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n. +O then at last relent: is there no place +Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? 80 +None left but by submission; and that word +Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame +Among the spirits beneath, whom I seduc'd +With other promises and other vaunts +Then to submit, boasting I could subdue +Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know +How dearly I abide that boast so vaine, +Under what torments inwardly I groane; +While they adore me on the Throne of Hell, +With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd 90 +The lower still I fall, onely Supream +In miserie; such joy Ambition findes. +But say I could repent and could obtaine +By Act of Grace my former state; how soon +Would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay +What feign'd submission swore: ease would recant +Vows made in pain, as violent and void. +For never can true reconcilement grow +Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep: +Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 100 +And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare +Short intermission bought with double smart. +This knows my punisher; therefore as farr +>From granting hee, as I from begging peace: +All hope excluded thus, behold in stead +Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight, +Mankind created, and for him this World. +So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear, +Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost; +Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least 110 +Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold +By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne; +As Man ere long, and this new World shall know. +Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face +Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair, +Which marrd his borrow'd visage, and betraid +Him counterfet, if any eye beheld. +For heav'nly mindes from such distempers foule +Are ever cleer. Whereof hee soon aware, +Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calme, 120 +Artificer of fraud; and was the first +That practisd falshood under saintly shew, +Deep malice to conceale, couch't with revenge: +Yet not anough had practisd to deceive +Uriel once warnd; whose eye pursu'd him down +The way he went, and on th' Assyrian mount +Saw him disfigur'd, more then could befall +Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce +He markd and mad demeanour, then alone, +As he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen. 130 +So on he fares, and to the border comes +Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, +Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green, +As with a rural mound the champain head +Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides +With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde, +Access deni'd; and over head up grew +Insuperable highth of loftiest shade, +Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm, +A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend 140 +Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre +Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops +The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung: +Which to our general Sire gave prospect large +Into his neather Empire neighbouring round. +And higher then that Wall a circling row +Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit, +Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue +Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt: +On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams 150 +Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow, +When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd +That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire +Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires +Vernal delight and joy, able to drive +All sadness but despair: now gentle gales +Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense +Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole +Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile +Beyond the Cape Of Hope, and now are past 160 +Mozambic, off at Sea North-East windes blow +Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare +Of Arabie the blest, with such delay +Well pleas'd they slack thir course, and many a League +Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. +So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend +Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd +Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume, +That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse +Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent 170 +>From Media post to Aegypt, there fast bound. +Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill +Satan had journied on, pensive and slow; +But further way found none, so thick entwin'd, +As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth +Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext +All path of Man or Beast that past that way: +One Gate there onely was, and that look'd East +On th' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw +Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, 180 +At one slight bound high overleap'd all bound +Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within +Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe, +Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, +Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve +In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure, +Leaps o're the fence with ease into the Fould: +Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash +Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores, +Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, 190 +In at the window climbes, or o're the tiles; +So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould: +So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe. +Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life, +The middle Tree and highest there that grew, +Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life +Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death +To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought +Of that life-giving Plant, but only us'd +For prospect, what well us'd had bin the pledge 200 +Of immortalitie. So little knows +Any, but God alone, to value right +The good before him, but perverts best things +To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use. +Beneath him with new wonder now he views +To all delight of human sense expos'd +In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more, +A Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise +Of God the Garden was, by him in the East +Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line 210 +>From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs +Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings, +Or where the Sons of Eden long before +Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile +His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind; +Out of the fertil ground he caus'd to grow +All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; +And all amid them stood the Tree of Life, +High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit +Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life 220 +Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by, +Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill. +Southward through Eden went a River large, +Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggie hill +Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown +That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd +Upon the rapid current, which through veins +Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn, +Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill +Waterd the Garden; thence united fell 230 +Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood, +Which from his darksom passage now appeers, +And now divided into four main Streams, +Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme +And Country whereof here needs no account, +But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, +How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks, +Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold, +With mazie error under pendant shades +Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 240 +Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art +In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon +Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine, +Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote +The open field, and where the unpierc't shade +Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place, +A happy rural seat of various view; +Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme, +Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde +Hung amiable, Hesperian Fables true, 250 +If true, here onely, and of delicious taste: +Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks +Grasing the tender herb, were interpos'd, +Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap +Of som irriguous Valley spread her store, +Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose: +Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves +Of coole recess, o're which the mantling Vine +Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps +Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall 260 +Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake, +That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd, +Her chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams. +The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires, +Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune +The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan +Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance +Led on th' Eternal Spring. Not that faire field +Of Enna, where Proserpin gathring flours +Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie Dis 270 +Was gatherd, which cost Ceres all that pain +To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove +Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd +Castalian Spring might with this Paradise +Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian Ile +Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham, +Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, +Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son +Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rhea's eye; +Nor where Abassin Kings thir issue Guard, 280 +Mount Amara, though this by som suppos'd +True Paradise under the Ethiop Line +By Nilus head, enclos'd with shining Rock, +A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote +>From this Assyrian Garden, where the Fiend +Saw undelighted all delight, all kind +Of living Creatures new to sight and strange: +Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, +Godlike erect, with native Honour clad +In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all, 290 +And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine +The image of thir glorious Maker shon, +Truth, Wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure, +Severe, but in true filial freedom plac't; +Whence true autoritie in men; though both +Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd; +For contemplation hee and valour formd, +For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace, +Hee for God only, shee for God in him: +His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd 300 +Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks +Round from his parted forelock manly hung +Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: +Shee as a vail down to the slender waste +Her unadorned golden tresses wore +Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav'd +As the Vine curles her tendrils, which impli'd +Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, +And by her yeilded, by him best receivd, +Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride, 310 +And sweet reluctant amorous delay. +Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald, +Then was not guiltie shame, dishonest shame +Of natures works, honor dishonorable, +Sin-bred, how have ye troubl'd all mankind +With shews instead, meer shews of seeming pure, +And banisht from mans life his happiest life, +Simplicitie and spotless innocence. +So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight +Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: 320 +So hand in hand they passd, the lovliest pair +That ever since in loves imbraces met, +Adam the goodliest man of men since borne +His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters Eve. +Under a tuft of shade that on a green +Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side +They sat them down, and after no more toil +Of thir sweet Gardning labour then suffic'd +To recommend coole Zephyr, and made ease +More easie, wholsom thirst and appetite 330 +More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell, +Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughes +Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline +On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours: +The savourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde +Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; +Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles +Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems +Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League, +Alone as they. About them frisking playd 340 +All Beasts of th' Earth, since wilde, and of all chase +In Wood or Wilderness, Forrest or Den; +Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw +Dandl'd the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards +Gambold before them, th' unwieldy Elephant +To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreathd +His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly +Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine +His breaded train, and of his fatal guile +Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 350 +Coucht, and now fild with pasture gazing sat, +Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun +Declin'd was hasting now with prone carreer +To th' Ocean Iles, and in th' ascending Scale +Of Heav'n the Starrs that usher Evening rose: +When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, +Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad. +O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold, +Into our room of bliss thus high advanc't +Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 360 +Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright +Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue +With wonder, and could love, so lively shines +In them Divine resemblance, and such grace +The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd. +Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh +Your change approaches, when all these delights +Will vanish and deliver ye to woe, +More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; +Happie, but for so happie ill secur'd 370 +Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav'n +Ill fenc't for Heav'n to keep out such a foe +As now is enterd; yet no purpos'd foe +To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne +Though I unpittied: League with you I seek, +And mutual amitie so streight, so close, +That I with you must dwell, or you with me +Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please +Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such +Accept your Makers work; he gave it me, 380 +Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfould, +To entertain you two, her widest Gates, +And send forth all her Kings; there will be room, +Not like these narrow limits, to receive +Your numerous ofspring; if no better place, +Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge +On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd. +And should I at your harmless innocence +Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just, +Honour and Empire with revenge enlarg'd, 390 +By conquering this new World, compels me now +To do what else though damnd I should abhorre. +So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie, +The Tyrants plea, excus'd his devilish deeds. +Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree +Down he alights among the sportful Herd +Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one, +Now other, as thir shape servd best his end +Neerer to view his prey, and unespi'd +To mark what of thir state he more might learn 400 +By word or action markt: about them round +A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare, +Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd +In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play, +Strait couches close, then rising changes oft +His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground +Whence rushing he might surest seise them both +Grip't in each paw: when Adam first of men +To first of women Eve thus moving speech, +Turnd him all eare to heare new utterance flow. 410 +Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes, +Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power +That made us, and for us this ample World +Be infinitly good, and of his good +As liberal and free as infinite, +That rais'd us from the dust and plac't us here +In all this happiness, who at his hand +Have nothing merited, nor can performe +Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires +>From us no other service then to keep 420 +This one, this easie charge, of all the Trees +In Paradise that beare delicious fruit +So various, not to taste that onely Tree +Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life, +So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is, +Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst +God hath pronounc't it death to taste that Tree, +The only sign of our obedience left +Among so many signes of power and rule +Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n 430 +Over all other Creatures that possesse +Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard +One easie prohibition, who enjoy +Free leave so large to all things else, and choice +Unlimited of manifold delights: +But let us ever praise him, and extoll +His bountie, following our delightful task +To prune these growing Plants, & tend these Flours, +Which were it toilsom, yet with thee were sweet. +To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom 440 +And from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh, +And without whom am to no end, my Guide +And Head, what thou hast said is just and right. +For wee to him indeed all praises owe, +And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy +So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee +Preeminent by so much odds, while thou +Like consort to thy self canst no where find. +That day I oft remember, when from sleep +I first awak't, and found my self repos'd 450 +Under a shade on flours, much wondring where +And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. +Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound +Of waters issu'd from a Cave and spread +Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd +Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went +With unexperienc't thought, and laid me downe +On the green bank, to look into the cleer +Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie. +As I bent down to look, just opposite, 460 +A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd +Bending to look on me, I started back, +It started back, but pleasd I soon returnd, +Pleas'd it returnd as soon with answering looks +Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt +Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, +Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest, +What there thou seest fair Creature is thy self, +With thee it came and goes: but follow me, +And I will bring thee where no shadow staies 470 +Thy coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee +Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy +Inseparablie thine, to him shalt beare +Multitudes like thy self, and thence be call'd +Mother of human Race: what could I doe, +But follow strait, invisibly thus led? +Till I espi'd thee, fair indeed and tall, +Under a Platan, yet methought less faire, +Less winning soft, less amiablie milde, +Then that smooth watry image; back I turnd, 480 +Thou following cryd'st aloud, Return fair Eve, +Whom fli'st thou? whom thou fli'st, of him thou art, +His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent +Out of my side to thee, neerest my heart +Substantial Life, to have thee by my side +Henceforth an individual solace dear; +Part of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim +My other half: with that thy gentle hand +Seisd mine, I yeilded, and from that time see +How beauty is excelld by manly grace 490 +And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. +So spake our general Mother, and with eyes +Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, +And meek surrender, half imbracing leand +On our first Father, half her swelling Breast +Naked met his under the flowing Gold +Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight +Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms +Smil'd with superior Love, as Jupiter +On Juno smiles, when he impregns the Clouds 500 +That shed May Flowers; and press'd her Matron lip +With kisses pure: aside the Devil turnd +For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne +Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind. +Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two +Imparadis't in one anothers arms +The happier Eden, shall enjoy thir fill +Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust, +Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, +Among our other torments not the least, 510 +Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines; +Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd +>From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems: +One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge call'd, +Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidd'n? +Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir Lord +Envie them that? can it be sin to know, +Can it be death? and do they onely stand +By Ignorance, is that thir happie state, +The proof of thir obedience and thir faith? 520 +O fair foundation laid whereon to build +Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds +With more desire to know, and to reject +Envious commands, invented with designe +To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt +Equal with Gods; aspiring to be such, +They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? +But first with narrow search I must walk round +This Garden, and no corner leave unspi'd; +A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530 +Some wandring Spirit of Heav'n, by Fountain side, +Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw +What further would be learnt. Live while ye may, +Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return, +Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed. +So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd, +But with sly circumspection, and began +Through wood, through waste, o're hil, o're dale his roam. +Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heav'n +With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun 540 +Slowly descended, and with right aspect +Against the eastern Gate of Paradise +Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock +Of Alablaster, pil'd up to the Clouds, +Conspicuous farr, winding with one ascent +Accessible from Earth, one entrance high; +The rest was craggie cliff, that overhung +Still as it rose, impossible to climbe. +Betwixt these rockie Pillars Gabriel sat +Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night; 550 +About him exercis'd Heroic Games +Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand +Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares +Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold. +Thither came Uriel, gliding through the Eeven +On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr +In Autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd +Impress the Air, and shews the Mariner +>From what point of his Compass to beware +Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste. 560 +Gabriel, to thee thy cours by Lot hath giv'n +Charge and strict watch that to this happie place +No evil thing approach or enter in; +This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare +A Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know +More of th' Almighties works, and chiefly Man +Gods latest Image: I describ'd his way +Bent all on speed, and markt his Aerie Gate; +But in the Mount that lies from Eden North, +Where he first lighted, soon discernd his looks 570 +Alien from Heav'n, with passions foul obscur'd: +Mine eye pursu'd him still, but under shade +Lost sight of him; one of the banisht crew +I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise +New troubles; him thy care must be to find. +To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd: +Uriel, no wonder if thy perfet sight, +Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst, +See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pass +The vigilance here plac't, but such as come 580 +Well known from Heav'n; and since Meridian hour +No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort, +So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds +On purpose, hard thou knowst it to exclude +Spiritual substance with corporeal barr. +But if within the circuit of these walks +In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom +Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know. +So promis'd hee, and Uriel to his charge +Returnd on that bright beam, whose point now raisd 590 +Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fall'n +Beneath th' Azores; whither the prime Orb, +Incredible how swift, had thither rowl'd +Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth +By shorter flight to th' East, had left him there +Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold +The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend: +Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray +Had in her sober Liverie all things clad; +Silence accompanied, for Beast and Bird, 600 +They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests +Were slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale; +She all night long her amorous descant sung; +Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament +With living Saphirs: Hesperus that led +The starrie Host, rode brightest, till the Moon +Rising in clouded Majestie, at length +Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light, +And o're the dark her Silver Mantle threw. +When Adam thus to Eve: Fair Consort, th' hour 610 +Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest +Mind us of like repose, since God hath set +Labour and rest, as day and night to men +Successive, and the timely dew of sleep +Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines +Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long +Rove idle unimploid, and less need rest; +Man hath his daily work of body or mind +Appointed, which declares his Dignitie, +And the regard of Heav'n on all his waies; 620 +While other Animals unactive range, +And of thir doings God takes no account. +Tomorrow ere fresh Morning streak the East +With first approach of light, we must be ris'n, +And at our pleasant labour, to reform +Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green, +Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown, +That mock our scant manuring, and require +More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth: +Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms, 630 +That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth, +Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; +Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest. +To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd. +My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst +Unargu'd I obey; so God ordains, +God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more +Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise. +With thee conversing I forget all time, +All seasons and thir change, all please alike. 640 +Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, +With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun +When first on this delightful Land he spreads +His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour, +Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth +After soft showers; and sweet the coming on +Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night +With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon, +And these the Gemms of Heav'n, her starrie train: +But neither breath of Morn when she ascends 650 +With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun +On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure, +Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers, +Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night +With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon, +Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet. +But wherfore all night long shine these, for whom +This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? +To whom our general Ancestor repli'd. +Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht Eve, 660 +Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth, +By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land +In order, though to Nations yet unborn, +Ministring light prepar'd, they set and rise; +Least total darkness should by Night regaine +Her old possession, and extinguish life +In Nature and all things, which these soft fires +Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate +Of various influence foment and warme, +Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 670 +Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow +On Earth, made hereby apter to receive +Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray. +These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, +Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, +That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise; +Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth +Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: +All these with ceasless praise his works behold +Both day and night: how often from the steep 680 +Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard +Celestial voices to the midnight air, +Sole, or responsive each to others note +Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands +While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk +With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds +In full harmonic number joind, thir songs +Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. +Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd +On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place 690 +Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he fram'd +All things to mans delightful use; the roofe +Of thickest covert was inwoven shade +Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew +Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side +Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub +Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour, +Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin +Rear'd high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought +Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, 700 +Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay +Broiderd the ground, more colour'd then with stone +Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here +Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none; +Such was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower +More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd, +Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph, +Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess +With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs +Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed, 710 +And heav'nly Quires the Hymenaean sung, +What day the genial Angel to our Sire +Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, +More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods +Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like +In sad event, when to the unwiser Son +Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd +Mankind with her faire looks, to be aveng'd +On him who had stole Joves authentic fire. +Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720 +Both turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd +The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth & Heav'n +Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe +And starrie Pole: Thou also mad'st the Night, +Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day, +Which we in our appointed work imployd +Have finisht happie in our mutual help +And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss +Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place +For us too large, where thy abundance wants 730 +Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. +But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race +To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll +Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, +And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. +This said unanimous, and other Rites +Observing none, but adoration pure +Which God likes best, into thir inmost bower +Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off +These troublesom disguises which wee wear, 740 +Strait side by side were laid, nor turnd I weene +Adam from his fair Spouse, nor Eve the Rites +Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd: +Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk +Of puritie and place and innocence, +Defaming as impure what God declares +Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all. +Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain +But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? +Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source 750 +Of human ofspring, sole proprietie, +In Paradise of all things common else. +By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men +Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee +Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure, +Relations dear, and all the Charities +Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known. +Farr be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, +Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, +Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets, 760 +Whose Bed is undefil'd and chast pronounc't, +Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd. +Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights +His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings, +Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile +Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard, +Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours +Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal, +Or Serenate, which the starv'd Lover sings +To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 770 +These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept, +And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof +Showrd Roses, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on, +Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek +No happier state, and know to know no more. +Now had night measur'd with her shaddowie Cone +Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault, +And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim +Forth issuing at th' accustomd hour stood armd +To thir night watches in warlike Parade, 780 +When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. +Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the South +With strictest watch; these other wheel the North, +Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part +Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear. +>From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld +That neer him stood, and gave them thus in charge. +Ithuriel and Zephon, with wingd speed +Search through this Garden, leav unsearcht no nook, +But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge, 790 +Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harme. +This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd +Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen +Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd +The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: +Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. +So saying, on he led his radiant Files, +Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct +In search of whom they sought: him there they found +Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve; 800 +Assaying by his Devilish art to reach +The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge +Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams, +Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint +Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arise +Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise +At least distemperd, discontented thoughts, +Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate desires +Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. +Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear 810 +Touch'd lightly; for no falshood can endure +Touch of Celestial temper, but returns +Of force to its own likeness: up he starts +Discoverd and surpriz'd. As when a spark +Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid +Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store +Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine +With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire: +So started up in his own shape the Fiend. +Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd 820 +So sudden to behold the grieslie King; +Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon. +Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell +Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison, and transform'd, +Why satst thou like an enemie in waite +Here watching at the head of these that sleep? +Know ye not then said Satan, filld with scorn, +Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate +For you, there sitting where ye durst not soare; +Not to know mee argues your selves unknown, 830 +The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, +Why ask ye, and superfluous begin +Your message, like to end as much in vain? +To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. +Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, +Or undiminisht brightness, to be known +As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure; +That Glorie then, when thou no more wast good, +Departed from thee, and thou resembl'st now +Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule. 840 +But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account +To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep +This place inviolable, and these from harm. +So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke +Severe in youthful beautie, added grace +Invincible: abasht the Devil stood, +And felt how awful goodness is, and saw +Vertue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pin'd +His loss; but chiefly to find here observd +His lustre visibly impar'd; yet seemd 850 +Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, +Best with the best, the Sender not the sent, +Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn, +Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, +Will save us trial what the least can doe +Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. +The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage; +But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on, +Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie +He held it vain; awe from above had quelld 860 +His heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh +The western point, where those half-rounding guards +Just met, & closing stood in squadron joind +Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief +Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud. +O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet +Hasting this way, and now by glimps discerne +Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, +And with them comes a third of Regal port, +But faded splendor wan; who by his gate 870 +And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, +Not likely to part hence without contest; +Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. +He scarce had ended, when those two approachd +And brief related whom they brought, wher found, +How busied, in what form and posture coucht. +To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. +Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd +To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge +Of others, who approve not to transgress 880 +By thy example, but have power and right +To question thy bold entrance on this place; +Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep, and those +Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss? +To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. +Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise, +And such I held thee; but this question askt +Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain? +Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, +Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt, 890 +And boldly venture to whatever place +Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change +Torment with ease, & soonest recompence +Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; +To thee no reason; who knowst only good, +But evil hast not tri'd: and wilt object +His will who bound us? let him surer barr +His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay +In that dark durance: thus much what was askt. +The rest is true, they found me where they say; 900 +But that implies not violence or harme. +Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd, +Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd. +O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise, +Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew, +And now returns him from his prison scap't, +Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise +Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither +Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd; +So wise he judges it to fly from pain 910 +However, and to scape his punishment. +So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth, +Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight +Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, +Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain +Can equal anger infinite provok't. +But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee +Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them +Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they +Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief, 920 +The first in flight from pain, had'st thou alleg'd +To thy deserted host this cause of flight, +Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. +To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern. +Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, +Insulting Angel, well thou knowst I stood +Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide +The blasting volied Thunder made all speed +And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear. +But still thy words at random, as before, 930 +Argue thy inexperience what behooves +>From hard assaies and ill successes past +A faithful Leader, not to hazard all +Through wayes of danger by himself untri'd. +I therefore, I alone first undertook +To wing the desolate Abyss, and spie +This new created World, whereof in Hell +Fame is not silent, here in hope to find +Better abode, and my afflicted Powers +To settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire; 940 +Though for possession put to try once more +What thou and thy gay Legions dare against; +Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord +High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymne his Throne, +And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight. +To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd. +To say and strait unsay, pretending first +Wise to flie pain, professing next the Spie, +Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't, +Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950 +O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd! +Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? +Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head; +Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd, +Your military obedience, to dissolve +Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power supream? +And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem +Patron of liberty, who more then thou +Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly ador'd +Heav'ns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 960 +To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne? +But mark what I arreede thee now, avant; +Flie thither whence thou fledst: if from this houre +Within these hallowd limits thou appeer, +Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind, +And Seale thee so, as henceforth not to scorne +The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd. +So threatn'd hee, but Satan to no threats +Gave heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd. +Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines, 970 +Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then +Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel +>From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King +Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers, +Us'd to the yoak, draw'st his triumphant wheels +In progress through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd. +While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright +Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes +Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round +With ported Spears, as thick as when a field 980 +Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends +Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind +Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands +Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves +Prove chaff. On th' other side Satan allarm'd +Collecting all his might dilated stood, +Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd: +His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest +Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his graspe +What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds 990 +Might have ensu'd, nor onely Paradise +In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope +Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements +At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne +With violence of this conflict, had not soon +Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray +Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen +Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion signe, +Wherein all things created first he weighd, +The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire 1000 +In counterpoise, now ponders all events, +Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights +The sequel each of parting and of fight; +The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam; +Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. +Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine, +Neither our own but giv'n; what follie then +To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more +Then Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubld now +To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, 1010 +And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign +Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak, +If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew +His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled +Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. + +Notes: +Argument: promises to find him out] promises to find him 1674 +627 walks] walk 1674. +928 The] Thy 1674. + +The End Of The Fourth Book. + + + +BOOK V. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Morning approach't, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome +dream: he likes it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to thir +day labours: Their Morning Hymn at the Door of their Bower. +God to render Man inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him +of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand; +who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail +Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise; his +appearance describ'd, his coming discern'd by Adam afar off +sitting at the door of his Bower; he goes out to meet him, brings +him to his lodge, entertains him with the choycest fruits of +Paradise got together by Eve; their discourse at Table: Raphael +performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his +enemy; relates at Adams request who that enemy is, and how he +came to be so, beginning with his first revolt in Heaven and the +occasion thereof; how he drew his Legions after him to the +parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, +perswading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in Argument +diswades and opposes him, then forsakes him. + +Now Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime +Advancing, sow'd the Earth with Orient Pearle, +When Adam wak't, so customd, for his sleep +Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred, +And temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound +Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, +Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill Matin Song +Of Birds on every bough; so much the more +His wonder was to find unwak'nd Eve +With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek, 10 +As through unquiet rest: he on his side +Leaning half-rais'd, with looks of cordial Love +Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld +Beautie, which whether waking or asleep, +Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice +Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, +Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake +My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, +Heav'ns last best gift, my ever new delight, +Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field 20 +Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring +Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove, +What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed, +How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee +Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet. +Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye +On Adam, whom imbracing, thus she spake. +O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, +My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see +Thy face, and Morn return'd, for I this Night, 30 +Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd, +If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee, +Works of day pass't, or morrows next designe, +But of offence and trouble, which my mind +Knew never till this irksom night; methought +Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk +With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said, +Why sleepst thou Eve? now is the pleasant time, +The cool, the silent, save where silence yields +To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake 40 +Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now reignes +Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light +Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain, +If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes, +Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire, +In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment +Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. +I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; +To find thee I directed then my walk; +And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways 50 +That brought me on a sudden to the Tree +Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seem'd, +Much fairer to my Fancie then by day: +And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood +One shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heav'n +By us oft seen; his dewie locks distill'd +Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd; +And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd, +Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet, +Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despis'd? 60 +Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste? +Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold +Longer thy offerd good, why else set here? +This said he paus'd not, but with ventrous Arme +He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror chil'd +At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold: +But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine, +Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt, +Forbidd'n here, it seems, as onely fit +For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: 70 +And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more +Communicated, more abundant growes, +The Author not impair'd, but honourd more? +Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic Eve, +Partake thou also; happie though thou art, +Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be: +Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods +Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind, +But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes +Ascend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see 80 +What life the Gods live there, and such live thou. +So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, +Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part +Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell +So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought, +Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds +With him I flew, and underneath beheld +The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide +And various: wondring at my flight and change +To this high exaltation; suddenly 90 +My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down, +And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd +To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her Night +Related, and thus Adam answerd sad. +Best Image of my self and dearer half, +The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep +Affects me equally; nor can I like +This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear; +Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, +Created pure. But know that in the Soule 100 +Are many lesser Faculties that serve +Reason as chief; among these Fansie next +Her office holds; of all external things, +Which the five watchful Senses represent, +She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes, +Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames +All what we affirm or what deny, and call +Our knowledge or opinion; then retires +Into her private Cell when Nature rests. +Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes 110 +To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes, +Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams, +Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. +Som such resemblances methinks I find +Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream, +But with addition strange; yet be not sad. +Evil into the mind of God or Man +May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave +No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope +That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream, 120 +Waking thou never wilt consent to do. +Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks +That wont to be more chearful and serene +Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World, +And let us to our fresh imployments rise +Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours +That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells +Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store. +So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard, +But silently a gentle tear let fall 130 +>From either eye, and wip'd them with her haire; +Two other precious drops that ready stood, +Each in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell +Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse +And pious awe, that feard to have offended. +So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste. +But first from under shadie arborous roof, +Soon as they forth were come to open sight +Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen +With wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim, 140 +Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray, +Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East +Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains, +Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began +Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid +In various style, for neither various style +Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise +Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounc't or sung +Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence +Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse, 150 +More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp +To add more sweetness, and they thus began. +These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, +Almightie, thine this universal Frame, +Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then! +Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens +To us invisible or dimly seen +In these thy lowest works, yet these declare +Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine: +Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light, 160 +Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs +And choral symphonies, Day without Night, +Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heav'n, +On Earth joyn all yee Creatures to extoll +Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. +Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night, +If better thou belong not to the dawn, +Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn +With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare +While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime. 170 +Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule, +Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise +In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st, +And when high Noon hast gaind, & when thou fallst. +Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now fli'st +With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies, +And yee five other wandring Fires that move +In mystic Dance not without Song, resound +His praise, who out of Darkness call'd up Light. +Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth 180 +Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run +Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix +And nourish all things, let your ceasless change +Varie to our great Maker still new praise. +Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise +>From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey, +Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold, +In honour to the Worlds great Author rise, +Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie, +Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers, 190 +Rising or falling still advance his praise. +His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow, +Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines, +With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave. +Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow, +Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. +Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds, +That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend, +Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise; +Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk 200 +The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; +Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven, +To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade +Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise. +Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still +To give us onely good; and if the night +Have gathered aught of evil or conceald, +Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark. +So pray'd they innocent, and to thir thoughts +Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm. 210 +On to thir mornings rural work they haste +Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row +Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr +Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check +Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine +To wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines +Her mariageable arms, and with her brings +Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn +His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld +With pittie Heav'ns high King, and to him call'd 220 +Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd +To travel with Tobias, and secur'd +His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid. +Raphael, said hee, thou hear'st what stir on Earth +Satan from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf +Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd +This night the human pair, how he designes +In them at once to ruin all mankind. +Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend +Converse with Adam, in what Bowre or shade 230 +Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd, +To respit his day-labour with repast, +Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, +As may advise him of his happie state, +Happiness in his power left free to will, +Left to his own free Will, his Will though free, +Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware +He swerve not too secure: tell him withall +His danger, and from whom, what enemie +Late falln himself from Heav'n, is plotting now 240 +The fall of others from like state of bliss; +By violence, no, for that shall be withstood, +But by deceit and lies; this let him know, +Least wilfully transgressing he pretend +Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd. +So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld +All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint +After his charge receivd, but from among +Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood +Vaild with his gorgeous wings, up springing light 250 +Flew through the midst of Heav'n; th' angelic Quires +On each hand parting, to his speed gave way +Through all th' Empyreal road; till at the Gate +Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-opend wide +On golden Hinges turning, as by work +Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd. +>From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, +Starr interpos'd, however small he sees, +Not unconform to other shining Globes, +Earth and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crownd 260 +Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass +Of Galileo, less assur'd, observes +Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon: +Or Pilot from amidst the Cyclades +Delos or Samos first appeering kenns +A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight +He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie +Sailes between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing +Now on the polar windes, then with quick Fann +Winnows the buxom Air; till within soare 270 +Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems +A Phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird +When to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's +Bright Temple, to Aegyptian Theb's he flies. +At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise +He lights, and to his proper shape returns +A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade +His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad +Each shoulder broad, came mantling o're his brest +With regal Ornament; the middle pair 280 +Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round +Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold +And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet +Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile +Skie-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's son he stood, +And shook his Plumes, that Heav'nly fragrance filld +The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands +Of Angels under watch; and to his state, +And to his message high in honour rise; +For on som message high they guessd him bound. 290 +Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come +Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe, +And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balme; +A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here +Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will +Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet, +Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss. +Him through the spicie Forrest onward com +Adam discernd, as in the dore he sat +Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun 300 +Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme +Earths inmost womb, more warmth then Adam need; +And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd +For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please +True appetite, and not disrelish thirst +Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream, +Berrie or Grape: to whom thus Adam call'd. +Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold +Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape +Comes this way moving; seems another Morn 310 +Ris'n on mid-noon; som great behest from Heav'n +To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe +This day to be our Guest. But goe with speed, +And what thy stores contain, bring forth and poure +Abundance, fit to honour and receive +Our Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford +Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow +>From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies +Her fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows +More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 320 +To whom thus Eve. Adam, earths hallowd mould, +Of God inspir'd, small store will serve, where store, +All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; +Save what by frugal storing firmness gains +To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: +But I will haste and from each bough and break, +Each Plant & juciest Gourd will pluck such choice +To entertain our Angel guest, as hee +Beholding shall confess that here on Earth +God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heav'n. 330 +So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste +She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent +What choice to chuse for delicacie best, +What order, so contriv'd as not to mix +Tastes, not well joynd, inelegant, but bring +Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change, +Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk +Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds +In India East or West, or middle shoare +In Pontus or the Punic Coast, or where 340 +Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kindes, in coate, +Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell +She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board +Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape +She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes +>From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest +She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold +Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground +With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd. +Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet 350 +His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train +Accompani'd then with his own compleat +Perfections, in himself was all his state, +More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits +On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long +Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold +Dazles the croud, and sets them all agape. +Neerer his presence Adam though not awd, +Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, +As to a superior Nature, bowing low, 360 +Thus said. Native of Heav'n, for other place +None can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain; +Since by descending from the Thrones above, +Those happie places thou hast deignd a while +To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us +Two onely, who yet by sov'ran gift possess +This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre +To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears +To sit and taste, till this meridian heat +Be over, and the Sun more coole decline. 370 +Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde. +Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such +Created, or such place hast here to dwell, +As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n +To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre +Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise +I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge +They came, that like Pomona's Arbour smil'd +With flourets deck't and fragrant smells; but Eve +Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair 380 +Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd +Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove, +Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no vaile +Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme +Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel Haile +Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd +Long after to blest Marie, second Eve. +Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb +Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons +Then with these various fruits the Trees of God 390 +Have heap'd this Table. Rais'd of grassie terf +Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round, +And on her ample Square from side to side +All Autumn pil'd, though Spring and Autumn here +Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; +No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began +Our Authour. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste +These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom +All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends, +To us for food and for delight hath caus'd 400 +The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps +To spiritual Natures; only this I know, +That one Celestial Father gives to all. +To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives +(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part +Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found +No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure +Intelligential substances require +As doth your Rational; and both contain +Within them every lower facultie 410 +Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, +Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, +And corporeal to incorporeal turn. +For know, whatever was created, needs +To be sustaind and fed; of Elements +The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, +Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires +Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon; +Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd +Vapours not yet into her substance turnd. 420 +Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale +>From her moist Continent to higher Orbes. +The Sun that light imparts to all, receives +>From all his alimental recompence +In humid exhalations, and at Even +Sups with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees +Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines +Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn +We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground +Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here 430 +Varied his bounty so with new delights, +As may compare with Heaven; and to taste +Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, +And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly +The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss +Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch +Of real hunger, and concoctive heate +To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires +Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire +Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist 440 +Can turn, or holds it possible to turn +Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold +As from the Mine. Mean while at Table Eve +Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups +With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence +Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, +Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin +Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts +Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousie +Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell. 450 +Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd, +Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose +In Adam, not to let th' occasion pass +Given him by this great Conference to know +Of things above his World, and of thir being +Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he saw +Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms +Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far +Exceeded human, and his wary speech +Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd. 460 +Inhabitant with God, now know I well +Thy favour, in this honour done to man, +Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't +To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, +Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, +As that more willingly thou couldst not seem +At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare? +To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd. +O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom +All things proceed, and up to him return, 470 +If not deprav'd from good, created all +Such to perfection, one first matter all, +Indu'd with various forms, various degrees +Of substance, and in things that live, of life; +But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure, +As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending +Each in thir several active Sphears assignd, +Till body up to spirit work, in bounds +Proportiond to each kind. So from the root +Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 480 +More aerie, last the bright consummate floure +Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit +Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd +To vital Spirits aspire, to animal, +To intellectual, give both life and sense, +Fansie and understanding, whence the soule +Reason receives, and reason is her being, +Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse +Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, +Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 490 +Wonder not then, what God for you saw good +If I refuse not, but convert, as you, +To proper substance; time may come when men +With Angels may participate, and find +No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare: +And from these corporal nutriments perhaps +Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit +Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend +Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice +Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell; 500 +If ye be found obedient, and retain +Unalterably firm his love entire +Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy +Your fill what happiness this happie state +Can comprehend, incapable of more. +To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd. +O favourable spirit, propitious guest, +Well hast thou taught the way that might direct +Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set +>From center to circumference, whereon 510 +In contemplation of created things +By steps we may ascend to God. But say, +What meant that caution joind, If Ye Be Found +Obedient? can wee want obedience then +To him, or possibly his love desert +Who formd us from the dust, and plac'd us here +Full to the utmost measure of what bliss +Human desires can seek or apprehend? +To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth, +Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God; 520 +That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self, +That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. +This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. +God made thee perfet, not immutable; +And good he made thee, but to persevere +He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will +By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate +Inextricable, or strict necessity; +Our voluntarie service he requires, +Not our necessitated, such with him 530 +Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how +Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve +Willing or no, who will but what they must +By Destinie, and can no other choose? +My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand +In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state +Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; +On other surety none; freely we serve. +Because wee freely love, as in our will +To love or not; in this we stand or fall: 540 +And som are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, +And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall +>From what high state of bliss into what woe! +To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words +Attentive, and with more delighted eare +Divine instructer, I have heard, then when +Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills +Aereal Music send: nor knew I not +To be both will and deed created free; +Yet that we never shall forget to love 550 +Our maker, and obey him whose command +Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts +Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst +Hath past in Heav'n, som doubt within me move, +But more desire to hear, if thou consent, +The full relation, which must needs be strange, +Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard; +And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun +Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins +His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n. 560 +Thus Adam made request, and Raphael +After short pause assenting, thus began. +High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men, +Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate +To human sense th' invisible exploits +Of warring Spirits; how without remorse +The ruin of so many glorious once +And perfet while they stood; how last unfould +The secrets of another world, perhaps +Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 570 +This is dispenc't, and what surmounts the reach +Of human sense, I shall delineate so, +By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms, +As may express them best, though what if Earth +Be but the shaddow of Heav'n, and things therein +Each to other like, more then on earth is thought? +As yet this world was not, and Chaos wilde +Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl, where Earth now rests +Upon her Center pois'd, when on a day +(For Time, though in Eternitie, appli'd 580 +To motion, measures all things durable +By present, past, and future) on such day +As Heav'ns great Year brings forth, th' Empyreal Host +Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd, +Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne +Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd +Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright +Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd, +Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare +Streame in the Aire, and for distinction serve 590 +Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees; +Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd +Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love +Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes +Of circuit inexpressible they stood, +Orb within Orb, the Father infinite, +By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son, +Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whose top +Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. +Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light, 600 +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, +Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand. +This day I have begot whom I declare +My onely Son, and on this holy Hill +Him have anointed, whom ye now behold +At my right hand; your Head I him appoint; +And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow +All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord: +Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide +United as one individual Soule 610 +For ever happie: him who disobeyes +Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day +Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls +Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place +Ordaind without redemption, without end. +So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words +All seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all. +That day, as other solem dayes, they spent +In song and dance about the sacred Hill, +Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare 620 +Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles +Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, +Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular +Then most, when most irregular they seem: +And in thir motions harmonie Divine +So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear +Listens delighted. Eevning approachd +(For we have also our Eevning and our Morn, +We ours for change delectable, not need) +Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 630 +Desirous, all in Circles as they stood, +Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd +With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows: +In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold, +Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heav'n. +They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet +Are fill'd, before th' all bounteous King, who showrd +With copious hand, rejoycing in thir joy. +Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd +>From that high mount of God, whence light & shade 640 +Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had changd +To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there +In darker veile) and roseat Dews dispos'd +All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest, +Wide over all the Plain, and wider farr +Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred, +(Such are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng +Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend +By living Streams among the Trees of Life, +Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard, 650 +Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept +Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course +Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne +Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd +Satan, so call him now, his former name +Is heard no more Heav'n; he of the first, +If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power, +In favour and praeeminence, yet fraught +With envie against the Son of God, that day +Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd 660 +Messiah King anointed, could not beare +Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird. +Deep malice thence conceiving & disdain, +Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre +Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd +With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave +Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supream +Contemptuous, and his next subordinate +Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake. +Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close 670 +Thy eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree +Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips +Of Heav'ns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts +Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; +Both waking we were one; how then can now +Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest impos'd; +New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise +In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate +What doubtful may ensue, more in this place +To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 680 +Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief; +Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night +Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste, +And all who under me thir Banners wave, +Homeward with flying march where we possess +The Quarters of the North, there to prepare +Fit entertainment to receive our King +The great Messiah, and his new commands, +Who speedily through all the Hierarchies +Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws. 690 +So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd +Bad influence into th' unwarie brest +Of his Associate; hee together calls, +Or several one by one, the Regent Powers, +Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught, +That the most High commanding, now ere Night, +Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n, +The great Hierarchal Standard was to move; +Tells the suggested cause, and casts between +Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 700 +Or taint integritie; but all obey'd +The wonted signal, and superior voice +Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed +His name, and high was his degree in Heav'n; +His count'nance, as the Morning Starr that guides +The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with lyes +Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host: +Mean while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discernes +Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount +And from within the golden Lamps that burne 710 +Nightly before him, saw without thir light +Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spred +Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes +Were banded to oppose his high Decree; +And smiling to his onely Son thus said. +Son, thou in whom my glory I behold +In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, +Neerly it now concernes us to be sure +Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms +We mean to hold what anciently we claim 720 +Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe +Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne +Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North; +Nor so content, hath in his thought to trie +In battel, what our Power is, or our right. +Let us advise, and to this hazard draw +With speed what force is left, and all imploy +In our defence, lest unawares we lose +This our high place, our Sanctuarie, our Hill. +To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer 730 +Light'ning Divine, ineffable, serene, +Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes +Justly hast in derision, and secure +Laugh'st at thir vain designes and tumults vain, +Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate +Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power +Giv'n me to quell thir pride, and in event +Know whether I be dextrous to subdue +Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n. +So spake the Son, but Satan with his Powers 740 +Farr was advanc't on winged speed, an Host +Innumerable as the Starrs of Night, +Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun +Impearls on every leaf and every flouer. +Regions they pass'd, the mightie Regencies +Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones +In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which +All thy Dominion, Adam, is no more +Then what this Garden is to all the Earth, +And all the Sea, from one entire globose 750 +Stretcht into Longitude; which having pass'd +At length into the limits of the North +They came, and Satan to his Royal seat +High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount +Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs +>From Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold, +The Palace of great Lucifer, (so call +That Structure in the Dialect of men +Interpreted) which not long after, hee +Affecting all equality with God, 760 +In imitation of that Mount whereon +Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heav'n, +The Mountain of the Congregation call'd; +For thither he assembl'd all his Train, +Pretending so commanded to consult +About the great reception of thir King, +Thither to come, and with calumnious Art +Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears. +Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers, +If these magnific Titles yet remain 770 +Not meerly titular, since by Decree +Another now hath to himself ingross't +All Power, and us eclipst under the name +Of King anointed, for whom all this haste +Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here, +This onely to consult how we may best +With what may be devis'd of honours new +Receive him coming to receive from us +Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile, +Too much to one, but double how endur'd, 780 +To one and to his image now proclaim'd? +But what if better counsels might erect +Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke? +Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend +The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust +To know ye right, or if ye know your selves +Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before +By none, and if not equal all, yet free, +Equally free; for Orders and Degrees +Jarr not with liberty, but well consist. 790 +Who can in reason then or right assume +Monarchie over such as live by right +His equals, if in power and splendor less, +In freedome equal? or can introduce +Law and Edict on us, who without law +Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord, +And look for adoration to th' abuse +Of those Imperial Titles which assert +Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve? +Thus farr his bold discourse without controule 800 +Had audience, when among the Seraphim +Abdiel, then whom none with more zeale ador'd +The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd, +Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe +The current of his fury thus oppos'd. +O argument blasphemous, false and proud! +Words which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n +Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate +In place thy self so high above thy Peeres. +Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne 810 +The just Decree of God, pronounc't and sworn, +That to his only Son by right endu'd +With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heav'n +Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due +Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist +Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free, +And equal over equals to let Reigne, +One over all with unsucceeded power. +Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute +With him the points of libertie, who made 820 +Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n +Such as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being? +Yet by experience taught we know how good, +And of our good, and of our dignitie +How provident he is, how farr from thought +To make us less, bent rather to exalt +Our happie state under one Head more neer +United. But to grant it thee unjust, +That equal over equals Monarch Reigne: +Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count, 830 +Or all Angelic Nature joind in one, +Equal to him begotten Son, by whom +As by his Word the mighty Father made +All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n +By him created in thir bright degrees, +Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers +Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur'd, +But more illustrious made, since he the Head +One of our number thus reduc't becomes, 840 +His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done +Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, +And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease +Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son, +While Pardon may be found in time besought. +So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale +None seconded, as out of season judg'd, +Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd +Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus repli'd. +That we were formd then saist thou? & the work 850 +Of secondarie hands, by task transferd +>From Father to his Son? strange point and new! +Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw +When this creation was? rememberst thou +Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? +We know no time when we were not as now; +Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd +By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course +Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature +Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons. 860 +Our puissance is our own, our own right hand +Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try +Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold +Whether by supplication we intend +Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne +Beseeching or besieging. This report, +These tidings carrie to th' anointed King; +And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. +He said, and as the sound of waters deep +Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause 870 +Through the infinite Host, nor less for that +The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone +Encompass'd round with foes, thus answerd bold. +O alienate from God, O spirit accurst, +Forsak'n of all good; I see thy fall +Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd +In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred +Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth +No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke +Of Gods Messiah; those indulgent Laws 880 +Will not be now voutsaf't, other Decrees +Against thee are gon forth without recall; +That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject +Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake +Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise, +Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly +These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrauth +Impendent, raging into sudden flame +Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel +His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 890 +Then who created thee lamenting learne, +When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. +So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found, +Among the faithless, faithful only hee; +Among innumerable false, unmov'd, +Unshak'n, unseduc'd, unterrifi'd +His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale; +Nor number, nor example with him wrought +To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind +Though single. From amidst them forth he passd, 900 +Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind +Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught; +And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd +On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd. + +Notes: +627: Eevning approachd] Eevning now approachd 1674 +636-639: On flours repos'd, and with fresh flourets crown'd + They eate, they drink, and in communion sweet + Quaff immortalitie and joy, secure + Of surfet where full measure onely bounds + Excess, before th'all bounteous King, who showrd 1674. + +The End Of The Fifth Book. + + + +BOOK VI. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent +forth to Battel against Satan and his Angels. The first Fight +describ'd: Satan and his Powers retire under Night: he calls a +Councel, invents devilish Engines, which in the second dayes +Fight put Michael and his Angels to some disorder; But they at +length pulling up Mountains overwhelm'd both the force and +Machins of Satan: Yet the Tumult not so ending, God on the +third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserv'd the +glory of that Victory. Hee in the Power of his Father coming to +the place, and causing all his Legions to stand still on either +side, with his Chariot and Thunder driving into the midst of his +Enemies, pursues them unable to resist towards the wall of +Heaven; which opening, they leap down with horror and +confusion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the +Deep: Messiah returns with triumph to his Father. + +All night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd +Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn, +Wak't by the circling Hours, with rosie hand +Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave +Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne, +Where light and darkness in perpetual round +Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav'n +Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night; +Light issues forth, and at the other dore +Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre 10 +To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might well +Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn +Such as in highest Heav'n, arrayd in Gold +Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night, +Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain +Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright, +Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds +Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: +Warr he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found +Already known what he for news had thought 20 +To have reported: gladly then he mixt +Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd +With joy and acclamations loud, that one +That of so many Myriads fall'n, yet one +Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill +They led him high applauded, and present +Before the seat supream; from whence a voice +>From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard. +Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought +The better fight, who single hast maintaind 30 +Against revolted multitudes the Cause +Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes; +And for the testimonie of Truth hast born +Universal reproach, far worse to beare +Then violence: for this was all thy care +To stand approv'd in sight of God, though Worlds +Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now +Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, +Back on thy foes more glorious to return +Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue 40 +By force, who reason for thir Law refuse, +Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King +Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns. +Goe Michael of Celestial Armies Prince, +And thou in Military prowess next +Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons +Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints +By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight; +Equal in number to that Godless crew +Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms 50 +Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heav'n +Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss, +Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf +Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide +His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall. +So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began +To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl +In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe +Of wrauth awak't: nor with less dread the loud +Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: 60 +At which command the Powers Militant, +That stood for Heav'n, in mighty Quadrate joyn'd +Of Union irresistible, mov'd on +In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound +Of instrumental Harmonie that breath'd +Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds +Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause +Of God and his Messiah. On they move +Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill, +Nor streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides 70 +Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground +Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore +Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind +Of Birds in orderly array on wing +Came summond over Eden to receive +Thir names of thee; so over many a tract +Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a Province wide +Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last +Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd +>From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht 80 +In battailous aspect, and neerer view +Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable +Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng'd, and Shields +Various, with boastful Argument portraid, +The banded Powers of Satan hasting on +With furious expedition; for they weend +That self same day by fight, or by surprize +To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne +To set the envier of his State, the proud +Aspirer, but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain 90 +In the mid way: though strange to us it seemd +At first, that Angel should with Angel warr, +And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet +So oft in Festivals of joy and love +Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire +Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout +Of Battel now began, and rushing sound +Of onset ended soon each milder thought. +High in the midst exalted as a God +Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate 100 +Idol of Majestie Divine, enclos'd +With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields; +Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now +'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left, +A dreadful interval, and Front to Front +Presented stood in terrible array +Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van, +On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd, +Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanc't, +Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; 110 +Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood +Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, +And thus his own undaunted heart explores. +O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest +Should yet remain, where faith and realtie +Remain not; wherfore should not strength & might +There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove +Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable? +His puissance, trusting in th' Almightie's aide, +I mean to try, whose Reason I have tri'd 120 +Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, +That he who in debate of Truth hath won, +Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike +Victor; though brutish that contest and foule, +When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so +Most reason is that Reason overcome. +So pondering, and from his armed Peers +Forth stepping opposite, half way he met +His daring foe, at this prevention more +Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd. 130 +Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht +The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd, +The Throne of God unguarded, and his side +Abandond at the terror of thy Power +Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain +Against th' Omnipotent to rise in Arms; +Who out of smallest things could without end +Have rais'd incessant Armies to defeat +Thy folly; or with solitarie hand +Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow 140 +Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd +Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest +All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith +Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then +To thee not visible, when I alone +Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent +>From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late +How few somtimes may know, when thousands err. +Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance +Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre 150 +Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst +>From flight, seditious Angel, to receave +Thy merited reward, the first assay +Of this right hand provok't, since first that tongue +Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose +A third part of the Gods, in Synod met +Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel +Vigour Divine within them, can allow +Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst +Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 160 +>From me som Plume, that thy success may show +Destruction to the rest: this pause between +(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know; +At first I thought that Libertie and Heav'n +To heav'nly Soules had bin all one; but now +I see that most through sloth had rather serve, +Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song; +Such hast thou arm'd, the Minstrelsie of Heav'n, +Servilitie with freedom to contend, +As both thir deeds compar'd this day shall prove. 170 +To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern repli'd. +Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find +Of erring, from the path of truth remote: +Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name +Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, +Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same, +When he who rules is worthiest, and excells +Them whom he governs. This is servitude, +To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebelld +Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 180 +Thy self not free, but to thy self enthrall'd; +Yet leudly dar'st our ministring upbraid. +Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve +In Heav'n God ever blessed, and his Divine +Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd, +Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while +>From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, +This greeting on thy impious Crest receive. +So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, +Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 190 +On the proud Crest of Satan, that no sight, +Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield +Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge +He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee +His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth +Winds under ground or waters forcing way +Sidelong, had push't a Mountain from his seat +Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis'd +The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see +Thus foil'd thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout, 200 +Presage of Victorie and fierce desire +Of Battel: whereat Michael bid sound +Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav'n +It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung +Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze +The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn'd +The horrid shock: now storming furie rose, +And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now +Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd +Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles 210 +Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise +Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss +Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew, +And flying vaulted either Host with fire. +Sounder fierie Cope together rush'd +Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault +And inextinguishable rage; all Heav'n +Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth +Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when +Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought 220 +On either side, the least of whom could weild +These Elements, and arm him with the force +Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power +Armie against Armie numberless to raise +Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, +Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat; +Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent +>From his strong hold of Heav'n high over-rul'd +And limited thir might; though numberd such +As each divided Legion might have seemd 230 +A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand +A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd +Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert +When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway +Of Battel, open when, and when to close +The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight, +None of retreat, no unbecoming deed +That argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd, +As onely in his arm the moment lay +Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame 240 +Were don, but infinite: for wide was spred +That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground +A standing fight, then soaring on main wing +Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then +Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale +The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day +Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes +No equal, raunging through the dire attack +Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length +Saw where the Sword of Michael smote, and fell'd 250 +Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway +Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down +Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand +He hasted, and oppos'd the rockie Orb +Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield +A vast circumference: At his approach +The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile +Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end +Intestine War in Heav'n, the arch foe subdu'd +Or Captive drag'd in Chains, with hostile frown 260 +And visage all enflam'd first thus began. +Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, +Unnam'd in Heav'n, now plenteous, as thou seest +These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, +Though heaviest by just measure on thy self +And thy adherents: how hast thou disturb'd +Heav'ns blessed peace, and into Nature brought +Miserie, uncreated till the crime +Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instill'd +Thy malice into thousands, once upright 270 +And faithful, now prov'd false. But think not here +To trouble Holy Rest; Heav'n casts thee out +>From all her Confines. Heav'n the seat of bliss +Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. +Hence then, and evil go with thee along +Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell, +Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles, +Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome, +Or som more sudden vengeance wing'd from God +Precipitate thee with augmented paine. 280 +So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus +The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind +Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds +Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these +To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise +Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee +That thou shouldst hope, imperious, & with threats +To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end +The strife which thou call'st evil, but wee style +The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, 290 +Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell +Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, +If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force, +And join him nam'd Almightie to thy aid, +I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh. +They ended parle, and both addrest for fight +Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue +Of Angels, can relate, or to what things +Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift +Human imagination to such highth 300 +Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd, +Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms +Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n. +Now wav'd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire +Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields +Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood +In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd +Where erst was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng, +And left large field, unsafe within the wind +Of such commotion, such as to set forth 310 +Great things by small, If Natures concord broke, +Among the Constellations warr were sprung, +Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne +Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie, +Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound. +Together both with next to Almightie Arme, +Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd +That might determine, and not need repeate, +As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd +In might or swift prevention; but the sword 320 +Of Michael from the Armorie of God +Was giv'n him temperd so, that neither keen +Nor solid might resist that edge: it met +The sword of Satan with steep force to smite +Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid, +But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shar'd +All his right side; then Satan first knew pain, +And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore +The griding sword with discontinuous wound +Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance clos'd 330 +Not long divisible, and from the gash +A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd +Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed, +And all his Armour staind ere while so bright. +Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run +By Angels many and strong, who interpos'd +Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields +Back to his Chariot; where it stood retir'd +>From off the files of warr; there they him laid +Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame 340 +To find himself not matchless, and his pride +Humbl'd by such rebuke, so farr beneath +His confidence to equal God in power. +Yet soon he heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout +Vital in every part, not as frail man +In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines, +Cannot but by annihilating die; +Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound +Receive, no more then can the fluid Aire: +All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, 350 +All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please, +They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size +Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. +Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd +Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, +And with fierce Ensignes pierc'd the deep array +Of Moloc furious King, who him defi'd, +And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound +Threatn'd, nor from the Holie One of Heav'n +Refrein'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon 360 +Down clov'n to the waste, with shatterd Armes +And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing +Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, +Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd, +Vanquish'd Adramelec, and Asmadai, +Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods +Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight, +Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile. +Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy +The Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow 370 +Ariel and Arioc, and the violence +Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew. +I might relate of thousands, and thir names +Eternize here on Earth; but those elect +Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n +Seek not the praise of men: the other sort +In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr, +Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome +Canceld from Heav'n and sacred memorie, +Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 380 +For strength from Truth divided and from Just, +Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise +And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires +Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: +Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome. +And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swerv'd, +With many an inrode gor'd; deformed rout +Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground +With shiverd armour strow'n, and on a heap +Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd 390 +And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld +Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host +Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surpris'd, +Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of paine +Fled ignominious, to such evil brought +By sinne of disobedience, till that hour +Not liable to fear or flight or paine. +Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints +In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc't entire, +Invulnerable, impenitrably arm'd: 400 +Such high advantages thir innocence +Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd, +Not to have disobei'd; in fight they stood +Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd +By wound, though from thir place by violence mov'd. +Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n +Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, +And silence on the odious dinn of Warr: +Under her Cloudie covert both retir'd, +Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field 410 +Michael and his Angels prevalent +Encamping, plac'd in Guard thir Watches round, +Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part +Satan with his rebellious disappeerd, +Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest, +His Potentates to Councel call'd by night; +And in the midst thus undismai'd began. +O now in danger tri'd, now known in Armes +Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare, +Found worthy not of Libertie alone, 420 +Too mean pretense, but what we more affect, +Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne, +Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight, +(And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?) +What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send +Against us from about his Throne, and judg'd +Sufficient to subdue us to his will, +But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, +Of future we may deem him, though till now +Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 430 +Some disadvantage we endur'd and paine, +Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd, +Since now we find this our Empyreal forme +Incapable of mortal injurie +Imperishable, and though peirc'd with wound, +Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd. +Of evil then so small as easie think +The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes, +Weapons more violent, when next we meet, +May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440 +Or equal what between us made the odds, +In Nature none: if other hidden cause +Left them Superiour, while we can preserve +Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound, +Due search and consultation will disclose. +He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood +Nisroc, of Principalities the prime; +As one he stood escap't from cruel fight, +Sore toild, his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn, +And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. 450 +Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free +Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard +For Gods, and too unequal work we find +Against unequal armes to fight in paine, +Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil +Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes +Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain +Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands +Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well +Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460 +But live content, which is the calmest life: +But pain is perfet miserie, the worst +Of evils, and excessive, overturnes +All patience. He who therefore can invent +With what more forcible we may offend +Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme +Our selves with like defence, to mee deserves +No less then for deliverance what we owe. +Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd. +Not uninvented that, which thou aright 470 +Beleivst so main to our success, I bring; +Which of us who beholds the bright surface +Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand, +This continent of spacious Heav'n, adornd +With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold, +Whose Eye so superficially surveyes +These things, as not to mind from whence they grow +Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, +Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht +With Heav'ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth 480 +So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light. +These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep +Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame, +Which into hallow Engins long and round +Thick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fire +Dilated and infuriate shall send forth +>From far with thundring noise among our foes +Such implements of mischief as shall dash +To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands +Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd 490 +The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. +Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne, +Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; +Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind +Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird. +He ended, and his words thir drooping chere +Enlightn'd, and thir languisht hope reviv'd. +Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how hee +To be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemd +Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 500 +Impossible: yet haply of thy Race +In future dayes, if Malice should abound, +Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd +With dev'lish machination might devise +Like instrument to plague the Sons of men +For sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent. +Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, +None arguing stood, innumerable hands +Were ready, in a moment up they turnd +Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath 510 +Th' originals of Nature in thir crude +Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame +They found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art, +Concocted and adusted they reduc'd +To blackest grain, and into store conveyd: +Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth +Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone, +Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls +Of missive ruin; part incentive reed +Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520 +So all ere day spring, under conscious Night +Secret they finish'd, and in order set, +With silent circumspection unespi'd. +Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd +Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms +The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood +Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host, +Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills +Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure, +Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe, 530 +Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, +In motion or in alt: him soon they met +Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow +But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail +Zephiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, +Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd. +Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand, +Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit +This day, fear not his flight; so thick a Cloud +He comes, and settl'd in his face I see 540 +Sad resolution and secure: let each +His Adamantine coat gird well, and each +Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield, +Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down, +If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr, +But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire. +So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon +In order, quit of all impediment; +Instant without disturb they took Allarm, +And onward move Embattelld; when behold 550 +Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe +Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube +Training his devilish Enginrie, impal'd +On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep, +To hide the fraud. At interview both stood +A while, but suddenly at head appeerd +Satan: And thus was heard Commanding loud. +Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould; +That all may see who hate us, how we seek +Peace and composure, and with open brest 560 +Stand readie to receive them, if they like +Our overture, and turn not back perverse; +But that I doubt, however witness Heaven, +Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge +Freely our part: yee who appointed stand +Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch +What we propound, and loud that all may hear. +So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce +Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front +Divided, and to either Flank retir'd. 570 +Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange, +A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid +On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seem'd +Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr +With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd) +Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes +With hideous orifice gap't on us wide, +Portending hollow truce; at each behind +A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed +Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, 580 +Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd, +Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds +Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd +With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, +But soon obscur'd with smoak, all Heav'n appeerd, +>From those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roar +Emboweld with outragious noise the Air, +And all her entrails tore, disgorging foule +Thir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail +Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host 590 +Level'd, with such impetuous furie smote, +That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand, +Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell +By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd; +The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they might +Have easily as Spirits evaded swift +By quick contraction or remove; but now +Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout; +Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files. +What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse 600 +Repeated, and indecent overthrow +Doubl'd, would render them yet more despis'd, +And to thir foes a laughter; for in view +Stood rankt of Seraphim another row +In posture to displode thir second tire +Of Thunder: back defeated to return +They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld thir plight, +And to his Mates thus in derision call'd. +O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud? +Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, 610 +To entertain them fair with open Front +And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms +Of composition, strait they chang'd thir minds, +Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, +As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemd +Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps +For joy of offerd peace: but I suppose +If our proposals once again were heard +We should compel them to a quick result. +To whom thus Belial in like gamesom mood. 620 +Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight, +Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home, +Such as we might perceive amus'd them all, +And stumbl'd many, who receives them right, +Had need from head to foot well understand; +Not understood, this gift they have besides, +They shew us when our foes walk not upright. +So they among themselves in pleasant veine +Stood scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond +All doubt of Victorie, eternal might 630 +To match with thir inventions they presum'd +So easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn, +And all his Host derided, while they stood +A while in trouble; but they stood not long, +Rage prompted them at length, & found them arms +Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. +Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power +Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd) +Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills +(For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n 640 +Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale) +Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew, +>From thir foundations loosning to and fro +They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load, +Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops +Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze, +Be sure, and terrour seis'd the rebel Host, +When coming towards them so dread they saw +The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd, +Till on those cursed Engins triple-row 650 +They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence +Under the weight of Mountains buried deep, +Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads +Main Promontories flung, which in the Air +Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions arm'd, +Thir armor help'd thir harm, crush't in and brus'd +Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain +Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, +Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind +Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 660 +Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. +The rest in imitation to like Armes +Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore; +So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills +Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire, +That under ground they fought in dismal shade; +Infernal noise; Warr seem'd a civil Game +To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt +Upon confusion rose: and now all Heav'n +Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, 670 +Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits +Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure, +Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen +This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd: +That his great purpose he might so fulfill, +To honour his Anointed Son aveng'd +Upon his enemies, and to declare +All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son +Th' Assessor of his Throne he thus began. +Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov'd, 680 +Son in whose face invisible is beheld +Visibly, what by Deitie I am, +And in whose hand what by Decree I doe, +Second Omnipotence, two dayes are past, +Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav'n, +Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame +These disobedient; sore hath been thir fight, +As likeliest was, when two such Foes met arm'd; +For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst, +Equal in their Creation they were form'd, 690 +Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wrought +Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom; +Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last +Endless, and no solution will be found: +Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do, +And to disorder'd rage let loose the reines, +With Mountains as with Weapons arm'd, which makes +Wild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to the maine. +Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine; +For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus farr 700 +Have sufferd, that the Glorie may be thine +Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou +Can end it. Into thee such Vertue and Grace +Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know +In Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare, +And this perverse Commotion governd thus, +To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir +Of all things, to be Heir and to be King +By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right. +Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might, 710 +Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles +That shake Heav'ns basis, bring forth all my Warr, +My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie Arms +Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh; +Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them out +>From all Heav'ns bounds into the utter Deep: +There let them learn, as likes them, to despise +God and Messiah his anointed King. +He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct +Shon full, he all his Father full exprest 720 +Ineffably into his face receiv'd, +And thus the filial Godhead answering spake. +O Father, O Supream of heav'nly Thrones, +First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekst +To glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee, +As is most just; this I my Glorie account, +My exaltation, and my whole delight, +That thou in me well pleas'd, declarst thy will +Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss. +Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume, 730 +And gladlier shall resign, when in the end +Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee +For ever, and in mee all whom thou lov'st: +But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on +Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, +Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, +Armd with thy might, rid heav'n of these rebell'd, +To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven down +To chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm, +That from thy just obedience could revolt, 740 +Whom to obey is happiness entire. +Then shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th' impure +Farr separate, circling thy holy Mount +Unfained Halleluiahs to thee sing, +Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief. +So said, he o're his Scepter bowing, rose +>From the right hand of Glorie where he sate, +And the third sacred Morn began to shine +Dawning through Heav'n: forth rush'd with whirlwind sound +The Chariot of Paternal Deitie, 750 +Flashing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn, +It self instinct with Spirit, but convoyd +By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each +Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all +And Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels +Of Beril, and careering Fires between; +Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament, +Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pure +Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch. +Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd 760 +Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, +Ascended, at his right hand Victorie +Sate Eagle-wing'd, beside him hung his Bow +And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stor'd, +And from about him fierce Effusion rowld +Of smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire; +Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, +He onward came, farr off his coming shon, +And twentie thousand (I thir number heard) +Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen: 770 +Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime +On the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thron'd. +Illustrious farr and wide, but by his own +First seen, them unexpected joy surpriz'd, +When the great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd +Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n: +Under whose Conduct Michael soon reduc'd +His Armie, circumfus'd on either Wing, +Under thir Head imbodied all in one. +Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd; 780 +At his command the uprooted Hills retir'd +Each to his place, they heard his voice and went +Obsequious, Heav'n his wonted face renewd, +And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd. +This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdur'd, +And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers +Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. +In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? +But to convince the proud what Signs availe, +Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent? 790 +They hard'nd more by what might most reclame, +Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight +Took envie, and aspiring to his highth, +Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by force or fraud +Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile +Against God and Messiah, or to fall +In universal ruin last, and now +To final Battel drew, disdaining flight, +Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God +To all his Host on either hand thus spake. 800 +Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand +Ye Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest; +Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God +Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause, +And as ye have receivd, so have ye don +Invincibly; but of this cursed crew +The punishment to other hand belongs, +Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints; +Number to this dayes work is not ordain'd +Nor multitude, stand onely and behold 810 +Gods indignation on these Godless pourd +By mee; not you but mee they have despis'd, +Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage, +Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supream +Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains, +Hath honourd me according to his will. +Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd; +That they may have thir wish, to trie with mee +In Battel which the stronger proves, they all, +Or I alone against them, since by strength 820 +They measure all, of other excellence +Not emulous, nor care who them excells; +Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe. +So spake the Son, and into terrour chang'd +His count'nance too severe to be beheld +And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies. +At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings +With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes +Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound +Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. 830 +Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove, +Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles +The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout, +All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon +Among them he arriv'd; in his right hand +Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent +Before him, such as in thir Soules infix'd +Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost, +All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd; +O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode 840 +Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, +That wish'd the Mountains now might be again +Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire. +Nor less on either side tempestuous fell +His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Foure, +Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels, +Distinct alike with multitude of eyes, +One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye +Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire +Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength, 850 +And of thir wonted vigour left them draind, +Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n. +Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd +His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant +Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n: +The overthrown he rais'd, and as a Heard +Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd +Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'd +With terrors and with furies to the bounds +And Chrystall wall of Heav'n, which op'ning wide, 860 +Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd +Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight +Strook them with horror backward, but far worse +Urg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they threw +Down from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauth +Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. +Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw +Heav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fled +Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep +Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870 +Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard, +And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall +Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout +Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last +Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clos'd, +Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire +Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine. +Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repaird +Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld. +Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes 880 +Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd: +To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood +Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts, +With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they went, +Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright, +Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King, +Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv'n, +Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode +Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the Courts +And Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd 890 +On high; who into Glorie him receav'd, +Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. +Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth +At thy request, and that thou maist beware +By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd +What might have else to human Race bin hid; +The discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'n +Among th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fall +Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld +With Satan, hee who envies now thy state, 900 +Who now is plotting how he may seduce +Thee also from obedience, that with him +Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake +His punishment, Eternal miserie; +Which would be all his solace and revenge, +As a despite don against the most High, +Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe. +But list'n not to his Temptations, warne +Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard +By terrible Example the reward 910 +Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, +Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. + +The End Of The Sixth Book. + + + +BOOK VII. + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this +world was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan +and his Angels out of Heaven, declar'd his pleasure to create +another World and other Creatures to dwell therein; sends his +Son with Glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work +of Creation in six dayes: the Angels celebrate with Hymns the +performance thereof, and his reascention into Heaven. + +Descend from Heav'n Urania, by that name +If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine +Following, above th' Olympian Hill I soare, +Above the flight of Pegasean wing. +The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou +Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top +Of old Olympus dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne, +Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd, +Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse, +Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play 10 +In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd +With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee +Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd, +An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire, +Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down +Return me to my Native Element: +Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once +Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime) +Dismounted, on th' Aleian Field I fall +Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne. 20 +Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound +Within the visible Diurnal Spheare; +Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole, +More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd +To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes, +On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues; +In darkness, and with dangers compast round, +And solitude; yet not alone, while thou +Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn +Purples the East: still govern thou my Song, 30 +Urania, and fit audience find, though few. +But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance +Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race +Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard +In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares +To rapture, till the savage clamor dround +Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend +Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: +For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame. +Say Goddess, what ensu'd when Raphael, 40 +The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd +Adam by dire example to beware +Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven +To those Apostates, least the like befall +In Paradise to Adam or his Race, +Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree, +If they transgress, and slight that sole command, +So easily obeyd amid the choice +Of all tasts else to please thir appetite, +Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve 50 +The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd +With admiration, and deep Muse to heare +Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought +So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n, +And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss +With such confusion: but the evil soon +Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those +>From whom it sprung, impossible to mix +With Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'd +The doubts that in his heart arose: and now 60 +Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know +What neerer might concern him, how this World +Of Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began, +When, and whereof created, for what cause, +What within Eden or without was done +Before his memorie, as one whose drouth +Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame, +Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, +Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest. +Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, 70 +Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd +Divine Interpreter, by favour sent +Down from the Empyrean to forewarne +Us timely of what might else have bin our loss, +Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach: +For which to the infinitly Good we owe +Immortal thanks, and his admonishment +Receave with solemne purpose to observe +Immutably his sovran will, the end +Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf't 80 +Gently for our instruction to impart +Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd +Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd, +Deign to descend now lower, and relate +What may no less perhaps availe us known, +How first began this Heav'n which we behold +Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd +Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills +All space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'd +Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause 90 +Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest +Through all Eternitie so late to build +In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon +Absolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfould +What wee, not to explore the secrets aske +Of his Eternal Empire, but the more +To magnifie his works, the more we know. +And the great Light of Day yet wants to run +Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n +Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, 100 +And longer will delay to heare thee tell +His Generation, and the rising Birth +Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: +Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon +Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring +Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch, +Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song +End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine. +Thus Adam his illustrous Guest besought: +And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. 110 +This also thy request with caution askt +Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works +What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, +Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? +Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve +To glorifie the Maker, and inferr +Thee also happier, shall not be withheld +Thy hearing, such Commission from above +I have receav'd, to answer thy desire +Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 120 +To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope +Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King, +Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night, +To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: +Anough is left besides to search and know. +But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less +Her Temperance over Appetite, to know +In measure what the mind may well contain, +Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns +Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde. 130 +Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n +(So call him, brighter once amidst the Host +Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among) +Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep +Into his place, and the great Son returnd +Victorious with his Saints, th' Omnipotent +Eternal Father from his Throne beheld +Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake. +At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought +All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 140 +This inaccessible high strength, the seat +Of Deitie supream, us dispossest, +He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud +Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more; +Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see, +Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retaines +Number sufficient to possess her Realmes +Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent +With Ministeries due and solemn Rites: +But least his heart exalt him in the harme 150 +Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n, +My damage fondly deem'd, I can repaire +That detriment, if such it be to lose +Self-lost, and in a moment will create +Another World, out of one man a Race +Of men innumerable, there to dwell, +Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'd +They open to themselves at length the way +Up hither, under long obedience tri'd, +And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth, 160 +One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end. +Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n, +And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee +This I perform, speak thou, and be it don: +My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee +I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep +Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth, +Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill +Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. +Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire, 170 +And put not forth my goodness, which is free +To act or not, Necessitie and Chance +Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate. +So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spake +His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. +Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift +Then time or motion, but to human ears +Cannot without process of speech be told, +So told as earthly notion can receave. +Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n 180 +When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will; +Glorie they sung to the most High, good will +To future men, and in thir dwellings peace: +Glorie to him whose just avenging ire +Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight +And th' habitations of the just; to him +Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd +Good out of evil to create, in stead +Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring +Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse 190 +His good to Worlds and Ages infinite. +So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son +On his great Expedition now appeer'd, +Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd +Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love +Immense, and all his Father in him shon. +About his Chariot numberless were pour'd +Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, +And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd, +>From the Armoury of God, where stand of old 200 +Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd +Against a solemn day, harnest at hand, +Celestial Equipage; and now came forth +Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd, +Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide +Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound +On golden Hinges moving, to let forth +The King of Glorie in his powerful Word +And Spirit coming to create new Worlds. +On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore 210 +They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss +Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde, +Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes +And surging waves, as Mountains to assault +Heav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole. +Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace, +Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end: +Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim +Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode +Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn; 220 +For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine +Follow'd in bright procession to behold +Creation, and the wonders of his might. +Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand +He took the golden Compasses, prepar'd +In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe +This Universe, and all created things: +One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd +Round through the vast profunditie obscure, +And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds, 230 +This be thy just Circumference, O World. +Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth, +Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound +Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calme +His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred, +And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth +Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'd +The black tartareous cold infernal dregs +Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd +Like things to like, the rest to several place 240 +Disparted, and between spun out the Air, +And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung. +Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light +Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure +Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East +To journie through the airie gloom began, +Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun +Was not; shee in a cloudie Tabernacle +Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good; +And light from darkness by the Hemisphere 250 +Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night +He nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn: +Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung +By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light +Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld; +Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout +The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd, +And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'd +God and his works, Creatour him they sung, +Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn. 260 +Again, God said, let ther be Firmament +Amid the Waters, and let it divide +The Waters from the Waters: and God made +The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, +Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'd +In circuit to the uttermost convex +Of this great Round: partition firm and sure, +The Waters underneath from those above +Dividing: for as Earth, so hee the World +Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide 270 +Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule +Of Chaos farr remov'd, least fierce extreames +Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: +And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'n +And Morning Chorus sung the second Day. +The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet +Of Waters, Embryon immature involv'd, +Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth +Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme +Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe, 280 +Fermented the great Mother to conceave, +Satiate with genial moisture, when God said +Be gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n +Into one place, and let dry Land appeer. +Immediately the Mountains huge appeer +Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave +Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie: +So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low +Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, +Capacious bed of Waters: thither they 290 +Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld +As drops on dust conglobing from the drie; +Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct, +For haste; such flight the great command impress'd +On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call +Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard) +Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng, +Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found, +If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine, +Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill, 300 +But they, or under ground, or circuit wide +With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way, +And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore; +Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie, +All but within those banks, where Rivers now +Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine. +The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle +Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas: +And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth +Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed, 310 +And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind; +Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth. +He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then +Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd, +Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure clad +Her Universal Face with pleasant green, +Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd +Op'ning thir various colours, and made gay +Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown, +Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept 320 +The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed +Embattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub, +And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last +Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred +Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd +Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd, +With tufts the vallies & each fountain side, +With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now +Seemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell, +Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 330 +Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd +Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground +None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist +Went up and waterd all the ground, and each +Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth +God made, and every Herb, before it grew +On the green stemm; God saw that it was good: +So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day. +Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights +High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide 340 +The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes, +For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years, +And let them be for Lights as I ordaine +Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n +To give Light on the Earth; and it was so. +And God made two great Lights, great for thir use +To Man, the greater to have rule by Day, +The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs, +And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n +To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day 350 +In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night, +And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw, +Surveying his great Work, that it was good: +For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun +A mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first, +Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the Moon +Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs, +And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field: +Of Light by farr the greater part he took, +Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd 360 +In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive +And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine +Her gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light. +Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs +Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light, +And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns; +By tincture or reflection they augment +Thir small peculiar, though from human sight +So farr remote, with diminution seen. +First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen, 370 +Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round +Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run +His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the gray +Dawn, and the Pleiades before him danc'd +Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon, +But opposite in leveld West was set +His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light +>From him, for other light she needed none +In that aspect, and still that distance keepes +Till night, then in the East her turn she shines, 380 +Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her Reign +With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds, +With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd +Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd +With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose, +Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day. +And God said, let the Waters generate +Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule: +And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings +Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n. 390 +And God created the great Whales, and each +Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously +The waters generated by thir kindes, +And every Bird of wing after his kinde; +And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying, +Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas +And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill; +And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth. +Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay +With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales 400 +Of Fish that with thir Finns & shining Scales +Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft +Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate +Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves +Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance +Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold, +Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend +Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food +In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale, +And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk 410 +Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate +Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan +Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep +Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes, +And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles +Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea. +Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares +Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon +Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd +Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge 420 +They summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublime +With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud +In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork +On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build: +Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise +In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way, +Intelligent of seasons, and set forth +Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's +Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing +Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane 430 +Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire +Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes: +>From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song +Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings +Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal +Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes: +Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd +Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck +Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes +Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit 440 +The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre +The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground +Walk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds +The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine +Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue +Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus +With Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle, +Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day. +The Sixt, and of Creation last arose +With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said, 450 +Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde, +Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth, +Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and strait +Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth +Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes, +Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose +As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns +In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den; +Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd: +The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green: 460 +Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks +Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung: +The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd +The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free +His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds, +And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce, +The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale +Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw +In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground +Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould 470 +Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd +His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose, +As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land +The River Horse and scalie Crocodile. +At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, +Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans +For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact +In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride +With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green: +These as a line thir long dimension drew, 480 +Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all +Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde +Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd +Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept +The Parsimonious Emmet, provident +Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd, +Pattern of just equalitie perhaps +Hereafter, join'd in her popular Tribes +Of Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'd +The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone 490 +Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells +With Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless, +And thou thir Natures know'st, and gav'st them Names, +Needlest to thee repeated; nor unknown +The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field, +Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes +And hairie Main terrific, though to thee +Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. +Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld +Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand 500 +First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire +Consummate lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth, +By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt +Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd; +There wanted yet the Master work, the end +Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone +And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd +With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect +His Stature, and upright with Front serene +Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence 510 +Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n, +But grateful to acknowledge whence his good +Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes +Directed in Devotion, to adore +And worship God Supream, who made him chief +Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent +Eternal Father (For where is not hee +Present) thus to his Son audibly spake. +Let us make now Man in our image, Man +In our similitude, and let them rule 520 +Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire, +Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth, +And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. +This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O Man +Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd +The breath of Life; in his own Image hee +Created thee, in the Image of God +Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul. +Male he created thee, but thy consort +Femal for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said, 530 +Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth, +Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold +Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire, +And every living thing that moves on the Earth. +Wherever thus created, for no place +Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st +He brought thee into this delicious Grove, +This Garden, planted with the Trees of God, +Delectable both to behold and taste; +And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food 540 +Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds, +Varietie without end; but of the Tree +Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil, +Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st; +Death is the penaltie impos'd, beware, +And govern well thy appetite, least sin +Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. +Here finish'd hee, and all that he had made +View'd, and behold all was entirely good; +So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day: 550 +Yet not till the Creator from his work +Desisting, though unwearied, up returnd +Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode, +Thence to behold this new created World +Th' addition of his Empire, how it shew'd +In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire, +Answering his great Idea. Up he rode +Followd with acclamation and the sound +Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd +Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Aire 560 +Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst) +The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung, +The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood, +While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant. +Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung, +Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let in +The great Creator from his work returnd +Magnificent, his Six days work, a World; +Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne +To visit oft the dwellings of just Men 570 +Delighted, and with frequent intercourse +Thither will send his winged Messengers +On errands of supernal Grace. So sung +The glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n, +That open'd wide her blazing Portals, led +To Gods Eternal house direct the way, +A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold +And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer, +Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way +Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest 580 +Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seaventh +Eev'ning arose in Eden, for the Sun +Was set, and twilight from the East came on, +Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount +Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne +Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure, +The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him down +With his great Father (for he also went +Invisible, yet staid (such priviledge +Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd, 590 +Author and end of all things, and from work +Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day, +As resting on that day from all his work, +But not in silence holy kept; the Harp +Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe, +And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop, +All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire +Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice +Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds +Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount. 600 +Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung, +Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite +Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue +Relate thee; greater now in thy return +Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day +Thy Thunders magnifi'd; but to create +Is greater then created to destroy. +Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound +Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt +Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine 610 +Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought +Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw +The number of thy worshippers. Who seekes +To lessen thee, against his purpose serves +To manifest the more thy might: his evil +Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good. +Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n +>From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view +On the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea; +Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's 620 +Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World +Of destind habitation; but thou know'st +Thir seasons: among these the seat of men, +Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd, +Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men, +And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't, +Created in his Image, there to dwell +And worship him, and in reward to rule +Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air, +And multiply a Race of Worshippers 630 +Holy and just: thrice happie if they know +Thir happiness, and persevere upright. +So sung they, and the Empyrean rung, +With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept. +And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd +How first this World and face of things began, +And what before thy memorie was don +>From the beginning, that posteritie +Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst +Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. 640 + +Notes: +451. Bentley's emendation of soul for fowl should be noted. +See Genesis i. 30 A. V. margin. +563 stations] station 1674 + +The End of the Seventh Book + + + +BOOK VIII. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Adam inquires concerning celestial Motions, is doubtfully +answer'd and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of +knowledg: Adam assents, and still desirous to detain Raphael, +relates to him what he remember'd since his own Creation, his +placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning solitude and +fit society, his first meeting and Nuptials with Eve, his discourse +with the Angel thereupon; who after admonitions repeated +departs. + +[THE Angel ended, and in Adams Eare +So Charming left his voice, that he a while +Thought him still speaking, still stood fixt to hear; +Then as new wak't thus gratefully repli'd.] +What thanks sufficient, or what recompence +Equal have I to render thee, Divine +Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayd +The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaf't +This friendly condescention to relate +Things else by me unsearchable, now heard 10 +With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, +With glorie attributed to the high +Creator; some thing yet of doubt remaines, +Which onely thy solution can resolve. +When I behold this goodly Frame, this World +Of Heav'n and Earth consisting, and compute, +Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine, +An Atom, with the Firmament compar'd +And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle +Spaces incomprehensible (for such 20 +Thir distance argues and thir swift return +Diurnal) meerly to officiate light +Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, +One day and night; in all thir vast survey +Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire, +How Nature wise and frugal could commit +Such disproportions, with superfluous hand +So many nobler Bodies to create, +Greater so manifold to this one use, +For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs impose 30 +Such restless revolution day by day +Repeated, while the sedentarie Earth, +That better might with farr less compass move, +Serv'd by more noble then her self, attaines +Her end without least motion, and receaves, +As Tribute such a sumless journey brought +Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; +Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number failes. +So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd +Entring on studious thoughts abstruse, which Eve 40 +Perceaving where she sat retir'd in sight, +With lowliness Majestic from her seat, +And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay, +Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours, +To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, +Her Nurserie; they at her coming sprung +And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew. +Yet went she not, as not with such discourse +Delighted, or not capable her eare +Of what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd, 50 +Adam relating, she sole Auditress; +Her Husband the Relater she preferr'd +Before the Angel, and of him to ask +Chose rather; hee, she knew would intermix +Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute +With conjugal Caresses, from his Lip +Not Words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now +Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd? +With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went; +Not unattended, for on her as Queen 60 +A pomp of winning Graces waited still, +And from about her shot Darts of desire +Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight. +And Raphael now to Adam's doubt propos'd +Benevolent and facil thus repli'd. +To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heav'n +Is as the Book of God before thee set, +Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learne +His Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares: +This to attain, whether Heav'n move or Earth, 70 +Imports not, if thou reck'n right, the rest +>From Man or Angel the great Architect +Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge +His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought +Rather admire; or if they list to try +Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heav'ns +Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to move +His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide +Hereafter, when they come to model Heav'n +And calculate the Starrs, how they will weild 80 +The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive +To save appeerances, how gird the Sphear +With Centric and Eccentric scribl'd o're, +Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb: +Alreadie by thy reasoning this I guess, +Who art to lead thy ofspring, and supposest +That Bodies bright and greater should not serve +The less not bright, nor Heav'n such journies run, +Earth sitting still, when she alone receaves +The benefit: consider first, that Great 90 +Or Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth +Though, in comparison of Heav'n, so small, +Nor glistering, may of solid good containe +More plenty then the Sun that barren shines, +Whose vertue on it self workes no effect, +But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd +His beams, unactive else, thir vigor find. +Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries +Officious, but to thee Earths habitant. +And for the Heav'ns wide Circuit, let it speak 100 +The Makers high magnificence, who built +So spacious, and his Line stretcht out so farr; +That Man may know he dwells not in his own; +An Edifice too large for him to fill, +Lodg'd in a small partition, and the rest +Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known. +The swiftness of those Circles attribute, +Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, +That to corporeal substances could adde +Speed almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow, 110 +Who since the Morning hour set out from Heav'n +Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd +In Eden, distance inexpressible +By Numbers that have name. But this I urge, +Admitting Motion in the Heav'ns, to shew +Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd; +Not that I so affirm, though so it seem +To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. +God to remove his wayes from human sense, +Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so farr, that earthly sight, 120 +If it presume, might erre in things too high, +And no advantage gaine. What if the Sun +Be Center to the World, and other Starrs +By his attractive vertue and thir own +Incited, dance about him various rounds? +Thir wandring course now high, now low, then hid, +Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, +In six thou seest, and what if sev'nth to these +The Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem, +Insensibly three different Motions move? 130 +Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe, +Mov'd contrarie with thwart obliquities, +Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift +Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb suppos'd, +Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheele +Of Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe, +If Earth industrious of her self fetch Day +Travelling East, and with her part averse +>From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part +Still luminous by his ray. What if that light 140 +Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire, +To the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr +Enlightning her by Day, as she by Night +This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there, +Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest +As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce +Fruits in her soft'nd Soile, for some to eate +Allotted there; and other Suns perhaps +With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie +Communicating Male and Femal Light, 150 +Which two great Sexes animate the World, +Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with some that live. +For such vast room in Nature unpossest +By living Soule, desert and desolate, +Onely to shine, yet scarce to contribute +Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farr +Down to this habitable, which returnes +Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. +But whether thus these things, or whether not, +Whether the Sun predominant in Heav'n 160 +Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun, +Hee from the East his flaming rode begin, +Or Shee from West her silent course advance +With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps +On her soft Axle, while she paces Eev'n, +And bears thee soft with the smooth Air along, +Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, +Leave them to God above, him serve and feare; +Of other Creatures, as him pleases best, +Wherever plac't, let him dispose: joy thou 170 +In what he gives to thee, this Paradise +And thy faire Eve; Heav'n is for thee too high +To know what passes there; be lowlie wise: +Think onely what concernes thee and thy being; +Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there +Live, in what state, condition or degree, +Contented that thus farr hath been reveal'd +Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n. +To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt, repli'd. +How fully hast thou satisfi'd mee, pure 180 +Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel serene, +And freed from intricacies, taught to live, +The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts +To interrupt the sweet of Life, from which +God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares, +And not molest us, unless we our selves +Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine. +But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave +Uncheckt, and of her roaving is no end; +Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learne, 190 +That not to know at large of things remote +>From use, obscure and suttle, but to know +That which before us lies in daily life, +Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume, +Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, +And renders us in things that most concerne +Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek. +Therefore from this high pitch let us descend +A lower flight, and speak of things at hand +Useful, whence haply mention may arise 200 +Of somthing not unseasonable to ask +By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign'd. +Thee I have heard relating what was don +Ere my remembrance: now hear mee relate +My Storie, which perhaps thou hast not heard; +And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seest +How suttly to detaine thee I devise, +Inviting thee to hear while I relate, +Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply: +For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav'n, 210 +And sweeter thy discourse is to my eare +Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst +And hunger both, from labour, at the houre +Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, +Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace Divine +Imbu'd, bring to thir sweetness no satietie. +To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek. +Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, +Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee +Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd, 220 +Inward and outward both, his image faire: +Speaking or mute all comliness and grace +Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes. +Nor less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth +Then of our fellow servant, and inquire +Gladly into the wayes of God with Man: +For God we see hath honour'd thee, and set +On Man his equal Love: say therefore on; +For I that Day was absent, as befell, +Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, 230 +Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell; +Squar'd in full Legion (such command we had) +To see that none thence issu'd forth a spie, +Or enemie, while God was in his work, +Least hee incenst at such eruption bold, +Destruction with Creation might have mixt. +Not that they durst without his leave attempt, +But us he sends upon his high behests +For state, as Sovran King, and to enure +Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut 240 +The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong; +But long ere our approaching heard within +Noise, other then the sound of Dance or Song, +Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage. +Glad we return'd up to the coasts of Light +Ere Sabbath Eev'ning: so we had in charge. +But thy relation now; for I attend, +Pleas'd with thy words no less then thou with mine. +So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. +For Man to tell how human Life began 250 +Is hard; for who himself beginning knew? +Desire with thee still longer to converse +Induc'd me. As new wak't from soundest sleep +Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid +In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun +Soon dri'd, and on the reaking moisture fed. +Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turnd, +And gaz'd a while the ample Skie, till rais'd +By quick instinctive motion up I sprung, +As thitherward endevoring, and upright 260 +Stood on my feet; about me round I saw +Hill, Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines, +And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these, +Creatures that livd, and movd, and walk'd, or flew, +Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd, +With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd. +My self I then perus'd, and Limb by Limb +Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran +With supple joints, as lively vigour led: +But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 270 +Knew not; to speak I tri'd, and forthwith spake, +My Tongue obey'd and readily could name +What e're I saw. Thou Sun, said I, faire Light, +And thou enlight'nd Earth, so fresh and gay, +Ye Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines, +And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, +Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here? +Not of my self; by some great Maker then, +In goodness and in power praeeminent; +Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 280 +>From whom I have that thus I move and live, +And feel that I am happier then I know. +While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, +>From where I first drew Aire, and first beheld +This happie Light, when answer none return'd, +On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours +Pensive I sate me down; there gentle sleep +First found me, and with soft oppression seis'd +My droused sense, untroubl'd, though I thought +I then was passing to my former state 290 +Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: +When suddenly stood at my Head a dream, +Whose inward apparition gently mov'd +My Fancy to believe I yet had being, +And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine, +And said, thy Mansion wants thee, Adam, rise, +First Man, of Men innumerable ordain'd +First Father, call'd by thee I come thy Guide +To the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd. +So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd, 300 +And over Fields and Waters, as in Aire +Smooth sliding without step, last led me up +A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine, +A Circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest Trees +Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I saw +Of Earth before scarse pleasant seemd. Each Tree +Load'n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye +Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite +To pluck and eate; whereat I wak'd, and found +Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream 310 +Had lively shadowd: Here had new begun +My wandring, had not hee who was my Guide +Up hither, from among the Trees appeer'd, +Presence Divine. Rejoycing, but with aw +In adoration at his feet I fell +Submiss: he rear'd me, & Whom thou soughtst I am, +Said mildely, Author of all this thou seest +Above, or round about thee or beneath. +This Paradise I give thee, count it thine +To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate: 320 +Of every Tree that in the Garden growes +Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: +But of the Tree whose operation brings +Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set +The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith, +Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life, +Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste, +And shun the bitter consequence: for know, +The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command +Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye; 330 +>From that day mortal, and this happie State +Shalt loose, expell'd from hence into a World +Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounc'd +The rigid interdiction, which resounds +Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice +Not to incur; but soon his cleer aspect +Return'd and gratious purpose thus renew'd. +Not onely these fair bounds, but all the Earth +To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords +Possess it, and all things that therein live, 340 +Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle. +In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold +After thir kindes; I bring them to receave +>From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie +With low subjection; understand the same +Of Fish within thir watry residence, +Not hither summond, since they cannot change +Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire. +As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold +Approaching two and two, These cowring low 350 +With blandishment, each Bird stoop'd on his wing. +I nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood +Thir Nature, with such knowledg God endu'd +My sudden apprehension: but in these +I found not what me thought I wanted still; +And to the Heav'nly vision thus presum'd. +O by what Name, for thou above all these, +Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher, +Surpassest farr my naming, how may I +Adore thee, Author of this Universe, 360 +And all this good to man, for whose well being +So amply, and with hands so liberal +Thou hast provided all things: but with mee +I see not who partakes. In solitude +What happiness, who can enjoy alone, +Or all enjoying, what contentment find? +Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright, +As with a smile more bright'nd, thus repli'd. +What call'st thou solitude, is not the Earth +With various living creatures, and the Aire 370 +Replenisht, and all these at thy command +To come and play before thee, know'st thou not +Thir language and thir wayes, they also know, +And reason not contemptibly; with these +Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. +So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd +So ordering. I with leave of speech implor'd, +And humble deprecation thus repli'd. +Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power, +My Maker, be propitious while I speak. 380 +Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, +And these inferiour farr beneath me set? +Among unequals what societie +Can sort, what harmonie or true delight? +Which must be mutual, in proportion due +Giv'n and receiv'd; but in disparitie +The one intense, the other still remiss +Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove +Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak +Such as I seek, fit to participate 390 +All rational delight, wherein the brute +Cannot be human consort; they rejoyce +Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness; +So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd; +Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle +So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape; +Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all. +Whereto th' Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd. +A nice and suttle happiness I see +Thou to thy self proposest, in the choice 400 +Of thy Associates, Adam, and wilt taste +No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie. +What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State, +Seem I to thee sufficiently possest +Of happiness, or not? who am alone +>From all Eternitie, for none I know +Second to mee or like, equal much less. +How have I then with whom to hold converse +Save with the Creatures which I made, and those +To me inferiour, infinite descents 410 +Beneath what other Creatures are to thee? +He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd. To attaine +The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes +All human thoughts come short, Supream of things; +Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee +Is no deficience found; not so is Man, +But in degree, the cause of his desire +By conversation with his like to help, +Or solace his defects. No need that thou +Shouldst propagat, already infinite; 420 +And through all numbers absolute, though One; +But Man by number is to manifest +His single imperfection, and beget +Like of his like, his Image multipli'd, +In unitie defective, which requires +Collateral love, and deerest amitie. +Thou in thy secresie although alone, +Best with thy self accompanied, seek'st not +Social communication, yet so pleas'd, +Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt 430 +Of Union or Communion, deifi'd; +I by conversing cannot these erect +>From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find. +Thus I embold'nd spake, and freedom us'd +Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd +This answer from the gratious voice Divine. +Thus farr to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd, +And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone, +Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thy self, +Expressing well the spirit within thee free, 440 +My Image, not imparted to the Brute, +Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee +Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike, +And be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st, +Knew it not good for Man to be alone, +And no such companie as then thou saw'st +Intended thee, for trial onely brought, +To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet: +What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd, +Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, 450 +Thy wish, exactly to thy hearts desire. +Hee ended, or I heard no more, for now +My earthly by his Heav'nly overpowerd, +Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth +In that celestial Colloquie sublime, +As with an object that excels the sense, +Dazl'd and spent, sunk down, and sought repair +Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd +By Nature as in aide, and clos'd mine eyes. +Mine eyes he clos'd, but op'n left the Cell 460 +Of Fancie my internal sight, by which +Abstract as in a transe methought I saw, +Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape +Still glorious before whom awake I stood; +Who stooping op'nd my left side, and took +>From thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warme, +And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, +But suddenly with flesh fill'd up & heal'd: +The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands; +Under his forming hands a Creature grew, 470 +Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire, +That what seemd fair in all the World, seemd now +Mean, or in her summd up, in her containd +And in her looks, which from that time infus'd +Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, +And into all things from her Aire inspir'd +The spirit of love and amorous delight. +She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak'd +To find her, or for ever to deplore +Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: 480 +When out of hope, behold her, not farr off, +Such as I saw her in my dream, adornd +With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow +To make her amiable: On she came, +Led by her Heav'nly Maker, though unseen, +And guided by his voice, nor uninformd +Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites: +Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her Eye, +In every gesture dignitie and love. +I overjoyd could not forbear aloud. 490 +This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd +Thy words, Creator bounteous and benigne, +Giver of all things faire, but fairest this +Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see +Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self +Before me; Woman is her Name, of Man +Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe +Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere; +And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule. +She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, 500 +Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie, +Her vertue and the conscience of her worth, +That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, +Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, +The more desirable, or to say all, +Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought, +Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; +I follow'd her, she what was Honour knew, +And with obsequious Majestie approv'd +My pleaded reason. To the Nuptial Bowre 510 +I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n, +And happie Constellations on that houre +Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth +Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill; +Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires +Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from thir wings +Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub, +Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night +Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr +On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp. 520 +Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought +My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss +Which I enjoy, and must confess to find +In all things else delight indeed, but such +As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, +Nor vehement desire, these delicacies +I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours, +Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here +Farr otherwise, transported I behold, +Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 530 +Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else +Superiour and unmov'd, here onely weake +Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance. +Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part +Not proof enough such Object to sustain, +Or from my side subducting, took perhaps +More then enough; at least on her bestow'd +Too much of Ornament, in outward shew +Elaborate, of inward less exact. +For well I understand in the prime end 540 +Of Nature her th' inferiour, in the mind +And inward Faculties, which most excell, +In outward also her resembling less +His Image who made both, and less expressing +The character of that Dominion giv'n +O're other Creatures; yet when I approach +Her loveliness, so absolute she seems +And in her self compleat, so well to know +Her own, that what she wills to do or say, +Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best; 550 +All higher knowledge in her presence falls +Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her +Looses discount'nanc't, and like folly shewes; +Authoritie and Reason on her waite, +As one intended first, not after made +Occasionally; and to consummate all, +Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat +Build in her loveliest, and create an awe +About her, as a guard Angelic plac't. +To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 560 +Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part; +Do thou but thine, and be not diffident +Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou +Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh, +By attributing overmuch to things +Less excellent, as thou thy self perceav'st. +For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, +An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well +Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love, +Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self; 570 +Then value: Oft times nothing profits more +Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right +Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st, +The more she will acknowledge thee her Head, +And to realities yeild all her shows; +Made so adorn for thy delight the more, +So awful, that with honour thou maist love +Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. +But if the sense of touch whereby mankind +Is propagated seem such dear delight 580 +Beyond all other, think the same voutsaf't +To Cattel and each Beast; which would not be +To them made common & divulg'd, if aught +Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue +The Soule of Man, or passion in him move. +What higher in her societie thou findst +Attractive, human, rational, love still; +In loving thou dost well, in passion not, +Wherein true Love consists not; love refines +The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat 590 +In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale +By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend, +Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause +Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found. +To whom thus half abash't Adam repli'd. +Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aught +In procreation common to all kindes +(Though higher of the genial Bed by far, +And with mysterious reverence I deem) +So much delights me, as those graceful acts, 600 +Those thousand decencies that daily flow +>From all her words and actions, mixt with Love +And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd +Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule; +Harmonie to behold in wedded pair +More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare. +Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose +What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild, +Who meet with various objects, from the sense +Variously representing; yet still free 610 +Approve the best, and follow what I approve. +To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou saist +Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide; +Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask; +Love not the heav'nly Spirits, and how thir Love +Express they, by looks onely, or do they mix +Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? +To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd +Celestial rosie red, Loves proper hue, +Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 620 +Us happie, and without Love no happiness. +Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st +(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy +In eminence, and obstacle find none +Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs: +Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace, +Total they mix, Union of Pure with Pure +Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need +As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul. +But I can now no more; the parting Sun 630 +Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles +Hesperean sets, my Signal to depart. +Be strong, live happie, and love, but first of all +Him whom to love is to obey, and keep +His great command; take heed least Passion sway +Thy Judgement to do aught, which else free Will +Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons +The weal or woe in thee is plac't; beware. +I in thy persevering shall rejoyce, +And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall 640 +Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies. +Perfet within, no outward aid require; +And all temptation to transgress repel. +So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus +Follow'd with benediction. Since to part, +Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal Messenger, +Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore. +Gentle to me and affable hath been +Thy condescension, and shall be honour'd ever +With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind 650 +Be good and friendly still, and oft return. +So parted they, the Angel up to Heav'n +>From the thick shade, and Adam to his Bowre. + +Notes: +1-4 These lines were added in the second edition (1674) when +Book VII was divided into two at line 640. Line 641 had read +'To whom thus Adam gratefully repli'd'. +269 as] and 1674. + +The End Of The Eighth Book. + + + +BOOK IX. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Satan having compast the Earth, with meditated guile returns as a +mist by Night into Paradise, enters into the Serpent sleeping. +Adam and Eve in the Morning go forth to thir labours, which Eve +proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart: Adam +consents not, alledging the danger, lest that Enemy, of whom they +were forewarn'd, should attempt her found alone: Eve loath to be +thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, +the rather desirous to make tryal of her strength; Adam at last +yields: The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first +gazing, then speaking with much flattery extolling Eve above all +other Creatures. Eve wondring to hear the Serpent speak, asks +how he attain'd to human speech and such understanding not till +now; the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain Tree in the +Garden he attain'd both to Speech and Reason, till then void of +both: Eve requires him to bring her to that Tree, and finds it to be +the Tree of Knowledge forbidden:The Serpent now grown bolder, +with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; she +pleas'd with the taste deliberates awhile whether to impart thereof +to Adam or not, at last brings him of the Fruit, relates what +persuaded her to eat thereof: Adam at first amaz'd, but perceiving +her lost, resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her; +and extenuating the trespass, eats also of the Fruit: The effects +thereof in them both; they seek to cover thir nakedness; then fall +to variance and accusation of one another. + +No more of talk where God or Angel Guest +With Man, as with his Friend, familiar us'd +To sit indulgent, and with him partake +Rural repast, permitting him the while +Venial discourse unblam'd: I now must change +Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach +Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt +And disobedience: On the part of Heav'n +Now alienated, distance and distaste, +Anger and just rebuke, and judgement giv'n, 10 +That brought into this World a world of woe, +Sinne and her shadow Death, and Miserie +Deaths Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument +Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth +Of stern Achilles on his Foe pursu'd +Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall; or rage +Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd, +Or Neptun's ire or Juno's, that so long +Perplex'd the Greek and Cytherea's Son; +If answerable style I can obtaine 20 +Of my Celestial Patroness, who deignes +Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, +And dictates to me slumbring, or inspires +Easie my unpremeditated Verse: +Since first this subject for Heroic Song +Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; +Not sedulous by Nature to indite +Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument +Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect +With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights 30 +In Battels feign'd; the better fortitude +Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom +Unsung; or to describe Races and Games, +Or tilting Furniture, emblazon'd Shields, +Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds; +Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights +At Joust and Torneament; then marshal'd Feast +Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals; +The skill of Artifice or Office mean, +Not that which justly gives Heroic name 40 +To Person or to Poem. Mee of these +Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument +Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise +That name, unless an age too late, or cold +Climat, or Years damp my intended wing +Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine, +Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear. +The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr +Of Hesperus, whose Office is to bring +Twilight upon the Earth, short Arbiter 50 +Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end +Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round: +When Satan who late fled before the threats +Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd +In meditated fraud and malice, bent +On mans destruction, maugre what might hap +Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd. +By Night he fled, and at Midnight return'd +>From compassing the Earth, cautious of day, +Since Uriel Regent of the Sun descri'd 60 +His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim +That kept thir watch; thence full of anguish driv'n, +The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode +With darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line +He circl'd, four times cross'd the Carr of Night +>From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure; +On the eighth return'd, and on the Coast averse +>From entrance or Cherubic Watch, by stealth +Found unsuspected way. There was a place, +Now not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught the change, 70 +Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise +Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part +Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life; +In with the River sunk, and with it rose +Satan involv'd in rising Mist, then sought +Where to lie hid; Sea he had searcht and Land +>From Eden over Pontus, and the Poole +Maeotis, up beyond the River Ob; +Downward as farr Antartic; and in length +West from Orantes to the Ocean barr'd 80 +At Darien, thence to the Land where flowes +Ganges and Indus: thus the Orb he roam'd +With narrow search; and with inspection deep +Consider'd every Creature, which of all +Most opportune might serve his Wiles, and found +The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field. +Him after long debate, irresolute +Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose +Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom +To enter, and his dark suggestions hide 90 +>From sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake, +Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark, +As from his wit and native suttletie +Proceeding, which in other Beasts observ'd +Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r +Active within beyond the sense of brute. +Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward griefe +His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd: +O Earth, how like to Heav'n, if not preferrd +More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built 100 +With second thoughts, reforming what was old! +For what God after better worse would build? +Terrestrial Heav'n, danc't round by other Heav'ns +That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps, +Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems, +In thee concentring all thir precious beams +Of sacred influence: As God in Heav'n +Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou +Centring receav'st from all those Orbs; in thee, +Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers 110 +Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth +Of Creatures animate with gradual life +Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summ'd up in Man. +With what delight could I have walkt thee round +If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange +Of Hill and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines, +Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forrest crownd, +Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these +Find place or refuge; and the more I see +Pleasures about me, so much more I feel 120 +Torment within me, as from the hateful siege +Of contraries; all good to me becomes +Bane, and in Heav'n much worse would be my state. +But neither here seek I, no nor in Heav'n +To dwell, unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame; +Nor hope to be my self less miserable +By what I seek, but others to make such +As I though thereby worse to me redound: +For onely in destroying I finde ease +To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd, 130 +Or won to what may work his utter loss, +For whom all this was made, all this will soon +Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe, +In wo then; that destruction wide may range: +To mee shall be the glorie sole among +The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd +What he Almightie styl'd, six Nights and Days +Continu'd making, and who knows how long +Before had bin contriving, though perhaps +Not longer then since I in one Night freed 140 +>From servitude inglorious welnigh half +Th' Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng +Of his adorers: hee to be aveng'd, +And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd, +Whether such vertue spent of old now faild +More Angels to Create, if they at least +Are his Created or to spite us more, +Determin'd to advance into our room +A Creature form'd of Earth, and him endow, +Exalted from so base original, 150 +With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed +He effected; Man he made, and for him built +Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat, +Him Lord pronounc'd, and, O indignitie! +Subjected to his service Angel wings, +And flaming Ministers to watch and tend +Thir earthlie Charge: Of these the vigilance +I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mist +Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie +In every Bush and Brake, where hap may finde 160 +The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds +To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. +O foul descent! that I who erst contended +With Gods to sit the highest, am now constraind +Into a Beast, and mixt with bestial slime, +This essence to incarnate and imbrute, +That to the hight of Deitie aspir'd; +But what will not Ambition and Revenge +Descend to? who aspires must down as low +As high he soard, obnoxious first or last 170 +To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, +Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles; +Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd, +Since higher I fall short, on him who next +Provokes my envie, this new Favorite +Of Heav'n, this Man of Clay, Son of despite, +Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd +>From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid. +So saying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie, +Like a black mist low creeping, he held on 180 +His midnight search, where soonest he might finde +The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found +In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowl'd, +His head the midst, well stor'd with suttle wiles: +Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den, +Not nocent yet, but on the grassie Herbe +Fearless unfeard he slept: in at his Mouth +The Devil enterd, and his brutal sense, +In heart or head, possessing soon inspir'd +With act intelligential; but his sleep 190 +Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn. +Now whenas sacred Light began to dawne +In Eden on the humid Flours, that breathd +Thir morning Incense, when all things that breath, +>From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise +To the Creator, and his Nostrils fill +With gratefull Smell, forth came the human pair +And joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire +Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake +The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires: 200 +Then commune how that day they best may ply +Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew +The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide. +And Eve first to her Husband thus began. +Adam, well may we labour still to dress +This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour. +Our pleasant task enjoyn'd, but till more hands +Aid us, the work under our labour grows, +Luxurious by restraint; what we by day +Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 210 +One night or two with wanton growth derides +Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advise +Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present, +Let us divide our labours, thou where choice +Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind +The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct +The clasping Ivie where to climb, while I +In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt +With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon: +For while so near each other thus all day 220 +Our task we choose, what wonder if no near +Looks intervene and smiles, or object new +Casual discourse draw on, which intermits +Our dayes work brought to little, though begun +Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd. +To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd. +Sole Eve, Associate sole, to me beyond +Compare above all living Creatures deare, +Well hast thou motion'd, wel thy thoughts imployd +How we might best fulfill the work which here 230 +God hath assign'd us, nor of me shalt pass +Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found +In woman, then to studie houshold good, +And good workes in her Husband to promote. +Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd +Labour, as to debarr us when we need +Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, +Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse +Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow, +To brute deni'd, and are of Love the food, 240 +Love not the lowest end of human life. +For not to irksom toile, but to delight +He made us, and delight to Reason joyn'd. +These paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt +Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide +As we need walk, till younger hands ere long +Assist us: But if much converse perhaps +Thee satiate, to short absence I could yeild. +For solitude somtimes is best societie, +And short retirement urges sweet returne. 250 +But other doubt possesses me, least harm +Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou knowst +What hath bin warn'd us, what malicious Foe +Envying our happiness, and of his own +Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame +By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand +Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find +His wish and best advantage, us asunder, +Hopeless to circumvent us joynd, where each +To other speedie aide might lend at need; 260 +Whether his first design be to withdraw +Our fealtie from God, or to disturb +Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss +Enjoy'd by us excites his envie more; +Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side +That gave thee being, stil shades thee and protects. +The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, +Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies, +Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. +To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve, 270 +As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, +With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd. +Ofspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earths Lord, +That such an enemie we have, who seeks +Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne, +And from the parting Angel over-heard +As in a shadie nook I stood behind, +Just then returnd at shut of Evening Flours. +But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt +To God or thee, because we have a foe 280 +May tempt it, I expected not to hear. +His violence thou fearst not, being such, +As wee, not capable of death or paine, +Can either not receave, or can repell. +His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs +Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love +Can by his fraud be shak'n or seduc't; +Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Brest, +Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear? +To whom with healing words Adam reply'd. 290 +Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve, +For such thou art, from sin and blame entire: +Not diffident of thee do I dissuade +Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid +Th' attempt it self, intended by our Foe. +For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses +The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd +Not incorruptible of Faith, not prooff +Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne +And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong, 300 +Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, +If such affront I labour to avert +>From thee alone, which on us both at once +The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare, +Or daring, first on mee th' assault shall light. +Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; +Suttle he needs must be, who could seduce +Angels, nor think superfluous others aid. +I from the influence of thy looks receave +Access in every Vertue, in thy sight 310 +More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were +Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, +Shame to be overcome or over-reacht +Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite. +Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel +When I am present, and thy trial choose +With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd. +So spake domestick Adam in his care +And Matrimonial Love, but Eve, who thought +Less attributed to her Faith sincere, 320 +Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd. +If this be our condition, thus to dwell +In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe, +Suttle or violent, we not endu'd +Single with like defence, wherever met, +How are we happie, still in fear of harm? +But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe +Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem +Of our integritie: his foul esteeme +Sticks no dishonor on our Front, but turns 330 +Foul on himself; then wherfore shund or feard +By us? who rather double honour gaine +>From his surmise prov'd false, finde peace within, +Favour from Heav'n, our witness from th' event. +And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid +Alone, without exterior help sustaind? +Let us not then suspect our happie State +Left so imperfet by the Maker wise, +As not secure to single or combin'd. +Fraile is our happiness, if this be so, 340 +And Eden were no Eden thus expos'd. +To whom thus Adam fervently repli'd. +O Woman, best are all things as the will +Of God ordaind them, his creating hand +Nothing imperfet or deficient left +Of all that he Created, much less Man, +Or ought that might his happie State secure, +Secure from outward force; within himself +The danger lies, yet lies within his power: +Against his will he can receave no harme. 350 +But God left free the Will, for what obeyes +Reason, is free, and Reason he made right, +But bid her well beware, and still erect, +Least by some faire appeering good surpris'd +She dictate false, and missinforme the Will +To do what God expresly hath forbid. +Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes, +That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me. +Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, +Since Reason not impossibly may meet 360 +Some specious object by the Foe subornd, +And fall into deception unaware, +Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd. +Seek not temptation then, which to avoide +Were better, and most likelie if from mee +Thou sever not; Trial will come unsought. +Wouldst thou approve thy constancie, approve +First thy obedience; th' other who can know, +Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? +But if thou think, trial unsought may finde 370 +Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst, +Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; +Go in thy native innocence, relie +On what thou hast of vertue, summon all, +For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. +So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but Eve +Persisted, yet submiss, though last, repli'd. +With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd +Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words +Touchd onely, that our trial, when least sought, 380 +May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd, +The willinger I goe, nor much expect +A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek; +So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. +Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand +Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light +Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's Traine, +Betook her to the Groves, but Delia's self +In gate surpass'd and Goddess-like deport, +Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd, 390 +But with such Gardning Tools as Are yet rude, +Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought, +To Pales, or Pomona, thus adornd, +Likest she seemd, Pomona when she fled +Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her Prime, +Yet Virgin of Proserpina from Jove. +Her long with ardent look his Eye pursu'd +Delighted, but desiring more her stay. +Oft he to her his charge of quick returne, +Repeated, shee to him as oft engag'd 400 +To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre, +And all things in best order to invite +Noontide repast, or Afternoons repose. +O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless Eve, +Of thy presum'd return! event perverse! +Thou never from that houre in Paradise +Foundst either sweet repast, or found repose; +Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades +Waited with hellish rancor imminent +To intercept thy way, or send thee back 410 +Despoild of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss. +For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend, +Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come, +And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde +The onely two of Mankinde, but in them +The whole included Race, his purposd prey. +In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft +Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay, +Thir tendance or Plantation for delight, +By Fountain or by shadie Rivulet 420 +He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find +Eve separate, he wish'd, but not with hope +Of what so seldom chanc'd, when to his wish, +Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, +Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood, +Half spi'd, so thick the Roses bushing round +About her glowd, oft stooping to support +Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay +Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold, +Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies 430 +Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while, +Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour, +>From her best prop so farr, and storm so nigh. +Neerer he drew, and many a walk travers'd +Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme, +Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen +Among thick-wov'n Arborets and Flours +Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of Eve: +Spot more delicious then those Gardens feign'd +Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renownd 440 +Alcinous, host of old Laertes Son, +Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient King +Held dalliance with his faire Egyptian Spouse. +Much hee the Place admir'd, the Person more. +As one who long in populous City pent, +Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy the Aire, +Forth issuing on a Summers Morn, to breathe +Among the pleasant Villages and Farmes +Adjoynd, from each thing met conceaves delight, +The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine, 450 +Or Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound; +If chance with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass, +What pleasing seemd, for her now pleases more, +She most, and in her look summs all Delight. +Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold +This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of Eve +Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav'nly forme +Angelic, but more soft, and Feminine, +Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire +Of gesture or lest action overawd 460 +His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd +His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: +That space the Evil one abstracted stood +>From his own evil, and for the time remaind +Stupidly good, of enmitie disarm'd, +Of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge; +But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes, +Though in mid Heav'n, soon ended his delight, +And tortures him now more, the more he sees +Of pleasure not for him ordain'd: then soon 470 +Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts +Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. +Thoughts, whither have he led me, with what sweet +Compulsion thus transported to forget +What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope +Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste +Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy, +Save what is in destroying, other joy +To me is lost. Then let me not let pass +Occasion which now smiles, behold alone 480 +The Woman, opportune to all attempts, +Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh, +Whose higher intellectual more I shun, +And strength, of courage hautie, and of limb +Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould, +Foe not informidable, exempt from wound, +I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and paine +Infeebl'd me, to what I was in Heav'n. +Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods, +Not terrible, though terrour be in Love 490 +And beautie, not approacht by stronger hate, +Hate stronger, under shew of Love well feign'd, +The way which to her ruin now I tend. +So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos'd +In Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward Eve +Address'd his way, not with indented wave, +Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare, +Circular base of rising foulds, that tour'd +Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head +Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes; 500 +With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect +Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass +Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape, +And lovely, never since of Serpent kind +Lovelier, not those that in Illyria chang'd +Hermione and Cadmus, or the God +In Epidaurus; nor to which transformd +Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen, +Hee with Olympias, this with her who bore +Scipio the highth of Rome. With tract oblique 510 +At first, as one who sought access, but feard +To interrupt, side-long he works his way. +As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought +Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind +Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; +So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine +Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, +To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound +Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us'd +To such disport before her through the Field, 520 +>From every Beast, more duteous at her call, +Then at Circean call the Herd disguis'd. +Hee boulder now, uncall'd before her stood; +But as in gaze admiring: Oft he bowd +His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck, +Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod. +His gentle dumb expression turnd at length +The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he glad +Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue +Organic, or impulse of vocal Air, 530 +His fraudulent temptation thus began. +Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps +Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm +Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain, +Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze +Insatiate, I thus single; nor have feard +Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. +Fairest resemblance of thy Maker faire, +Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine +By gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore 540 +With ravishment beheld, there best beheld +Where universally admir'd; but here +In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among, +Beholders rude, and shallow to discerne +Half what in thee is fair, one man except, +Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen +A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and serv'd +By Angels numberless, thy daily Train. +So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd; +Into the Heart of Eve his words made way, 550 +Though at the voice much marveling; at length +Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake. +What may this mean? Language of Man pronounc't +By Tongue of Brute, and human sense exprest? +The first at lest of these I thought deni'd +To Beasts, whom God on their Creation-Day +Created mute to all articulat sound; +The latter I demurre, for in thir looks +Much reason, and in thir actions oft appeers. +Thee, Serpent, suttlest beast of all the field 560 +I knew, but not with human voice endu'd; +Redouble then this miracle, and say, +How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how +To me so friendly grown above the rest +Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? +Say, for such wonder claims attention due. +To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd. +Empress of this fair World, resplendent Eve, +Easie to mee it is to tell thee all +What thou commandst, and right thou shouldst be obeyd: 570 +I was at first as other Beasts that graze +The trodden Herb, of abject thoughts and low, +As was my food, nor aught but food discern'd +Or Sex, and apprehended nothing high: +Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc'd +A goodly Tree farr distant to behold +Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt, +Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew to gaze; +When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n, +Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense 580 +Then smell of sweetest Fenel, or the Teats +Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn, +Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play. +To satisfie the sharp desire I had +Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv'd +Not to deferr; hunger and thirst at once, +Powerful perswaders, quick'nd at the scent +Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene. +About the Mossie Trunk I wound me soon, +For high from ground the branches would require 590 +Thy utmost reach or Adams: Round the Tree +All other Beasts that saw, with like desire +Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. +Amid the Tree now got, where plentie hung +Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill +I spar'd not, for such pleasure till that hour +At Feed or Fountain never had I found. +Sated at length, ere long I might perceave +Strange alteration in me, to degree +Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech 600 +Wanted not long, though to this shape retaind. +Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep +I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind +Considerd all things visible in Heav'n, +Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good; +But all that fair and good in thy Divine +Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray +United I beheld; no Fair to thine +Equivalent or second, which compel'd +Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come 610 +And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd +Sovran of Creatures, universal Dame. +So talk'd the spirited sly Snake; and Eve +Yet more amaz'd unwarie thus reply'd. +Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt +The vertue of that Fruit, in thee first prov'd: +But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far? +For many are the Trees of God that grow +In Paradise, and various, yet unknown +To us, in such abundance lies our choice, 620 +As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht, +Still hanging incorruptible, till men +Grow up to thir provision, and more hands +Help to disburden Nature of her Bearth. +To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad. +Empress, the way is readie, and not long, +Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat, +Fast by a Fountain, one small Thicket past +Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept +My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon. 630 +Lead then, said Eve. Hee leading swiftly rowld +In tangles, and make intricate seem strait, +To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy +Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire +Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night +Condenses, and the cold invirons round, +Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame, +Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, +Hovering and blazing with delusive Light, +Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way 640 +To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole, +There swallow'd up and lost, from succour farr. +So glister'd the dire Snake and into fraud +Led Eve our credulous Mother, to the Tree +Of prohibition, root of all our woe; +Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. +Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither, +Fruitless to me, though Fruit be here to excess, +The credit of whose vertue rest with thee, +Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. 650 +But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch; +God so commanded, and left that Command +Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live +Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law. +To whom the Tempter guilefully repli'd. +Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit +Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eate, +Yet Lords declar'd of all in Earth or Aire? +To whom thus Eve yet sinless. Of the Fruit +Of each Tree in the Garden we may eate, 660 +But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst +The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate +Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die. +She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold +The Tempter, but with shew of Zeale and Love +To Man, and indignation at his wrong, +New part puts on, and as to passion mov'd, +Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely, and in act +Rais'd, as of som great matter to begin. +As when of old som Orator renound 670 +In Athens or free Rome, where Eloquence +Flourishd, since mute, to som great cause addrest, +Stood in himself collected, while each part, +Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue, +Somtimes in highth began, as no delay +Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right. +So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown +The Tempter all impassiond thus began. +O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant, +Mother of Science, Now I feel thy Power 680 +Within me cleere, not onely to discerne +Things in thir Causes, but to trace the wayes +Of highest Agents, deemd however wise. +Queen of this Universe, doe not believe +Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die: +How should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life +To Knowledge? By the Threatner, look on mee, +Mee who have touch'd and tasted, yet both live, +And life more perfet have attaind then Fate +Meant mee, by ventring higher then my Lot. 690 +Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast +Is open? or will God incense his ire +For such a pretty Trespass, and not praise +Rather your dauntless vertue, whom the pain +Of Death denounc't, whatever thing Death be, +Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade +To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil; +Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil +Be real, why not known, since easier shunnd? +God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; 700 +Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeid: +Your feare it self of Death removes the feare. +Why then was this forbid? Why but to awe, +Why but to keep ye low and ignorant, +His worshippers; he knows that in the day +Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere, +Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then +Op'nd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods, +Knowing both Good and Evil as they know. +That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man, 710 +Internal Man, is but proportion meet, +I of brute human, yee of human Gods. +So ye shalt die perhaps, by putting off +Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht, +Though threat'nd, which no worse then this can bring +And what are Gods that Man may not become +As they, participating God-like food? +The Gods are first, and that advantage use +On our belief, that all from them proceeds, +I question it, for this fair Earth I see, 720 +Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind, +Them nothing: If they all things, who enclos'd +Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree, +That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains +Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies +Th' offence, that Man should thus attain to know? +What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree +Impart against his will if all be his? +Or is it envie, and can envie dwell +In heav'nly brests? these, these and many more 730 +Causes import your need of this fair Fruit. +Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste. +He ended, and his words replete with guile +Into her heart too easie entrance won: +Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd, which to behold +Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound +Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregn'd +With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth; +Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and wak'd +An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell 740 +So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire, +Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, +Sollicited her longing eye; yet first +Pausing a while, thus to her self she mus'd. +Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits, +Though kept from Man, & worthy to be admir'd, +Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay +Gave elocution to the mute, and taught +The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise: +Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use, 750 +Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree +Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; +Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding +Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good +By thee communicated, and our want: +For good unknown, sure is not had, or had +And yet unknown, is as not had at all. +In plain then, what forbids he but to know, +Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? +Such prohibitions binde not. But if Death 760 +Bind us with after-bands, what profits then +Our inward freedom? In the day we eate +Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die. +How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat'n and lives, +And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes, +Irrational till then. For us alone +Was death invented? or to us deni'd +This intellectual food, for beasts reserv'd? +For Beasts it seems: yet that one Beast which first +Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy 770 +The good befall'n him, Author unsuspect, +Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile. +What fear I then, rather what know to feare +Under this ignorance of Good and Evil, +Of God or Death, of Law or Penaltie? +Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine, +Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Taste, +Of vertue to make wise: what hinders then +To reach, and feed at once both Bodie and Mind? +So saying, her rash hand in evil hour 780 +Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck'd, she eat: +Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat +Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe, +That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk +The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for Eve +Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else +Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd, +In Fruit she never tasted, whether true +Or fansied so, through expectation high +Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought. 790 +Greedily she ingorg'd without restraint, +And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length, +And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon, +Thus to her self she pleasingly began. +O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees +In Paradise, of operation blest +To Sapience, hitherto obscur'd, infam'd, +And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end +Created; but henceforth my early care, +Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise 800 +Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease +Of thy full branches offer'd free to all; +Till dieted by thee I grow mature +In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know; +Though others envie what they cannot give; +For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here +Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe, +Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind +In ignorance, thou op'nst Wisdoms way, +And giv'st access, though secret she retire. 810 +And I perhaps am secret; Heav'n is high, +High and remote to see from thence distinct +Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps +May have diverted from continual watch +Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies +About him. But to Adam in what sort +Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known +As yet my change, and give him to partake +Full happiness with mee, or rather not, +But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power 820 +Without Copartner? so to add what wants +In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love, +And render me more equal, and perhaps +A thing not undesireable, somtime +Superior; for inferior who is free? +This may be well: but what if God have seen, +And Death ensue? then I shall be no more, +And Adam wedded to another Eve, +Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; +A death to think. Confirm'd then I resolve, 830 +Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe: +So dear I love him, that with him all deaths +I could endure; without him live no life. +So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd, +But first low Reverence don, as to the power +That dwelt within, whose presence had infus'd +Into the plant sciential sap, deriv'd +>From Nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while +Waiting desirous her return, had wove +Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorne 840 +Her Tresses, and her rural labours crown +As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen. +Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new +Solace in her return, so long delay'd; +Yet oft his heart, divine of somthing ill, +Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt; +And forth to meet her went, the way she took +That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree +Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met, +Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand 850 +A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil'd, +New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus'd. +To him she hasted, in her face excuse +Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt, +Which with bland words at will she thus addrest. +Hast thou not wonderd, Adam, at my stay? +Thee I have misst, and thought it long, depriv'd +Thy presence, agonie of love till now +Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more +Mean I to trie, what rash untri'd I sought, 860 +The paine of absence from thy sight. But strange +Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to heare: +This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree +Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown +Op'ning the way, but of Divine effect +To open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste; +And hath bin tasted such; the Serpent wise, +Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying, +Hath eat'n of the fruit, and is become, +Not dead, as we are threatn'd, but thenceforth 870 +Endu'd with human voice and human sense, +Reasoning to admiration, and with mee +Perswasively hath so prevaild, that I +Have also tasted, and have also found +Th' effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes, +Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart, +And growing up to Godhead; which for thee +Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. +For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss, +Tedious, unshar'd with thee, and odious soon. 880 +Thou therefore also taste, that equal Lot +May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love; +Least thou not tasting, different degree +Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce +Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit. +Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her storie told; +But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd. +On th' other side, Adam, soon as he heard +The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amaz'd, +Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill 890 +Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax'd; +>From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for Eve +Down drop'd, and all the faded Roses shed: +Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length +First to himself he inward silence broke. +O fairest of Creation, last and best +Of all Gods Works, Creature in whom excell'd +Whatever can to fight or thought be found, +Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! +How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost, 900 +Defac't, deflourd, and now to Death devote? +Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress +The strict forbiddance, how to violate +The sacred Fruit forbidd'n! som cursed fraud +Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown, +And mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee +Certain my resolution is to Die; +How can I live without thee, how forgoe +Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd, +To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn? 910 +Should God create another Eve, and I +Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee +Would never from my heart; no no, I feel +The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh, +Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State +Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. +So having said, as one from sad dismay +Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbd +Submitting to what seemd remediless, +Thus in calme mood his Words to Eve he turnd. 920 +Bold deed thou hast presum'd, adventrous Eve, +And peril great provok't, who thus hast dar'd +Had it bin onely coveting to Eye +That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence, +Much more to taste it under banne to touch. +But past who can recall, or don undoe? +Not God omnipotent, for Fate, yet so +Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact +Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit, +Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first 930 +Made common and unhallowd: ere one tastes; +Nor yet on him found deadly; he yet lives, +Lives, as thou saidst, and gaines to live as Man +Higher degree of Life, inducement strong +To us, as likely tasting to attaine +Proportional ascent, which cannot be +But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods. +Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, +Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy +Us his prime Creatures, dignifi'd so high, 940 +Set over all his Works, which in our Fall, +For us created, needs with us must faile, +Dependent made; so God shall uncreate, +Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose, +Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power +Creation could repeate, yet would be loath +Us to abolish, least the Adversary +Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God +Most Favors, who can please him long? Mee first +He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next? 950 +Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe. +However I with thee have fixt my Lot, +Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death +Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life; +So forcible within my heart I feel +The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne, +My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; +Our State cannot be severd, we are one, +One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self. +So Adam, and thus Eve to him repli'd. 960 +O glorious trial of exceeding Love, +Illustrious evidence, example high! +Ingaging me to emulate, but short +Of thy perfection, how shall I attaine, +Adam, from whose deare side I boast me sprung, +And gladly of our Union heare thee speak, +One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff +This day affords, declaring thee resolvd, +Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread +Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare, 970 +To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime, +If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit, +Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds, +Direct, or by occasion hath presented +This happie trial of thy Love, which else +So eminently never had bin known. +Were it I thought Death menac't would ensue +This my attempt, I would sustain alone +The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die +Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact 980 +Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assur'd +Remarkably so late of thy so true, +So faithful Love unequald; but I feel +Farr otherwise th' event, not Death, but Life +Augmented, op'nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes, +Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before +Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. +On my experience, Adam, freely taste, +And fear of Death deliver to the Windes. +So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy 990 +Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love +Had so enobl'd, as of choice to incurr +Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death. +In recompence (for such compliance bad +Such recompence best merits) from the bough +She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit +With liberal hand: he scrupl'd not to eat +Against his better knowledge, not deceav'd, +But fondly overcome with Femal charm. +Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again 1000 +In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan, +Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops +Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin +Original; while Adam took no thought, +Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate +Her former trespass fear'd, the more to soothe +Him with her lov'd societie, that now +As with new Wine intoxicated both +They swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel +Divinitie within them breeding wings 1010 +Wherewith to scorn the Earth: but that false Fruit +Farr other operation first displaid, +Carnal desire enflaming, hee on Eve +Began to cast lascivious Eyes, she him +As wantonly repaid; in Lust they burne: +Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. +Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, +And elegant, of Sapience no small part, +Since to each meaning savour we apply, +And Palate call judicious; I the praise 1020 +Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd. +Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain'd +>From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now +True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be +In things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd, +For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten. +But come, so well refresh't, now let us play, +As meet is, after such delicious Fare; +For never did thy Beautie since the day +I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd 1030 +With all perfections, so enflame my sense +With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now +Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree. +So said he, and forbore not glance or toy +Of amorous intent, well understood +Of Eve, whose Eye darted contagious Fire. +Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank, +Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd +He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch, +Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel, 1040 +And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap. +There they thir fill of Love and Loves disport +Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale, +The solace of thir sin, till dewie sleep +Oppress'd them, wearied with thir amorous play. +Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit, +That with exhilerating vapour bland +About thir spirits had plaid, and inmost powers +Made erre, was now exhal'd, and grosser sleep +Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams 1050 +Encumberd, now had left them, up they rose +As from unrest, and each the other viewing, +Soon found thir Eyes how op'nd, and thir minds +How dark'nd; innocence, that as a veile +Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gon, +Just confidence, and native righteousness, +And honour from about them, naked left +To guiltie shame hee cover'd, but his Robe +Uncover'd more. So rose the Danite strong +Herculean Samson from the Harlot-lap 1060 +Of Philistean Dalilah, and wak'd +Shorn of his strength, They destitute and bare +Of all thir vertue: silent, and in face +Confounded long they sate, as struck'n mute, +Till Adam, though not less then Eve abasht, +At length gave utterance to these words constraind. +O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give care +To that false Worm, of whomsoever taught +To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall, +False in our promis'd Rising; since our Eyes 1070 +Op'nd we find indeed, and find we know +Both Good and Evil, Good lost and Evil got, +Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know, +Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void, +Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie, +Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind, +And in our Faces evident the signes +Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; +Even shame, the last of evils; of the first +Be sure then. How shall I behold the face 1080 +Henceforth of God or Angel, earst with joy +And rapture so oft beheld? those heav'nly shapes +Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze +Insufferably bright. O might I here +In solitude live savage, in some glad +Obscur'd, where highest Woods impenetrable +To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad, +And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines, +Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs +Hide me, where I may never see them more. 1090 +But let us now, as in bad plight, devise +What best may for the present serve to hide +The Parts of each from other, that seem most +To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen, +Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd, +And girded on our loyns, may cover round +Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame, +There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. +So counsel'd hee, and both together went +Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose 1100 +The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit renown'd, +But such as at this day to Indians known +In Malabar or Decan spreds her Armes +Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground +The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow +About the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade +High overarch't, and echoing Walks between; +There oft the Indian Herdsman shunning heate +Shelters in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds +At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves 1110 +They gatherd, broad as Amazonian Targe, +And with what skill they had, together sowd, +To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide +Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike +To that first naked Glorie. Such of late +Columbus found th' American to girt +With featherd Cincture, naked else and wilde +Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores. +Thus fenc't, and as they thought, thir shame in part +Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind, 1120 +They sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares +Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within +Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate, +Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore +Thir inward State of Mind, calme Region once +And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent: +For Understanding rul'd not, and the Will +Heard not her lore, both in subjection now +To sensual Appetite, who from beneathe +Usurping over sovran Reason claimd 1130 +Superior sway: From thus distemperd brest, +Adam, estrang'd in look and alterd stile, +Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewd. +Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words, & stai'd +With me, as I besought thee, when that strange +Desire of wandring this unhappie Morn, +I know not whence possessd thee; we had then +Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild +Of all our good, sham'd, naked, miserable. +Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve 1140 +The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek +Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile. +To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus Eve. +What words have past thy Lips, Adam severe, +Imput'st thou that to my default, or will +Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows +But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by, +Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou bin there, +Or bere th' attempt, thou couldst not have discernd +Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; 1150 +No ground of enmitie between us known, +Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme. +Was I to have never parted from thy side? +As good have grown there still a liveless Rib. +Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head +Command me absolutely not to go, +Going into such danger as thou saidst? +Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay, +Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. +Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent, 1160 +Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with mee. +To whom then first incenst Adam repli'd. +Is this the Love, is the recompence +Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, exprest +Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, +Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss, +Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee: +And am I now upbraided, as the cause +Of thy transgressing? not enough severe, +It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? 1170 +I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold +The danger, and the lurking Enemie +That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force, +And force upon free Will hath here no place. +But confidence then bore thee on, secure +Either to meet no danger, or to finde +Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps +I also err'd in overmuch admiring +What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought +No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue 1180 +That errour now, which is become my crime, +And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befall +Him who to worth in Women overtrusting +Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook, +And left to her self, if evil thence ensue, +Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse. +Thus they in mutual accusation spent +The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning +And of thir vain contest appeer'd no end. + +Notes: +186 not] nor 1674. +213 hear] bear 1674. +394 Likest] likeliest 1674. +922 hast] hath 1674. + +The End Of The Ninth Book. + + + +BOOK X. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +Mans transgression known, the Guardian Angels forsake +Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve thir vigilance, and +are approv'd, God declaring that The entrance of Satan could not +be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the +Transgressors, who descends and gives Sentence accordingly; +then in pity cloaths them both, and reascends. Sin and Death +sitting till then at the Gates of Hell by wondrous sympathie feeling +the success of Satan in this new World, and the sin by Man there +committed, resolve to sit no longer confin'd in Hell, but to follow +Satan thir Sire up to the place of Man: To make the way easier +from Hell to this World to and fro, they pave a broad Highway or +Bridge over Chaos, according to the Track that Satan first made; +then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his success +returning to Hell; thir mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at +Pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his success +against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss +by all his audience, transform'd with himself also suddenly into +Serpents, according to his doom giv'n in Paradise; then deluded +with a shew of the forbidden Tree springing up before them, they +greedily reaching to take of the Fruit, chew dust and bitter +ashes.The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels the final +Victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but +for the present commands his Angels to make several alterations +in the Heavens and Elements. Adam more and more perceiving +his fall'n condition heavily bewailes, rejects the condolement of +Eve; she persists and at length appeases him: then to evade the +Curse likely to fall on thir Ofspring, proposes to Adam violent +wayes, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts +her in mind of the late Promise made them, that her Seed should +be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek +Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. + +Meanwhile the hainous and despightfull act +Of Satan done in Paradise, and how +Hee in the Serpent had perverted Eve, +Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit, +Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye +Of God All-seeing, or deceave his Heart +Omniscient, who in all things wise and just, +Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde +Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will arm'd, +Complete to have discover'd and repulst 10 +Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend. +For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd +The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit, +Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, +Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie, +And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall. +Up into Heav'n from Paradise in hast +Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad +For Man, for of his state by this they knew, +Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln 20 +Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news +>From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd +All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare +That time Celestial visages, yet mixt +With pitie, violated not thir bliss. +About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes +Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know +How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream +Accountable made haste to make appear +With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance, 30 +And easily approv'd; when the most High +Eternal Father from his secret Cloud, +Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice. +Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd +>From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid, +Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth, +Which your sincerest care could not prevent, +Foretold so lately what would come to pass, +When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell. +I told ye then he should prevail and speed 40 +On his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't +And flatter'd out of all, believing lies +Against his Maker; no Decree of mine +Concurring to necessitate his Fall, +Or touch with lightest moment of impulse +His free Will, to her own inclining left +In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now +What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass +On his transgression, Death denounc't that day, +Which he presumes already vain and void, 50 +Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, +By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find +Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. +Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd. +But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee +Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd +All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth; or Hell. +Easie it may be seen that I intend +Mercie collegue with Justice, sending thee +Mans Friend, his Mediator, his design'd 60 +Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie, +And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n. +So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright +Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son +Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full +Resplendent all his Father manifest +Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde. +Father Eternal, thine is to decree, +Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will +Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd 70 +Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge +On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst, +Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light, +When time shall be, for so I undertook +Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine +Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom +On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so +Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most +Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. +Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none 80 +Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd, +Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd, +Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law +Conviction to the Serpent none belongs. +Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose +Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers, +Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant +Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence +Eden and all the Coast in prospect lay. +Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods 90 +Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd. +Now was the Sun in Western cadence low +>From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour +To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in +The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole +Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both +To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard +Now walking in the Garden, by soft windes +Brought to thir Ears, while day declin'd, they heard +And from his presence hid themselves among 100 +The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God +Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud. +Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet +My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, +Not pleas'd, thus entertaind with solitude, +Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught: +Or come I less conspicuous, or what change +Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth. +He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first +To offend, discount'nanc't both, and discompos'd; 110 +Love was not in thir looks, either to God +Or to each other, but apparent guilt, +And shame, and perturbation, and despaire, +Anger, and obstinacie, and hate, and guile. +Whence Adam faultring long, thus answer'd brief. +I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice +Affraid, being naked, hid my self. To whom +The gracious Judge without revile repli'd. +My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, +But still rejoyc't, how is it now become 120 +So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who +Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree +Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? +To whom thus Adam sore beset repli'd. +O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand +Before my Judge, either to undergoe +My self the total Crime, or to accuse +My other self, the partner of my life; +Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines, +I should conceal, and not expose to blame 130 +By my complaint; but strict necessitie +Subdues me, and calamitous constraint, +Least on my head both sin and punishment, +However insupportable, be all +Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou +Wouldst easily detect what I conceale. +This Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help, +And gav'st me as thy perfet gift, so good, +So fit, so acceptable, so Divine, +That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 140 +And what she did, whatever in it self, +Her doing seem'd to justifie the deed; +Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate. +To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd. +Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey +Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide, +Superior, or but equal, that to her +Thou did'st resigne thy Manhood, and the Place +Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, +And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd 150 +Hers in all real dignitie: Adornd +She was indeed, and lovely to attract +Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts +Were such as under Government well seem'd, +Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part +And person, had'st thou known thy self aright. +So having said, he thus to Eve in few: +Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done? +To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd, +Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge 160 +Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd. +The Serpent me beguil'd and I did eate. +Which when the Lord God heard, without delay +To Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd +Serpent though brute, unable to transferre +The Guilt on him who made him instrument +Of mischief, and polluted from the end +Of his Creation; justly then accurst, +As vitiated in Nature: more to know +Concern'd not Man (since he no further knew) 170 +Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last +To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd, +Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best: +And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. +Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst +Above all Cattel, each Beast of the Field; +Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe, +And dust shalt eat all the days of thy Life. +Between Thee and the Woman I will put +Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed; 180 +Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. +So spake this Oracle, then verifi'd +When Jesus son of Mary second Eve, +Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heav'n, +Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave +Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumpht +In open shew, and with ascention bright +Captivity led captive through the Aire, +The Realme it self of Satan long usurpt, +Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; 190 +Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise, +And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd. +Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie +By thy Conception; Children thou shalt bring +In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will +Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule. +On Adam last thus judgement he pronounc'd. +Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife, +And eaten of the Tree concerning which +I charg'd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate thereof, 200 +Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow +Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life; +Thornes also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth +Unbid, and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field, +In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eate Bread, +Till thou return unto the ground, for thou +Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth, +For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne. +So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent, +And th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day 210 +Remov'd farr off; then pittying how they stood +Before him naked to the aire, that now +Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin +Thenceforth the forme of servant to assume, +As when he wash'd his servants feet, so now +As Father of his Familie he clad +Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain, +Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid; +And thought not much to cloath his Enemies: +Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins 220 +Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more +Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness, +Araying cover'd from his Fathers sight. +To him with swift ascent he up returnd, +Into his blissful bosom reassum'd +In glory as of old, to him appeas'd +All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man +Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. +Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth, +Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death, 230 +In counterview within the Gates, that now +Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame +Farr into Chaos, since the Fiend pass'd through, +Sin opening, who thus now to Death began. +O Son, why sit we here each other viewing +Idlely, while Satan our great Author thrives +In other Worlds, and happier Seat provides +For us his ofspring deare? It cannot be +But that success attends him; if mishap, +Ere this he had return'd, with fury driv'n 240 +By his Avenger, since no place like this +Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. +Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, +Wings growing, and Dominion giv'n me large +Beyond this Deep; whatever drawes me on, +Or sympathie, or som connatural force +Powerful at greatest distance to unite +With secret amity things of like kinde +By secretest conveyance. Thou my Shade +Inseparable must with mee along: 250 +For Death from Sin no power can separate. +But least the difficultie of passing back +Stay his returne perhaps over this Gulfe +Impassable, impervious, let us try +Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine +Not unagreeable, to found a path +Over this Maine from Hell to that new World +Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument +Of merit high to all th' infernal Host, +Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse, 260 +Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead. +Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn +By this new felt attraction and instinct. +Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon. +Goe whither Fate and inclination strong +Leads thee, I shall not lag behinde, nor erre +The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw +Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste +The savour of Death from all things there that live: +Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest 270 +Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. +So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell +Of mortal change on Earth. As when a flock +Of ravenous Fowl, though many a League remote, +Against the day of Battel, to a Field, +Where Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd +With sent of living Carcasses design'd +For death, the following day, in bloodie fight. +So sented the grim Feature, and upturn'd +His Nostril wide into the murkie Air, 280 +Sagacious of his Quarrey from so farr. +Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste +Wide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark +Flew divers, & with Power (thir Power was great) +Hovering upon the Waters; what they met +Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea +Tost up and down, together crowded drove +>From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell. +As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse +Upon the Cronian Sea, together drive 290 +Mountains of Ice, that stop th' imagin'd way +Beyond Petsora Eastward, to the rich +Cathaian Coast. The aggregated Soyle +Death with his Mace petrific, cold and dry, +As with a Trident smote, and fix't as firm +As Delos floating once; the rest his look +Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move, +And with Asphaltic slime; broad as the Gate, +Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach +They fasten'd, and the Mole immense wraught on 300 +Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge +Of length prodigious joyning to the Wall +Immoveable of this now fenceless world +Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, +Smooth, easie, inoffensive down to Hell. +So, if great things to small may be compar'd, +Xerxes, the Libertie of Greece to yoke, +>From Susa his Memnonian Palace high +Came to the Sea, and over Hellespont +Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joyn'd, 310 +And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves. +Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art +Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock +Over the vext Abyss, following the track +Of Satan, to the selfsame place where hee +First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe +>From out of Chaos to the outside bare +Of this round World: with Pinns of Adamant +And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made +And durable; and now in little space 320 +The Confines met of Empyrean Heav'n +And of this World, and on the left hand Hell +With long reach interpos'd; three sev'ral wayes +In sight, to each of these three places led. +And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd, +To Paradise first tending, when behold +Satan in likeness of an Angel bright +Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing +His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose: +Disguis'd he came, but those his Children dear 330 +Thir Parent soon discern'd, though in disguise. +Hee, after Eve seduc't, unminded slunk +Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape +To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act +By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded +Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought +Vain covertures; but when he saw descend +The Son of God to judge them, terrifi'd +Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun +The present, fearing guiltie what his wrauth 340 +Might suddenly inflict; that past, return'd +By Night, and listning where the hapless Paire +Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint, +Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood +Not instant, but of future time. With joy +And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd, +And at the brink of Chaos, neer the foot +Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhop't +Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear. +Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight 350 +Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreas'd. +Long hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire +Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke. +O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds, +Thy Trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own, +Thou art thir Author and prime Architect: +For I no sooner in my Heart divin'd, +My Heart, which by a secret harmonie +Still moves with thine, joyn'd in connexion sweet, +That thou on Earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks 360 +Now also evidence, but straight I felt +Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt +That I must after thee with this thy Son; +Such fatal consequence unites us three: +Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, +Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure +Detain from following thy illustrious track. +Thou hast atchiev'd our libertie, confin'd +Within Hell Gates till now, thou us impow'rd +To fortifie thus farr, and overlay 370 +With this portentous Bridge the dark Abyss. +Thine now is all this World, thy vertue hath won +What thy hands builded not, thy Wisdom gain'd +With odds what Warr hath lost, and fully aveng'd +Our foile in Heav'n; here thou shalt Monarch reign, +There didst not; there let him still Victor sway, +As Battel hath adjudg'd, from this new World +Retiring, by his own doom alienated, +And henceforth Monarchie with thee divide +Of all things, parted by th' Empyreal bounds, 380 +His Quadrature, from thy Orbicular World, +Or trie thee now more dang'rous to his Throne. +Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answerd glad. +Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both, +High proof ye now have giv'n to be the Race +Of Satan (for I glorie in the name, +Antagonist of Heav'ns Almightie King) +Amply have merited of me, of all +Th' Infernal Empire, that so neer Heav'ns dore +Triumphal with triumphal act have met, 390 +Mine with this glorious Work, & made one Realm +Hell and this World, one Realm, one Continent +Of easie thorough-fare. Therefore while I +Descend through Darkness, on your Rode with ease +To my associate Powers, them to acquaint +With these successes, and with them rejoyce, +You two this way, among those numerous Orbs +All yours, right down to Paradise descend; +There dwell & Reign in bliss, thence on the Earth +Dominion exercise and in the Aire, 400 +Chiefly on Man, sole Lord of all declar'd, +Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. +My Substitutes I send ye, and Create +Plenipotent on Earth, of matchless might +Issuing from mee: on your joynt vigor now +My hold of this new Kingdom all depends, +Through Sin to Death expos'd by my exploit. +If your joynt power prevaile, th' affaires of Hell +No detriment need feare, goe and be strong. +So saying he dismiss'd them, they with speed 410 +Thir course through thickest Constellations held +Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs lookt wan, +And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclips +Then sufferd. Th' other way Satan went down +The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side +Disparted Chaos over built exclaimd, +And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild, +That scorn'd his indignation: through the Gate, +Wide open and unguarded, Satan pass'd, +And all about found desolate; for those 420 +Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge, +Flown to the upper World; the rest were all +Farr to the inland retir'd, about the walls +Of Pandemonium, Citie and proud seate +Of Lucifer, so by allusion calld, +Of that bright Starr to Satan paragond. +There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand +In Council sate, sollicitous what chance +Might intercept thir Emperour sent, so hee +Departing gave command, and they observ'd. 430 +As when the Tartar from his Russian Foe +By Astracan over the Snowie Plaines +Retires, or Bactrian Sophi from the hornes +Of Turkish Crescent, leaves all waste beyond +The Realme of Aladule, in his retreate +To Tauris or Casbeen. So these the late +Heav'n-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell +Many a dark League, reduc't in careful Watch +Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting +Each hour their great adventurer from the search 440 +Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt, +In shew plebeian Angel militant +Of lowest order, past; and from the dore +Of that Plutonian Hall, invisible +Ascended his high Throne, which under state +Of richest texture spred, at th' upper end +Was plac't in regal lustre. Down a while +He sate, and round about him saw unseen: +At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head +And shape Starr bright appeer'd, or brighter, clad 450 +With what permissive glory since his fall +Was left him, or false glitter: All amaz'd +At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng +Bent thir aspect, and whom they wish'd beheld, +Thir mighty Chief returnd: loud was th' acclaime: +Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting Peers, +Rais'd from thir dark Divan, and with like joy +Congratulant approach'd him, who with hand +Silence, and with these words attention won. +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, 460 +For in possession such, not onely of right, +I call ye and declare ye now, returnd +Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth +Triumphant out of this infernal Pit +Abominable, accurst, the house of woe, +And Dungeon of our Tyrant: Now possess, +As Lords, a spacious World, to our native Heaven +Little inferiour, by my adventure hard +With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell +What I have don, what sufferd, with what paine 470 +Voyag'd the unreal, vast, unbounded deep +Of horrible confusion, over which +By Sin and Death a broad way now is pav'd +To expedite your glorious march; but I +Toild out my uncouth passage, forc't to ride +Th' untractable Abysse, plung'd in the womb +Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wilde, +That jealous of thir secrets fiercely oppos'd +My journey strange, with clamorous uproare +Protesting Fate supreame; thence how I found 480 +The new created World, which fame in Heav'n +Long had foretold, a Fabrick wonderful +Of absolute perfection, therein Man +Plac't in a Paradise, by our exile +Made happie: Him by fraud I have seduc'd +>From his Creator, and the more to increase +Your wonder, with an Apple; he thereat +Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv'n up +Both his beloved Man and all his World, +To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, 490 +Without our hazard, labour or allarme, +To range in, and to dwell, and over Man +To rule, as over all he should have rul'd. +True is, mee also he hath judg'd, or rather +Mee not, but the brute Serpent in whose shape +Man I deceav'd: that which to mee belongs, +Is enmity, which he will put between +Mee and Mankinde; I am to bruise his heel; +His Seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: +A World who would not purchase with a bruise, 500 +Or much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account +Of my performance: What remaines, ye Gods, +But up and enter now into full bliss. +So having said, a while he stood, expecting +Thir universal shout and high applause +To fill his eare, when contrary he hears +On all sides, from innumerable tongues +A dismal universal hiss, the sound +Of public scorn; he wonderd, but not long +Had leasure, wondring at himself now more; 510 +His Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare, +His Armes clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining +Each other, till supplanted down he fell +A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone, +Reluctant, but in vaine, a greater power +Now rul'd him, punisht in the shape he sin'd, +According to his doom: he would have spoke, +But hiss for hiss returnd with forked tongue +To forked tongue, for now were all transform'd +Alike, to Serpents all as accessories 520 +To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din +Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now +With complicated monsters, head and taile, +Scorpion and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, +Cerastes hornd, Hydrus, and Ellops drear, +And Dipsas (Not so thick swarm'd once the Soil +Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the Isle +Ophiusa) but still greatest hee the midst, +Now Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun +Ingenderd in the Pythian Vale on slime, 530 +Huge Python, and his Power no less he seem'd +Above the rest still to retain; they all +Him follow'd issuing forth to th' open Field, +Where all yet left of that revolted Rout +Heav'n-fall'n, in station stood or just array, +Sublime with expectation when to see +In Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief; +They saw, but other sight instead, a crowd +Of ugly Serpents; horror on them fell, +And horrid sympathie; for what they saw, 540 +They felt themselvs now changing; down thir arms, +Down fell both Spear and Shield, down they as fast, +And the dire hiss renew'd, and the dire form +Catcht by Contagion, like in punishment, +As in thir crime. Thus was th' applause they meant, +Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame +Cast on themselves from thir own mouths. There stood +A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change, +His will who reigns above, to aggravate +Thir penance, laden with fair Fruit, like that 550 +Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve +Us'd by the Tempter: on that prospect strange +Thir earnest eyes they fix'd, imagining +For one forbidden Tree a multitude +Now ris'n, to work them furder woe or shame; +Yet parcht with scalding thurst and hunger fierce, +Though to delude them sent, could not abstain, +But on they rould in heaps, and up the Trees +Climbing, sat thicker then the snakie locks +That curld Megaera: greedily they pluck'd 560 +The Frutage fair to sight, like that which grew +Neer that bituminous Lake where Sodom flam'd; +This more delusive, not the touch, but taste +Deceav'd; they fondly thinking to allay +Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit +Chewd bitter Ashes, which th' offended taste +With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayd, +Hunger and thirst constraining, drugd as oft, +With hatefullest disrelish writh'd thir jaws +With foot and cinders fill'd; so oft they fell 570 +Into the same illusion, not as Man +Whom they triumph'd once lapst. Thus were they plagu'd +And worn with Famin, long and ceasless hiss, +Till thir lost shape, permitted, they resum'd, +Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo +This annual humbling certain number'd days, +To dash thir pride, and joy for Man seduc't. +However some tradition they dispers'd +Among the Heathen of thir purchase got, +And Fabl'd how the Serpent, whom they calld 580 +Ophion with Eurynome, the wide- +Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule +Of high Olympus, thence by Saturn driv'n +And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. +Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair +Too soon arriv'd, Sin there in power before, +Once actual, now in body, and to dwell +Habitual habitant; behind her Death +Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet +On his pale Horse: to whom Sin thus began. 590 +Second of Satan sprung, all conquering Death, +What thinkst thou of our Empire now, though earnd +With travail difficult, not better farr +Then stil at Hels dark threshold to have sate watch, +Unnam'd, undreaded, and thy self half starv'd? +Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answerd soon. +To mee, who with eternal Famin pine, +Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven, +There best, where most with ravin I may meet; +Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems 600 +To stuff this Maw, this vast unhide-bound Corps. +To whom th' incestuous Mother thus repli'd. +Thou therefore on these Herbs, and Fruits, & Flours +Feed first, on each Beast next, and Fish, and Fowle, +No homely morsels, and whatever thing +The Sithe of Time mowes down, devour unspar'd, +Till I in Man residing through the Race, +His thoughts, his looks, words, actions all infect, +And season him thy last and sweetest prey. +This said, they both betook them several wayes, 610 +Both to destroy, or unimmortal make +All kinds, and for destruction to mature +Sooner or later; which th' Almightie seeing, +>From his transcendent Seat the Saints among, +To those bright Orders utterd thus his voice. +See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance +To waste and havoc yonder World, which I +So fair and good created, and had still +Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man +Let in these wastful Furies, who impute 620 +Folly to mee, so doth the Prince of Hell +And his Adherents, that with so much ease +I suffer them to enter and possess +A place so heav'nly, and conniving seem +To gratifie my scornful Enemies, +That laugh, as if transported with some fit +Of Passion, I to them had quitted all, +At random yeilded up to their misrule; +And know not that I call'd and drew them thither +My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth 630 +Which mans polluting Sin with taint hath shed +On what was pure, till cramm'd and gorg'd, nigh burst +With suckt and glutted offal, at one fling +Of thy victorious Arm, well-pleasing Son, +Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave at last +Through Chaos hurld, obstruct the mouth of Hell +For ever, and seal up his ravenous Jawes. +Then Heav'n and Earth renewd shall be made pure +To sanctitie that shall receive no staine: +Till then the Curse pronounc't on both precedes. 640 +Hee ended, and the heav'nly Audience loud +Sung Halleluia, as the sound of Seas, +Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways, +Righteous are thy Decrees on all thy Works; +Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son, +Destin'd restorer of Mankind, by whom +New Heav'n and Earth shall to the Ages rise, +Or down from Heav'n descend. Such was thir song, +While the Creator calling forth by name +His mightie Angels gave them several charge, 650 +As sorted best with present things. The Sun +Had first his precept so to move, so shine, +As might affect the Earth with cold and heat +Scarce tollerable, and from the North to call +Decrepit Winter, from the South to bring +Solstitial summers heat. To the blanc Moone +Her office they prescrib'd, to th' other five +Thir planetarie motions and aspects +In Sextile, Square, and Trine, and Opposite, +Of noxious efficacie, and when to joyne 660 +In Synod unbenigne, and taught the fixt +Thir influence malignant when to showre, +Which of them rising with the Sun, or falling, +Should prove tempestuous: To the Winds they set +Thir corners, when with bluster to confound +Sea, Aire, and Shoar, the Thunder when to rowle +With terror through the dark Aereal Hall. +Some say he bid his Angels turne ascanse +The Poles of Earth twice ten degrees and more +>From the Suns Axle; they with labour push'd 670 +Oblique the Centric Globe: Som say the Sun +Was bid turn Reines from th' Equinoctial Rode +Like distant breadth to Taurus with the Seav'n +Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins +Up to the Tropic Crab; thence down amaine +By Leo and the Virgin and the Scales, +As deep as Capricorne, to bring in change +Of Seasons to each Clime; else had the Spring +Perpetual smil'd on Earth with vernant Flours, +Equal in Days and Nights, except to those 680 +Beyond the Polar Circles; to them Day +Had unbenighted shon, while the low Sun +To recompence his distance, in thir sight +Had rounded still th' Horizon, and not known +Or East or West, which had forbid the Snow +>From cold Estotiland, and South as farr +Beneath Magellan. At that tasted Fruit +The Sun, as from Thyestean Banquet, turn'd +His course intended; else how had the World +Inhabited, though sinless, more then now, 690 +Avoided pinching cold and scorching heate? +These changes in the Heav'ns, though slow, produc'd +Like change on Sea and Land, sideral blast, +Vapour, and Mist, and Exhalation hot, +Corrupt and Pestilent: Now from the North +Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shoar +Bursting thir brazen Dungeon, armd with ice +And snow and haile and stormie gust and flaw, +Boreas and Caecias and Argestes loud +And Thrascias rend the Woods and Seas upturn; 700 +With adverse blast up-turns them from the South +Notus and Afer black with thundrous Clouds +>From Serraliona; thwart of these as fierce +Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent Windes +Eurus and Zephir with thir lateral noise, +Sirocco, and Libecchio. Thus began +Outrage from liveless things; but Discord first +Daughter of Sin, among th' irrational, +Death introduc'd through fierce antipathie: +Beast now with Beast gan war, & Fowle with Fowle, 710 +And Fish with Fish; to graze the Herb all leaving, +Devourd each other; nor stood much in awe +Of Man, but fled him, or with count'nance grim +Glar'd on him passing: these were from without +The growing miseries, which Adam saw +Alreadie in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, +To sorrow abandond, but worse felt within, +And in a troubl'd Sea of passion tost, +Thus to disburd'n sought with sad complaint. +O miserable of happie! is this the end 720 +Of this new glorious World, and mee so late +The Glory of that Glory, who now becom +Accurst of blessed, hide me from the face +Of God, whom to behold was then my highth +Of happiness: yet well, if here would end +The miserie, I deserv'd it, and would beare +My own deservings; but this will not serve; +All that I eate or drink, or shall beget, +Is propagated curse. O voice once heard +Delightfully, Encrease And Multiply, 730 +Now death to heare! for what can I encrease +Or multiplie, but curses on my head? +Who of all Ages to succeed, but feeling +The evil on him brought by me, will curse +My Head, Ill fare our Ancestor impure, +For this we may thank Adam; but his thanks +Shall be the execration; so besides +Mine own that bide upon me, all from mee +Shall with a fierce reflux on mee redound, +On mee as on thir natural center light 740 +Heavie, though in thir place. O fleeting joyes +Of Paradise, deare bought with lasting woes! +Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay +To mould me Man, did I sollicite thee +>From darkness to promote me, or here place +In this delicious Garden? as my Will +Concurd not to my being, it were but right +And equal to reduce me to my dust, +Desirous to resigne, and render back +All I receav'd, unable to performe 750 +Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold +The good I sought not. To the loss of that, +Sufficient penaltie, why hast thou added +The sense of endless woes? inexplicable +Thy Justice seems; yet to say truth, too late, +I thus contest; then should have been refusd +Those terms whatever, when they were propos'd: +Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good, +Then cavil the conditions? and though God +Made thee without thy leave, what if thy Son 760 +Prove disobedient, and reprov'd, retort, +Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not: +Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee +That proud excuse? yet him not thy election, +But Natural necessity begot. +God made thee of choice his own, and of his own +To serve him, thy reward was of his grace, +Thy punishment then justly is at his Will. +Be it so, for I submit, his doom is fair, +That dust I am, and shall to dust returne: 770 +O welcom hour whenever! why delayes +His hand to execute what his Decree +Fixd on this day? why do I overlive, +Why am I mockt with death, and length'nd out +To deathless pain? how gladly would I meet +Mortalitie my sentence, and be Earth +Insensible, how glad would lay me down +As in my Mothers lap? there I should rest +And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more +Would Thunder in my ears, no fear of worse 780 +To mee and to my ofspring would torment me +With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt +Pursues me still, least all I cannot die, +Least that pure breath of Life, the Spirit of Man +Which God inspir'd, cannot together perish +With this corporeal Clod; then in the Grave, +Or in some other dismal place, who knows +But I shall die a living Death? O thought +Horrid, if true! yet why? it was but breath +Of Life that sinn'd; what dies but what had life 790 +And sin? the Bodie properly hath neither. +All of me then shall die: let this appease +The doubt, since humane reach no further knows. +For though the Lord of all be infinite, +Is his wrauth also? be it, man is not so, +But mortal doom'd. How can he exercise +Wrath without end on Man whom Death must end? +Can he make deathless Death? that were to make +Strange contradiction, which to God himself +Impossible is held, as Argument 800 +Of weakness, not of Power. Will he, draw out, +For angers sake, finite to infinite +In punisht man, to satisfie his rigour +Satisfi'd never; that were to extend +His Sentence beyond dust and Natures Law, +By which all Causes else according still +To the reception of thir matter act, +Not to th' extent of thir own Spheare. But say +That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd, +Bereaving sense, but endless miserie 810 +>From this day onward, which I feel begun +Both in me, and without me, and so last +To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear +Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution +On my defensless head; both Death and I +Am found Eternal, and incorporate both, +Nor I on my part single, in mee all +Posteritie stands curst: Fair Patrimonie +That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able +To waste it all my self, and leave ye none! 820 +So disinherited how would ye bless +Me now your Curse! Ah, why should all mankind +For one mans fault thus guiltless be condemn'd, +If guiltless? But from mee what can proceed, +But all corrupt, both Mind and Will deprav'd, +Not to do onely, but to will the same +With me? how can they acquitted stand +In sight of God? Him after all Disputes +Forc't I absolve: all my evasions vain +And reasonings, though through Mazes, lead me still 830 +But to my own conviction: first and last +On mee, mee onely, as the sourse and spring +Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; +So might the wrauth, Fond wish! couldst thou support +That burden heavier then the Earth to bear, +Then all the world much heavier, though divided +With that bad Woman? Thus what thou desir'st, +And what thou fearst, alike destroyes all hope +Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable +Beyond all past example and future, 840 +To Satan onely like both crime and doom. +O Conscience, into what Abyss of fears +And horrors hast thou driv'n me; out of which +I find no way, from deep to deeper plung'd! +Thus Adam to himself lamented loud +Through the still Night, now now, as ere man fell, +Wholsom and cool, and mild, but with black Air +Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom, +Which to his evil Conscience represented +All things with double terror: On the ground 850 +Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft +Curs'd his Creation, Death as oft accus'd +Of tardie execution, since denounc't +The day of his offence. Why comes not Death, +Said hee, with one thrice acceptable stroke +To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, +Justice Divine not hast'n to be just? +But Death comes not at call, Justice Divine +Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries. +O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales and Bowrs, 860 +With other echo farr I taught your Shades +To answer, and resound farr other Song. +Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, +Desolate where she sate, approaching nigh, +Soft words to his fierce passion she assay'd: +But her with stern regard he thus repell'd. +Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name best +Befits thee with him leagu'd, thy self as false +And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, +Like his, and colour Serpentine may shew 870 +Thy inward fraud, to warn all Creatures from thee +Henceforth; least that too heav'nly form, pretended +To hellish falshood, snare them. But for thee +I had persisted happie, had not thy pride +And wandring vanitie, when lest was safe, +Rejected my forewarning, and disdain'd +Not to be trusted, longing to be seen +Though by the Devil himself, him overweening +To over-reach, but with the Serpent meeting +Fool'd and beguil'd, by him thou, I by thee, 880 +To trust thee from my side, imagin'd wise, +Constant, mature, proof against all assaults, +And understood not all was but a shew +Rather then solid vertu, all but a Rib +Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, +More to the part sinister from me drawn, +Well if thrown out, as supernumerarie +To my just number found. O why did God, +Creator wise, that peopl'd highest Heav'n +With Spirits Masculine, create at last 890 +This noveltie on Earth, this fair defect +Of Nature, and not fill the World at once +With Men as Angels without Feminine, +Or find some other way to generate +Mankind? this mischief had not then befall'n, +And more that shall befall, innumerable +Disturbances on Earth through Femal snares, +And straight conjunction with this Sex: for either +He never shall find out fit Mate, but such +As some misfortune brings him, or mistake, 900 +Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain +Through her perverseness, but shall see her gaind +By a farr worse, or if she love, withheld +By Parents, or his happiest choice too late +Shall meet, alreadie linkt and Wedlock-bound +To a fell Adversarie, his hate or shame: +Which infinite calamitie shall cause +To humane life, and houshold peace confound. +He added not, and from her turn'd, but Eve +Not so repulst, with Tears that ceas'd not flowing, 910 +And tresses all disorderd, at his feet +Fell humble, and imbracing them, besaught +His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. +Forsake me not thus, Adam, witness Heav'n +What love sincere, and reverence in my heart +I beare thee, and unweeting have offended, +Unhappilie deceav'd; thy suppliant +I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, +Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, +Thy counsel in this uttermost distress, 920 +My onely strength and stay: forlorn of thee, +Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? +While yet we live, scarse one short hour perhaps, +Between us two let there be peace, both joyning, +As joyn'd in injuries, one enmitie +Against a Foe by doom express assign'd us, +That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not +Thy hatred for this miserie befall'n, +On me already lost, mee then thy self +More miserable; both have sin'd, but thou 930 +Against God onely, I against God and thee, +And to the place of judgement will return, +There with my cries importune Heaven, that all +The sentence from thy head remov'd may light +On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe, +Mee mee onely just object of his ire. +She ended weeping, and her lowlie plight, +Immoveable till peace obtain'd from fault +Acknowledg'd and deplor'd, in Adam wraught +Commiseration; soon his heart relented 940 +Towards her, his life so late and sole delight, +Now at his feet submissive in distress, +Creature so faire his reconcilement seeking, +His counsel whom she had displeas'd, his aide; +As one disarm'd, his anger all he lost, +And thus with peaceful words uprais'd her soon. +Unwarie, and too desirous, as before, +So now of what thou knowst not, who desir'st +The punishment all on thy self; alas, +Beare thine own first, ill able to sustaine 950 +His full wrauth whose thou feelst as yet lest part, +And my displeasure bearst so ill. If Prayers +Could alter high Decrees, I to that place +Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, +That on my head all might be visited, +Thy frailtie and infirmer Sex forgiv'n, +To me committed and by me expos'd. +But rise, let us no more contend, nor blame +Each other, blam'd enough elsewhere, but strive +In offices of Love, how we may light'n 960 +Each others burden in our share of woe; +Since this days Death denounc't, if ought I see, +Will prove no sudden, but a slow-pac't evill, +A long days dying to augment our paine, +And to our Seed (O hapless Seed!) deriv'd. +To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, repli'd. +Adam, by sad experiment I know +How little weight my words with thee can finde, +Found so erroneous, thence by just event +Found so unfortunate; nevertheless, 970 +Restor'd by thee, vile as I am, to place +Of new acceptance, hopeful to regaine +Thy Love, the sole contentment of my heart, +Living or dying from thee I will not hide +What thoughts in my unquiet brest are ris'n, +Tending to som relief of our extremes, +Or end, though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, +As in our evils, and of easier choice. +If care of our descent perplex us most, +Which must be born to certain woe, devourd 980 +By Death at last, and miserable it is +To be to others cause of misery, +Our own begotten, and of our Loines to bring +Into this cursed World a woful Race, +That after wretched Life must be at last +Food for so foule a Monster, in thy power +It lies, yet ere Conception to prevent +The Race unblest, to being yet unbegot. +Childless thou art, Childless remaine: +So Death shall be deceav'd his glut, and with us two 990 +Be forc'd to satisfie his Rav'nous Maw. +But if thou judge it hard and difficult, +Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain +>From Loves due Rites, Nuptial embraces sweet, +And with desire to languish without hope, +Before the present object languishing +With like desire, which would be miserie +And torment less then none of what we dread, +Then both our selves and Seed at once to free +>From what we fear for both, let us make short, 1000 +Let us seek Death, or hee not found, supply +With our own hands his Office on our selves; +Why stand we longer shivering under feares, +That shew no end but Death, and have the power, +Of many wayes to die the shortest choosing, +Destruction with destruction to destroy. +She ended heer, or vehement despaire +Broke off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts +Had entertaind, as di'd her Cheeks with pale. +But Adam with such counsel nothing sway'd, 1010 +To better hopes his more attentive minde +Labouring had rais'd, and thus to Eve repli'd. +Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems +To argue in thee somthing more sublime +And excellent then what thy minde contemnes; +But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes +That excellence thought in thee, and implies, +Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret +For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd. +Or if thou covet death, as utmost end 1020 +Of miserie, so thinking to evade +The penaltie pronounc't, doubt not but God +Hath wiselier arm'd his vengeful ire then so +To be forestall'd; much more I fear least Death +So snatcht will not exempt us from the paine +We are by doom to pay; rather such acts +Of contumacie will provoke the highest +To make death in us live: Then let us seek +Som safer resolution, which methinks +I have in view, calling to minde with heed 1030 +Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise +The Serpents head; piteous amends, unless +Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe +Satan, who in the Serpent hath contriv'd +Against us this deceit: to crush his head +Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost +By death brought on our selves, or childless days +Resolv'd, as thou proposest; so our Foe +Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and wee +Instead shall double ours upon our heads. 1040 +No more be mention'd then of violence +Against our selves, and wilful barrenness, +That cuts us off from hope, and savours onely +Rancor and pride, impatience and despite, +Reluctance against God and his just yoke +Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild +And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd +Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected +Immediate dissolution, which we thought +Was meant by Death that day, when lo, to thee 1050 +Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold, +And bringing forth, soon recompenc't with joy, +Fruit of thy Womb: On mee the Curse aslope +Glanc'd on the ground, with labour I must earne +My bread; what harm? Idleness had bin worse; +My labour will sustain me; and least Cold +Or Heat should injure us, his timely care +Hath unbesaught provided, and his hands +Cloath'd us unworthie, pitying while he judg'd; +How much more, if we pray him, will his ear 1060 +Be open, and his heart to pitie incline, +And teach us further by what means to shun +Th' inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow, +Which now the Skie with various Face begins +To shew us in this Mountain, while the Winds +Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks +Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us seek +Som better shroud, som better warmth to cherish +Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal Starr +Leave cold the Night, how we his gather'd beams 1070 +Reflected, may with matter sere foment, +Or by collision of two bodies grinde +The Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds +Justling or pusht with Winds rude in thir shock +Tine the slant Lightning, whose thwart flame driv'n down +Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine, +And sends a comfortable heat from farr, +Which might supplie the Sun: such Fire to use, +And what may else be remedie or cure +To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1080 +Hee will instruct us praying, and of Grace +Beseeching him, so as we need not fear +To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd +By him with many comforts, till we end +In dust, our final rest and native home. +What better can we do, then to the place +Repairing where he judg'd us, prostrate fall +Before him reverent, and there confess +Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears +Watering the ground, and with our sighs the Air 1090 +Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign +Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek. +Undoubtedly he will relent and turn +>From his displeasure; in whose look serene, +When angry most he seem'd and most severe, +What else but favor, grace, and mercie shon? +So spake our Father penitent, nor Eve +Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the place +Repairing where he judg'd them prostrate fell +Before him reverent, and both confess'd 1100 +Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears +Watering the ground, and with thir sighs the Air +Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign +Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek. + +Notes: +58 may] might 1674. +241 Avenger] Avengers 1674. +397 those] these 1674. +827 they acquitted] they then acquitted 1674. + +The End Of The Tenth Book. + + + +BOOK XI. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +The Son of God presents to his Father the Prayers of our first +Parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts +them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; +sends Michael with a Band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but +first to reveal to Adam future things: Michaels coming down, +Adam shews to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michaels +approach, goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces thir +departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: The +Angel leads him up to a high Hill, sets before him in a vision +what shall happ'n till the Flood. + +Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stood +Praying, for from the Mercie-seat above +Prevenient Grace descending had remov'd +The stonie from thir hearts, and made new flesh +Regenerat grow instead, that sighs now breath'd +Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer +Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight +Then loudest Oratorie: yet thir port +Not of mean suiters, nor important less +Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair 10 +In Fables old, less ancient yet then these, +Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha to restore +The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine +Of Themis stood devout. To Heav'n thir prayers +Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious windes +Blow'n vagabond or frustrate: in they passd +Dimentionless through Heav'nly dores; then clad +With incense, where the Golden Altar fum'd, +By thir great Intercessor, came in sight +Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son 20 +Presenting, thus to intercede began. +See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung +>From thy implanted Grace in Man, these Sighs +And Prayers, which in this Golden Censer, mixt +With Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring, +Fruits of more pleasing savour from thy seed +Sow'n with contrition in his heart, then those +Which his own hand manuring all the Trees +Of Paradise could have produc't, ere fall'n +>From innocence. Now therefore bend thine eare 30 +To supplication, heare his sighs though mute; +Unskilful with what words to pray, let mee +Interpret for him, mee his Advocate +And propitiation, all his works on mee +Good or not good ingraft, my Merit those +Shall perfet, and for these my Death shall pay. +Accept me, and in mee from these receave +The smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live +Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days +Numberd, though sad, till Death, his doom (which I 40 +To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse) +To better life shall yeeld him, where with mee +All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss, +Made one with me as I with thee am one. +To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene. +All thy request for Man, accepted Son, +Obtain, all thy request was my Decree: +But longer in that Paradise to dwell, +The Law I gave to Nature him forbids: +Those pure immortal Elements that know 50 +No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule, +Eject him tainted now, and purge him off +As a distemper, gross to aire as gross, +And mortal food, as may dispose him best +For dissolution wrought by Sin, that first +Distemperd all things, and of incorrupt +Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts +Created him endowd, with Happiness +And Immortalitie: that fondly lost, +This other serv'd but to eternize woe; 60 +Till I provided Death; so Death becomes +His final remedie, and after Life +Tri'd in sharp tribulation, and refin'd +By Faith and faithful works, to second Life, +Wak't in the renovation of the just, +Resignes him up with Heav'n and Earth renewd. +But let us call to Synod all the Blest +Through Heav'ns wide bounds; from them I will not hide +My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed, +As how with peccant Angels late they saw; 70 +And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmd. +He ended, and the Son gave signal high +To the bright Minister that watchd, hee blew +His Trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps +When God descended, and perhaps once more +To sound at general Doom. Th' Angelic blast +Filld all the Regions: from thir blissful Bowrs +Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring, +By the waters of Life, where ere they sate +In fellowships of joy: the Sons of Light 80 +Hasted, resorting to the Summons high, +And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supream +Th' Almighty thus pronounced his sovran Will. +O Sons, like one of us Man is become +To know both Good and Evil, since his taste +Of that defended Fruit; but let him boast +His knowledge of Good lost, and Evil got, +Happier, had it suffic'd him to have known +Good by it self, and Evil not at all. +He sorrows now, repents, and prayes contrite, 90 +My motions in him, longer then they move, +His heart I know, how variable and vain +Self-left. Least therefore his now bolder hand +Reach also of the Tree of Life, and eat, +And live for ever, dream at least to live +Forever, to remove him I decree, +And send him from the Garden forth to Till +The Ground whence he was taken, fitter soile. +Michael, this my behest have thou in charge, +Take to thee from among the Cherubim 100 +Thy choice of flaming Warriours, least the Fiend +Or in behalf of Man, or to invade +Vacant possession som new trouble raise: +Hast thee, and from the Paradise of God +Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair, +>From hallowd ground th' unholie, and denounce +To them and to thir Progenie from thence +Perpetual banishment. Yet least they faint +At the sad Sentence rigorously urg'd, +For I behold them soft'nd and with tears 110 +Bewailing thir excess, all terror hide. +If patiently thy bidding they obey, +Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveale +To Adam what shall come in future dayes, +As I shall thee enlighten, intermix +My Cov'nant in the Womans seed renewd; +So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: +And on the East side of the Garden place, +Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbes, +Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame 120 +Wide waving, all approach farr off to fright, +And guard all passage to the Tree of Life: +Least Paradise a receptacle prove +To Spirits foule, and all my Trees thir prey, +With whose stol'n Fruit Man once more to delude. +He ceas'd; and th' Archangelic Power prepar'd +For swift descent, with him the Cohort bright +Of watchful Cherubim; four faces each +Had, like a double Janus, all thir shape +Spangl'd with eyes more numerous then those 130 +Of Argus, and more wakeful then to drouze, +Charm'd with Arcadian Pipe, the Pastoral Reed +Of Hermes, or his opiate Rod. Meanwhile +To resalute the World with sacred Light +Leucothea wak'd, and with fresh dews imbalmd +The Earth, when Adam and first Matron Eve +Had ended now thir Orisons, and found, +Strength added from above, new hope to spring +Out of despaire, joy, but with fear yet linkt; +Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewd. 140 +Eve, easily may Faith admit, that all +The good which we enjoy, from Heav'n descends +But that from us ought should ascend to Heav'n +So prevalent as to concerne the mind +Of God high blest, or to incline his will, +Hard to belief may seem; yet this will Prayer, +Or one short sigh of humane breath, up-borne +Ev'n to the Seat of God. For since I saught +By Prayer th' offended Deitie to appease, +Kneel'd and before him humbl'd all my heart, 150 +Methought I saw him placable and mild, +Bending his eare; perswasion in me grew +That I was heard with favour; peace returnd +Home to my brest, and to my memorie +His promise, that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe; +Which then not minded in dismay, yet now +Assures me that the bitterness of death +Is past, and we shall live. Whence Haile to thee, +Eve rightly call'd, Mother of all Mankind, +Mother of all things living, since by thee 160 +Man is to live, and all things live for Man. +To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek. +Ill worthie I such title should belong +To me transgressour, who for thee ordaind +A help, became thy snare; to mee reproach +Rather belongs, distrust and all dispraise: +But infinite in pardon was my Judge, +That I who first brought Death on all, am grac't +The sourse of life; next favourable thou, +Who highly thus to entitle me voutsaf't, 170 +Farr other name deserving. But the Field +To labour calls us now with sweat impos'd, +Though after sleepless Night; for see the Morn, +All unconcern'd with our unrest, begins +Her rosie progress smiling; let us forth, +I never from thy side henceforth to stray, +Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind +Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, +What can be toilsom in these pleasant Walkes? +Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content. 180 +So spake, so wish'd much-humbl'd Eve, but Fate +Subscrib'd not; Nature first gave Signs, imprest +On Bird, Beast, Aire, Aire suddenly eclips'd +After short blush of Morn; nigh in her sight +The Bird of Jove, stoopt from his aerie tour, +Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove: +Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods, +First Hunter then, pursu'd a gentle brace, +Goodliest of all the Forrest, Hart and Hinde; +Direct to th' Eastern Gate was bent thir flight. 190 +Adam observ'd, and with his Eye the chase +Pursuing, not unmov'd to Eve thus spake. +O Eve, some furder change awaits us nigh, +Which Heav'n by these mute signs in Nature shews +Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn +Us haply too secure of our discharge +>From penaltie, because from death releast +Some days; how long, and what till then our life, +Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust, +And thither must return and be no more. 200 +Why else this double object in our sight +Of flight pursu'd in th' Air and ore the ground +One way the self-same hour? why in the East +Darkness ere Dayes mid-course, and Morning light +More orient in yon Western Cloud that draws +O're the blew Firmament a radiant white, +And slow descends, with somthing heav'nly fraught. +He err'd not, for by this the heav'nly Bands +Down from a Skie of Jasper lighted now +In Paradise, and on a Hill made alt, 210 +A glorious Apparition, had not doubt +And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adams eye. +Not that more glorious, when the Angels met +Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw +The field Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright; +Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd +In Dothan, cover'd with a Camp of Fire, +Against the Syrian King, who to surprize +One man, Assassin-like had levied Warr, +Warr unproclam'd. The Princely Hierarch 220 +In thir bright stand, there left his Powers to seise +Possession of the Garden; hee alone, +To finde where Adam shelterd, took his way, +Not unperceav'd of Adam, who to Eve, +While the great Visitant approachd, thus spake. +Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps +Of us will soon determin, or impose +New Laws to be observ'd; for I descrie +>From yonder blazing Cloud that veils the Hill +One of the heav'nly Host, and by his Gate 230 +None of the meanest, some great Potentate +Or of the Thrones above, such Majestie +Invests him coming; yet not terrible, +That I should fear, nor sociably mild, +As Raphael, that I should much confide, +But solemn and sublime, whom not to offend, +With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. +He ended; and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, +Not in his shape Celestial, but as Man +Clad to meet Man; over his lucid Armes 240 +A militarie Vest of purple flowd +Livelier then Meliboean, or the graine +Of Sarra, worn by Kings and Hero's old +In time of Truce; Iris had dipt the wooff; +His starrie Helme unbuckl'd shew'd him prime +In Manhood where Youth ended; by his side +As in a glistering Zodiac hung the Sword, +Satans dire dread, and in his hand the Spear. +Adam bowd low, hee Kingly from his State +Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd. 250 +Adam, Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs: +Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard, and Death, +Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, +Defeated of his seisure many dayes +Giv'n thee of Grace, wherein thou may'st repent, +And one bad act with many deeds well done +Mayst cover: well may then thy Lord appeas'd +Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claimes; +But longer in this Paradise to dwell +Permits not; to remove thee I am come, 260 +And send thee from the Garden forth to till +The ground whence thou wast tak'n, fitter Soile. +He added not, for Adam at the newes +Heart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, +That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen +Yet all had heard, with audible lament +Discover'd soon the place of her retire. +O unexpected stroke, worse then of Death! +Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave +Thee Native Soile, these happie Walks and Shades, 270 +Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, +Quiet though sad, the respit of that day +That must be mortal to us both. O flours, +That never will in other Climate grow, +My early visitation, and my last +At Eev'n, which I bred up with tender hand +>From the first op'ning bud, and gave ye Names, +Who now shall reare ye to the Sun, or ranke +Your Tribes, and water from th' ambrosial Fount? +Thee lastly nuptial Bowre, by mee adornd 280 +With what to sight or smell was sweet; from thee +How shall I part, and whither wander down +Into a lower World, to this obscure +And wilde, how shall we breath in other Aire +Less pure, accustomd to immortal Fruits? +Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde. +Lament not Eve, but patiently resigne +What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, +Thus over fond, on that which is not thine; +Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes 290 +Thy Husband, him to follow thou art bound; +Where he abides, think there thy native soile. +Adam by this from the cold sudden damp +Recovering, and his scatterd spirits returnd, +To Michael thus his humble words addressd. +Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or nam'd +Of them the Highest, for such of shape may seem +Prince above Princes, gently hast thou tould +Thy message, which might else in telling wound, +And in performing end us; what besides 300 +Of sorrow and dejection and despair +Our frailtie can sustain, thy tidings bring, +Departure from this happy place, our sweet +Recess, and onely consolation left +Familiar to our eyes, all places else +Inhospitable appeer and desolate, +Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer +Incessant I could hope to change the will +Of him who all things can, I would not cease +To wearie him with my assiduous cries: 310 +But prayer against his absolute Decree +No more availes then breath against the winde, +Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth: +Therefore to his great bidding I submit. +This most afflicts me, that departing hence, +As from his face I shall be hid, deprivd +His blessed count'nance; here I could frequent, +With worship, place by place where he voutsaf'd +Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate; +On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree 320 +Stood visible, among these Pines his voice +I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk'd: +So many grateful Altars I would reare +Of grassie Terfe, and pile up every Stone +Of lustre from the brook, in memorie, +Or monument to Ages, and thereon +Offer sweet smelling Gumms & Fruits and Flours: +In yonder nether World where shall I seek +His bright appearances, or footstep trace? +For though I fled him angrie, yet recall'd 330 +To life prolongd and promisd Race, I now +Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts +Of glory, and farr off his steps adore. +To whom thus Michael with regard benigne. +Adam, thou know'st Heav'n his, and all the Earth +Not this Rock onely; his Omnipresence fills +Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives, +Fomented by his virtual power and warmd: +All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule, +No despicable gift; surmise not then 340 +His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd +Of Paradise or Eden: this had been +Perhaps thy Capital Seate, from whence had spred +All generations, and had hither come +>From all the ends of th' Earth, to celebrate +And reverence thee thir great Progenitor. +But this praeeminence thou hast lost, brought down +To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons: +Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine +God is as here, and will be found alike 350 +Present, and of his presence many a signe +Still following thee, still compassing thee round +With goodness and paternal Love, his Face +Express, and of his steps the track Divine. +Which that thou mayst beleeve, and be confirmd, +Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent +To shew thee what shall come in future dayes +To thee and to thy Ofspring; good with bad +Expect to hear, supernal Grace contending +With sinfulness of Men; thereby to learn 360 +True patience, and to temper joy with fear +And pious sorrow, equally enur'd +By moderation either state to beare, +Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead +Safest thy life, and best prepar'd endure +Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend +This Hill; let Eve (for I have drencht her eyes) +Here sleep below while thou to foresight wak'st, +As once thou slepst, while Shee to life was formd. +To whom thus Adam gratefully repli'd. 370 +Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path +Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Heav'n submit, +However chast'ning, to the evil turne +My obvious breast, arming to overcom +By suffering, and earne rest from labour won, +If so I may attain. So both ascend +In the Visions of God: It was a Hill +Of Paradise the highest, from whose top +The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken +Stretcht out to amplest reach of prospect lay. 380 +Not higher that Hill nor wider looking round, +Whereon for different cause the Tempter set +Our second Adam in the Wilderness, +To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory. +His Eye might there command wherever stood +City of old or modern Fame, the Seat +Of mightiest Empire, from the destind Walls +Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can +And Samarchand by Oxus, Temirs Throne, +To Paquin of Sinaean Kings, and thence 390 +To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul +Down to the golden Chersonese, or where +The Persian in Ecbatan sate, or since +In Hispahan, or where the Russian Ksar +In Mosco, or the Sultan in Bizance, +Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken +Th' Empire of Negus to his utmost Port +Ercoco and the less Maritine Kings +Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, +And Sofala thought Ophir, to the Realme 400 +Of Congo, and Angola fardest South; +Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount +The Kingdoms of Almansor, Fez, and Sus, +Marocco and Algiers, and Tremisen; +On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway +The World: in Spirit perhaps he also saw +Rich Mexico the seat of Motezume, +And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat +Of Atabalipa, and yet unspoil'd +Guiana, whose great Citie Geryons Sons 410 +Call El Dorado: but to nobler sights +Michael from Adams eyes the Filme remov'd +Which that false Fruit that promis'd clearer sight +Had bred; then purg'd with Euphrasie and Rue +The visual Nerve, for he had much to see; +And from the Well of Life three drops instill'd. +So deep the power of these Ingredients pierc'd, +Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight, +That Adam now enforc't to close his eyes, +Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst: 420 +But him the gentle Angel by the hand +Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd. +Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold +Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought +In some to spring from thee, who never touch'd +Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspir'd, +Nor sinn'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive +Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds. +His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field, +Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves 430 +New reapt, the other part sheep-walks and foulds; +Ith' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood +Rustic, of grassie sord; thither anon +A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage brought +First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf, +Uncull'd, as came to hand; a Shepherd next +More meek came with the Firstlings of his Flock +Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid +The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew'd, +On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform'd. 440 +His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav'n +Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steame; +The others not, for his was not sincere; +Whereat hee inlie rag'd, and as they talk'd, +Smote him into the Midriff with a stone +That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale +Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus'd. +Much at that sight was Adam in his heart +Dismai'd, and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd. +O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n 450 +To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd; +Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid? +T' whom Michael thus, hee also mov'd, repli'd. +These two are Brethren, Adam, and to come +Out of thy loyns; th' unjust the just hath slain, +For envie that his Brothers Offering found +>From Heav'n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact +Will be aveng'd, and th' others Faith approv'd +Loose no reward, though here thou see him die, +Rowling in dust and gore. To which our Sire. 460 +Alas, both for the deed and for the cause! +But have I now seen Death? Is this the way +I must return to native dust? O sight +Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, +Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! +To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen +In his first shape on man; but many shapes +Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead +To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense +More terrible at th' entrance then within. 470 +Some, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die, +By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more +In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shal bring +Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew +Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know +What miserie th' inabstinence of Eve +Shall bring on men. Immediately a place +Before his eyes appeard, sad, noysom, dark, +A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid +Numbers of all diseas'd, all maladies 480 +Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualmes +Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds, +Convulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs, +Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs, +Dropsies, and Asthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums. +Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair +Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch; +And over them triumphant Death his Dart +Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invok't +With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope. 490 +Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long +Drie-ey'd behold? Adam could not, but wept, +Though not of Woman born; compassion quell'd +His best of Man, and gave him up to tears +A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess, +And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd. +O miserable Mankind, to what fall +Degraded, to what wretched state reserv'd? +Better end heer unborn. Why is life giv'n +To be thus wrested from us? rather why 500 +Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew +What we receive, would either not accept +Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down, +Glad to be so dismist in peace. Can thus +Th' Image of God in man created once +So goodly and erect, though faultie since, +To such unsightly sufferings be debas't +Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, +Retaining still Divine similitude +In part, from such deformities be free, 510 +And for his Makers Image sake exempt? +Thir Makers Image, answerd Michael, then +Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd +To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took +His Image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice, +Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. +Therefore so abject is thir punishment, +Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own, +Or if his likeness, by themselves defac't +While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules 520 +To loathsom sickness, worthily, since they +Gods Image did not reverence in themselves. +I yeild it just, said Adam, and submit. +But is there yet no other way, besides +These painful passages, how we may come +To Death, and mix with our connatural dust? +There is, said Michael, if thou well observe +The rule of not too much, by temperance taught +In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence +Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, 530 +Till many years over thy head return: +So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop +Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease +Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature: +This is old age; but then thou must outlive +Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change +To witherd weak & gray; thy Senses then +Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgoe, +To what thou hast, and for the Aire of youth +Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne 540 +A melancholly damp of cold and dry +To waigh thy spirits down, and last consume +The Balme of Life. To whom our Ancestor. +Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong +Life much, bent rather how I may be quit +Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge, +Which I must keep till my appointed day +Of rendring up, Michael to him repli'd. +Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livst +Live well, how long or short permit to Heav'n: 550 +And now prepare thee for another sight. +He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine, whereon +Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds +Of Cattel grazing: others, whence the sound +Of Instruments that made melodious chime +Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moovd +Thir stops and chords was seen: his volant touch +Instinct through all proportions low and high +Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue. +In other part stood one who at the Forge 560 +Labouring, two massie clods of Iron and Brass +Had melted (whether found where casual fire +Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale, +Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot +To som Caves mouth, or whether washt by stream +>From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind +Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he formd +First his own Tooles; then, what might else be wrought +Fulfil or grav'n in mettle. After these, +But on the hether side a different sort 570 +>From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat, +Down to the Plain descended: by thir guise +Just men they seemd, and all thir study bent +To worship God aright, and know his works +Not hid, nor those things lost which might preserve +Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain +Long had not walkt, when from the Tents behold +A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay +In Gems and wanton dress; to the Harp they sung +Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on: 580 +The Men though grave, ey'd them, and let thir eyes +Rove without rein, till in the amorous Net +Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose; +And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star +Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat +They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke +Hymen, then first to marriage Rites invok't; +With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound. +Such happy interview and fair event +Of love & youth not lost, Songs, Garlands, Flours, 590 +And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart +Of Adam, soon enclin'd to admit delight, +The bent of Nature; which he thus express'd. +True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest, +Much better seems this Vision, and more hope +Of peaceful dayes portends, then those two past; +Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse, +Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends. +To whom thus Michael. Judg not what is best +By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, 600 +Created, as thou art, to nobler end +Holie and pure, conformitie divine. +Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents +Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his Race +Who slew his Brother; studious they appere +Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare, +Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit +Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none. +Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget; +For that fair femal Troop thou sawst, that seemd 610 +Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, +Yet empty of all good wherein consists +Womans domestic honour and chief praise; +Bred onely and completed to the taste +Of lustful apperence, to sing, to dance, +To dress, and troule the Tongue, and roule the Eye. +To these that sober Race of Men, whose lives +Religious titl'd them the Sons of God, +Shall yeild up all thir vertue, all thir fame +Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles 620 +Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy, +(Erelong to swim at larg) and laugh; for which +The world erelong a world of tears must weepe. +To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft. +O pittie and shame, that they who to live well +Enterd so faire, should turn aside to tread +Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! +But still I see the tenor of Mans woe +Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. +>From Mans effeminate slackness it begins, 630 +Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place +By wisdome, and superiour gifts receavd. +But now prepare thee for another Scene. +He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred +Before him, Towns, and rural works between, +Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs, +Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr, +Giants of mightie Bone, and bould emprise; +Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed, +Single or in Array of Battel rang'd 640 +Both Horse and Foot, nor idely mustring stood; +One way a Band select from forage drives +A herd of Beeves, faire Oxen and faire Kine +>From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock, +Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine, +Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds flye, +But call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray; +With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine; +Where Cattel pastur'd late, now scatterd lies +With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field 650 +Deserted: Others to a Citie strong +Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine, +Assaulting; others from the Wall defend +With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and sulfurous Fire; +On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds. +In other part the scepter'd Haralds call +To Council in the Citie Gates: anon +Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt, +Assemble, and Harangues are heard, but soon +In factious opposition, till at last 660 +Of middle Age one rising, eminent +In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong, +Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace, +And Judgement from above: him old and young +Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands, +Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence +Unseen amid the throng: so violence +Proceeded, and Oppression, and Sword-Law +Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found. +Adam was all in tears, and to his guide 670 +Lamenting turnd full sad; O what are these, +Deaths Ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death +Inhumanly to men, and multiply +Ten thousand fould the sin of him who slew +His Brother; for of whom such massacher +Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men? +But who was that Just Man, whom had not Heav'n +Rescu'd, had in his Righteousness bin lost? +To whom thus Michael; These are the product +Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st; 680 +Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves +Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt, +Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind. +Such were these Giants, men of high renown; +For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd, +And Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd; +To overcome in Battel, and subdue +Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite +Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch +Of human Glorie, and for Glorie done 690 +Of triumph, to be styl'd great Conquerours, +Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods, +Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men. +Thus Fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth, +And what most merits fame in silence hid. +But hee the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst +The onely righteous in a World perverse, +And therefore hated, therefore so beset +With Foes for daring single to be just, +And utter odious Truth, that God would come 700 +To judge them with his Saints: Him the most High +Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds +Did, as thou sawst, receave, to walk with God +High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss, +Exempt from Death; to shew thee what reward +Awaits the good, the rest what punishment; +Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. +He look'd, & saw the face of things quite chang'd; +The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar, +All now was turn'd to jollitie and game, 710 +To luxurie and riot, feast and dance, +Marrying or prostituting, as befell, +Rape or Adulterie, where passing faire +Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles. +At length a Reverend Sire among them came, +And of thir doings great dislike declar'd, +And testifi'd against thir wayes; hee oft +Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met, +Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preachd +Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls 720 +In prison under Judgements imminent: +But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd +Contending, and remov'd his Tents farr off; +Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall, +Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk, +Measur'd by Cubit, length, & breadth, and highth, +Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a dore +Contriv'd, and of provisions laid in large +For Man and Beast: when loe a wonder strange! +Of everie Beast, and Bird, and Insect small 730 +Came seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught +Thir order; last the Sire, and his three Sons +With thir four Wives, and God made fast the dore. +Meanwhile the Southwind rose, & with black wings +Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove +>From under Heav'n; the Hills to their supplie +Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist, +Sent up amain; and now the thick'nd Skie +Like a dark Ceeling stood; down rush'd the Rain +Impetuous, and continu'd till the Earth 740 +No more was seen; the floating Vessel swum +Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow +Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else +Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp +Deep under water rould; Sea cover'd Sea, +Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces +Where luxurie late reign'd, Sea-monsters whelp'd +And stabl'd; of Mankind, so numerous late, +All left, in one small bottom swum imbark't. +How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold 750 +The end of all thy Ofspring, end so sad, +Depopulation; thee another Floud, +Of tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd, +And sunk thee as thy Sons; till gently reard +By th' Angel, on thy feet thou stoodst at last, +Though comfortless, as when a Father mourns +His Childern, all in view destroyd at once; +And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint. +O Visions ill foreseen! better had I +Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne 760 +My part of evil onely, each dayes lot +Anough to bear; those now, that were dispenst +The burd'n of many Ages, on me light +At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth +Abortive, to torment me ere thir being, +With thought that they must be. Let no man seek +Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall +Him or his Childern, evil he may be sure, +Which neither his foreknowing can prevent, +And hee the future evil shall no less 770 +In apprehension then in substance feel +Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, +Man is not whom to warne: those few escap't +Famin and anguish will at last consume +Wandring that watrie Desert: I had hope +When violence was ceas't, and Warr on Earth, +All would have then gon well, peace would have crownd +With length of happy days the race of man; +But I was farr deceav'd; for now I see +Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste. 780 +How comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide, +And whether here the Race of man will end. +To whom thus Michael. Those whom last thou sawst +In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they +First seen in acts of prowess eminent +And great exploits, but of true vertu void; +Who having spilt much blood, and don much waste +Subduing Nations, and achievd thereby +Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey, +Shall change thir course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, 790 +Surfet, and lust, till wantonness and pride +Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace. +The conquerd also, and enslav'd by Warr +Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose +And feare of God, from whom thir pietie feign'd +In sharp contest of Battel found no aide +Against invaders; therefore coold in zeale +Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, +Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lords +Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' Earth shall bear 800 +More then anough, that temperance may be tri'd: +So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd, +Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot; +One Man except, the onely Son of light +In a dark Age, against example good, +Against allurement, custom, and a World +Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn, +Or violence, hee of thir wicked wayes +Shall them admonish, and before them set +The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, 810 +And full of peace, denouncing wrauth to come +On thir impenitence; and shall returne +Of them derided, but of God observd +The one just Man alive; by his command +Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst, +To save himself and houshold from amidst +A World devote to universal rack. +No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast +Select for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd, +And shelterd round, but all the Cataracts 820 +Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre +Raine day and night, all fountaines of the Deep +Broke up, shall heave the Ocean to usurp +Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise +Above the highest Hills: then shall this Mount +Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd +Out of his place, pushd by the horned floud, +With all his verdure spoil'd, and Trees adrift +Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf, +And there take root an Iland salt and bare, 830 +The haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang. +To teach thee that God attributes to place +No sanctitie, if none be thither brought +By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell. +And now what further shall ensue, behold. +He lookd, and saw the Ark hull on the floud, +Which now abated, for the Clouds were fled, +Drivn by a keen North-winde, that blowing drie +Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge, as decai'd; +And the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glass 840 +Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh Wave largely drew, +As after thirst, which made thir flowing shrink +>From standing lake to tripping ebbe, that stole +With soft foot towards the deep, who now had stopt +His Sluces, as the Heav'n his windows shut. +The Ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground +Fast on the top of som high mountain fixt. +And now the tops of Hills as Rocks appeer; +With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive +Towards the retreating Sea thir furious tyde. 850 +Forthwith from out the Arke a Raven flies, +And after him, the surer messenger, +A Dove sent forth once and agen to spie +Green Tree or ground whereon his foot may light; +The second time returning, in his Bill +An Olive leafe he brings, pacific signe: +Anon drie ground appeers, and from his Arke +The ancient Sire descends with all his Train; +Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, +Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds 860 +A dewie Cloud, and in the Cloud a Bow +Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay, +Betok'ning peace from God, and Cov'nant new. +Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad +Greatly rejoyc'd, and thus his joy broke forth. +O thou that future things canst represent +As present, Heav'nly instructer, I revive +At this last sight, assur'd that Man shall live +With all the Creatures, and thir seed preserve. +Farr less I now lament for one whole World 870 +Of wicked Sons destroyd, then I rejoyce +For one Man found so perfet and so just, +That God voutsafes to raise another World +>From him, and all his anger to forget. +But say, what mean those colourd streaks in Heavn, +Distended as the Brow of God appeas'd, +Or serve they as a flourie verge to binde +The fluid skirts of that same watrie Cloud, +Least it again dissolve and showr the Earth? +To whom th' Archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st; 880 +So willingly doth God remit his Ire, +Though late repenting him of Man deprav'd, +Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw +The whole Earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh +Corrupting each thir way; yet those remoov'd, +Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight, +That he relents, not to blot out mankind, +And makes a Covenant never to destroy +The Earth again by flood, nor let the Sea +Surpass his bounds, nor Rain to drown the World 890 +With Man therein or Beast; but when he brings +Over the Earth a Cloud, will therein set +His triple-colour'd Bow, whereon to look +And call to mind his Cov'nant: Day and Night, +Seed time and Harvest, Heat and hoary Frost +Shall hold thir course, till fire purge all things new, +Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell. + +Notes: +484 After this line, 1674 adds: + Daemoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie + And Moon struck madness, pining Atrophie, + Marasmus, and wide wasting Pestilence, +548 Of rendring up, and patiently attend + My dissolution. Michael repli'd 1674. +647 tacks] makes 1674. +866 that] who 1674. + +The end of the Eleventh Book. + + + +BOOK XII. + + +THE ARGUMENT. + +The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall +succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to +explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was +promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; his Incarnation, Death, +Resurrection, and Ascention; the state of the Church till his +second Coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these +Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael; wakens +Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams +compos'd to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either +hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind +them, and the Cherubim taking thir Stations to guard the Place. + +[As one who in his journey bates at Noone +Though bent on speed, so heer the Archangel' paus'd +Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor'd, +If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; +Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes] +Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end; +And Man as from a second stock proceed. +Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceave +Thy mortal sight to faile; objects divine +Must needs impaire and wearie human sense: 10 +Henceforth what is to com I will relate, +Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. +This second sours of Men, while yet but few, +And while the dread of judgement past remains +Fresh in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie, +With some regard to what is just and right +Shall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace, +Labouring the soile, and reaping plenteous crop, +Corn wine and oyle; and from the herd or flock, +Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid, 20 +With large Wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred Feast +Shal spend thir dayes in joy unblam'd, and dwell +Long time in peace by Families and Tribes +Under paternal rule; till one shall rise +Of proud ambitious heart, who not content +With fair equalitie, fraternal state, +Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'd +Over his brethren, and quite dispossess +Concord and law of Nature from the Earth; +Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall be his game) 30 +With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse +Subjection to his Empire tyrannous: +A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'd +Before the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n, +Or from Heav'n claming second Sovrantie; +And from Rebellion shall derive his name, +Though of Rebellion others he accuse. +Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns +With him or under him to tyrannize, +Marching from Eden towards the West, shall finde 40 +The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge +Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell; +Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build +A Citie & Towre, whose top may reach to Heav'n; +And get themselves a name, least far disperst +In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost, +Regardless whether good or evil fame. +But God who oft descends to visit men +Unseen, and through thir habitations walks +To mark thir doings, them beholding soon, 50 +Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower +Obstruct Heav'n Towrs, and in derision sets +Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase +Quite out thir Native Language, and instead +To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: +Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud +Among the Builders; each to other calls +Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage, +As mockt they storm; great laughter was in Heav'n +And looking down, to see the hubbub strange 60 +And hear the din; thus was the building left +Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd. +Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd. +O execrable Son so to aspire +Above his Brethren, to himself affirming +Authoritie usurpt, from God not giv'n: +He gave us onely over Beast, Fish, Fowl +Dominion absolute; that right we hold +By his donation; but Man over men +He made not Lord; such title to himself 70 +Reserving, human left from human free. +But this Usurper his encroachment proud +Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends +Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food +Will he convey up thither to sustain +Himself and his rash Armie, where thin Aire +Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gross, +And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread? +To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorr'st +That Son, who on the quiet state of men 80 +Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue +Rational Libertie; yet know withall, +Since thy original lapse, true Libertie +Is lost, which alwayes with right Reason dwells +Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being: +Reason in man obscur'd, or not obeyd, +Immediately inordinate desires +And upstart Passions catch the Government +>From Reason, and to servitude reduce +Man till then free. Therefore since hee permits 90 +Within himself unworthie Powers to reign +Over free Reason, God in Judgement just +Subjects him from without to violent Lords; +Who oft as undeservedly enthrall +His outward freedom: Tyrannie must be, +Though to the Tyrant thereby no excuse. +Yet somtimes Nations will decline so low +>From vertue, which is reason, that no wrong, +But Justice, and some fatal curse annext +Deprives them of thir outward libertie, 100 +Thir inward lost: Witness th' irreverent Son +Of him who built the Ark, who for the shame +Don to his Father, heard this heavie curse, +Servant Of Servants, on his vitious Race. +Thus will this latter, as the former World, +Still tend from bad to worse, till God at last +Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw +His presence from among them, and avert +His holy Eyes; resolving from thenceforth +To leave them to thir own polluted wayes; 110 +And one peculiar Nation to select +>From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd, +A Nation from one faithful man to spring: +Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, +Bred up in Idol-worship; O that men +(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, +While yet the Patriark liv'd, who scap'd the Flood, +As to forsake the living God, and fall +To-worship thir own work in Wood and Stone +For Gods! yet him God the most High voutsafes 120 +To call by Vision from his Fathers house, +His kindred and false Gods, into a Land +Which he will shew him, and from him will raise +A mightie Nation, and upon him showre +His benediction so, that in his Seed +All Nations shall be blest; hee straight obeys, +Not knowing to what Land, yet firm believes: +I see him, but thou canst not, with what Faith +He leaves his Gods, his Friends, and native Soile +Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the Ford 130 +To Haran, after him a cumbrous Train +Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous servitude; +Not wandring poor, but trusting all his wealth +With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown. +Canaan he now attains, I see his Tents +Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine +Of Moreb; there by promise he receaves +Gift to his Progenie of all that Land; +>From Hamath Northward to the Desert South +(Things by thir names I call, though yet unnam'd) 140 +>From Hermon East to the great Western Sea, +Mount Hermon, yonder Sea, each place behold +In prospect, as I point them; on the shoare +Mount Carmel; here the double-founted stream +Jordan, true limit Eastward; but his Sons +Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of Hills. +This ponder, that all Nations of the Earth +Shall in his Seed be blessed; by that Seed +Is meant thy great deliverer, who shall bruise +The Serpents head; whereof to thee anon 150 +Plainlier shall be reveald. This Patriarch blest, +Whom Faithful Abraham due time shall call, +A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves, +Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown; +The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increast, departs +>From Canaan, to a Land hereafter call'd +Egypt, divided by the River Nile; +See where it flows, disgorging at seaven mouthes +Into the Sea: to sojourn in that Land +He comes invited by a yonger Son 160 +In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy deeds +Raise him to be the second in that Realme +Of Pharao: there he dies, and leaves his Race +Growing into a Nation, and now grown +Suspected to a sequent King, who seeks +To stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guests +Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves +Inhospitably, and kills thir infant Males: +Till by two brethren (those two brethren call +Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claime 170 +His people from enthralment, they return +With glory and spoile back to thir promis'd Land. +But first the lawless Tyrant, who denies +To know thir God, or message to regard, +Must be compelld by Signes and Judgements dire; +To blood unshed the Rivers must be turnd, +Frogs, Lice and Flies must all his Palace fill +With loath'd intrusion, and fill all the land; +His Cattel must of Rot and Murren die, +Botches and blaines must all his flesh imboss, 180 +And all his people; Thunder mixt with Haile, +Haile mixt with fire must rend th' Egyptian Skie +And wheel on th' Earth, devouring where it rouls; +What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or Graine, +A darksom Cloud of Locusts swarming down +Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green: +Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, +Palpable darkness, and blot out three dayes; +Last with one midnight stroke all the first-born +Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds 190 +This River-dragon tam'd at length submits +To let his sojourners depart, and oft +Humbles his stubborn heart, but still as Ice +More hard'nd after thaw, till in his rage +Pursuing whom he late dismissd, the Sea +Swallows him with his Host, but them lets pass +As on drie land between two christal walls, +Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to stand +Divided, till his rescu'd gain thir shoar: +Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend, 200 +Though present in his Angel, who shall goe +Before them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire, +To guide them in thir journey, and remove +Behinde them, while th' obdurat King pursues: +All night he will pursue, but his approach +Darkness defends between till morning Watch; +Then through the Firey Pillar and the Cloud +God looking forth will trouble all his Host +And craze thir Chariot wheels: when by command +Moses once more his potent Rod extends 210 +Over the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys; +On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves return, +And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race elect +Safe towards Canaan from the shoar advance +Through the wilde Desert, not the readiest way, +Least entring on the Canaanite allarmd +Warr terrifie them inexpert, and feare +Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather +Inglorious life with servitude; for life +To noble and ignoble is more sweet 220 +Untraind in Armes, where rashness leads not on. +This also shall they gain by thir delay +In the wide Wilderness, there they shall found +Thir government, and thir great Senate choose +Through the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws ordaind: +God from the Mount of Sinai, whose gray top +Shall tremble, he descending, will himself +In Thunder Lightning and loud Trumpets sound +Ordaine them Lawes; part such as appertaine +To civil Justice, part religious Rites 230 +Of sacrifice, informing them, by types +And shadowes, of that destind Seed to bruise +The Serpent, by what meanes he shall achieve +Mankinds deliverance. But the voice of God +To mortal eare is dreadful; they beseech +That Moses might report to them his will, +And terror cease; he grants them thir desire, +Instructed that to God is no access +Without Mediator, whose high Office now +Moses in figure beares, to introduce 240 +One greater, of whose day he shall foretell, +And all the Prophets in thir Age the times +Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus Laws and Rites +Establisht, such delight hath God in Men +Obedient to his will, that he voutsafes +Among them to set up his Tabernacle, +The holy One with mortal Men to dwell: +By his prescript a Sanctuary is fram'd +Of Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein +An Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony, 250 +The Records of his Cov'nant, over these +A Mercie-seat of Gold between the wings +Of two bright Cherubim, before him burn +Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing +The Heav'nly fires; over the Tent a Cloud +Shall rest by Day, a fierie gleame by Night, +Save when they journie, and at length they come, +Conducted by his Angel to the Land +Promisd to Abraham and his Seed: the rest +Were long to tell, how many Battels fought, 260 +How many Kings destroyd, and Kingdoms won, +Or how the Sun shall in mid Heav'n stand still +A day entire, and Nights due course adjourne, +Mans voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon stand, +And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon, +Till Israel overcome; so call the third +>From Abraham, Son of Isaac, and from him +His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win. +Here Adam interpos'd. O sent from Heav'n, +Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things 270 +Thou hast reveald, those chiefly which concerne +Just Abraham and his Seed: now first I finde +Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd, +Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becom +Of mee and all Mankind; but now I see +His day, in whom all Nations shall be blest, +Favour unmerited by me, who sought +Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means. +This yet I apprehend not, why to those +Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth 280 +So many and so various Laws are giv'n; +So many Laws argue so many sins +Among them; how can God with such reside? +To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin +Will reign among them, as of thee begot; +And therefore was Law given them to evince +Thir natural pravitie, by stirring up +Sin against Law to fight; that when they see +Law can discover sin, but not remove, +Save by those shadowie expiations weak, 290 +The bloud of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude +Some bloud more precious must be paid for Man, +Just for unjust, that in such righteousness +To them by Faith imputed, they may finde +Justification towards God, and peace +Of Conscience, which the Law by Ceremonies +Cannot appease, nor Man the moral part +Perform, and not performing cannot live. +So Law appears imperfet, and but giv'n +With purpose to resign them in full time 300 +Up to a better Cov'nant, disciplin'd +>From shadowie Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit, +>From imposition of strict Laws, to free +Acceptance of large Grace, from servil fear +To filial, works of Law to works of Faith. +And therefore shall not Moses, though of God +Highly belov'd, being but the Minister +Of Law, his people into Canaan lead; +But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call, +His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell 310 +The adversarie Serpent, and bring back +Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man +Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. +Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac't +Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins +National interrupt thir public peace, +Provoking God to raise them enemies: +>From whom as oft he saves them penitent +By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom +The second, both for pietie renownd 320 +And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive +Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne +For ever shall endure; the like shall sing +All Prophecie, That of the Royal Stock +Of David (so I name this King) shall rise +A Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold, +Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust +All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings +The last, for of his Reign shall be no end. +But first a long succession must ensue, 330 +And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd, +The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents +Wandring, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine. +Such follow him, as shall be registerd +Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle, +Whose foul Idolatries, and other faults +Heapt to the popular summe, will so incense +God, as to leave them, and expose thir Land, +Thir Citie, his Temple, and his holy Ark +With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 340 +To that proud Citie, whose high Walls thou saw'st +Left in confusion, Babylon thence call'd. +There in captivitie he lets them dwell +The space of seventie years, then brings them back, +Remembring mercie, and his Cov'nant sworn +To David, stablisht as the dayes of Heav'n. +Returnd from Babylon by leave of Kings +Thir Lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God +They first re-edifie, and for a while +In mean estate live moderate, till grown 350 +In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; +But first among the Priests dissension springs, +Men who attend the Altar, and should most +Endeavour Peace: thir strife pollution brings +Upon the Temple it self: at last they seise +The Scepter, and regard not Davids Sons, +Then loose it to a stranger, that the true +Anointed King Messiah might be born +Barr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a Starr +Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com, 360 +And guides the Eastern Sages, who enquire +His place, to offer Incense, Myrrh, and Gold; +His place of birth a solemn Angel tells +To simple Shepherds, keeping watch by night; +They gladly thither haste, and by a Quire +Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung. +A Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire +The Power of the most High; he shall ascend +The Throne hereditarie, and bound his Reign +With earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heav'ns. 370 +He ceas'd, discerning Adam with such joy +Surcharg'd, as had like grief bin dew'd in tears, +Without the vent of words, which these he breathd. +O Prophet of glad tidings, finisher +Of utmost hope! now clear I understand +What oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain, +Why our great expectation should be call'd +The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Haile, +High in the love of Heav'n, yet from my Loynes +Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son 380 +Of God most High; So God with man unites. +Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise +Expect with mortal paine: say where and when +Thir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel. +To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight, +As of a Duel, or the local wounds +Of head or heel: not therefore joynes the Son +Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil +Thy enemie; nor so is overcome +Satan, whose fall from Heav'n, a deadlier bruise, 390 +Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound: +Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, +Not by destroying Satan, but his works +In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be, +But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, +Obedience to the Law of God, impos'd +On penaltie of death, and suffering death, +The penaltie to thy transgression due, +And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: +So onely can high Justice rest appaid. 400 +The Law of God exact he shall fulfill +Both by obedience and by love, though love +Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment +He shall endure by coming in the Flesh +To a reproachful life and cursed death, +Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe +In his redemption, and that his obedience +Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits +To save them, not thir own, though legal works. +For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, 410 +Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemnd +A shameful and accurst, naild to the Cross +By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life; +But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies, +The Law that is against thee, and the sins +Of all mankinde, with him there crucifi'd, +Never to hurt them more who rightly trust +In this his satisfaction; so he dies, +But soon revives, Death over him no power +Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light 420 +Returne, the Starres of Morn shall see him rise +Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, +Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, +His death for Man, as many as offerd Life +Neglect not, and the benefit imbrace +By Faith not void of works: this God-like act +Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dy'd, +In sin for ever lost from life; this act +Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength +Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes, 430 +And fix farr deeper in his head thir stings +Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel, +Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep, +A gentle wafting to immortal Life. +Nor after resurrection shall he stay +Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer +To his Disciples, Men who in his Life +Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge +To teach all nations what of him they learn'd +And his Salvation, them who shall beleeve 440 +Baptizing in the profluent streame, the signe +Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life +Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall, +For death, like that which the redeemer dy'd. +All Nations they shall teach; for from that day +Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines +Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons +Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world; +So in his seed all Nations shall be blest. +Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend 450 +With victory, triumphing through the aire +Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise +The Serpent, Prince of aire, and drag in Chaines +Through all his realme, & there confounded leave; +Then enter into glory, and resume +His Seat at Gods right hand, exalted high +Above all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come, +When this worlds dissolution shall be ripe, +With glory and power to judge both quick & dead, +To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward 460 +His faithful, and receave them into bliss, +Whether in Heav'n or Earth, for then the Earth +Shall all be Paradise, far happier place +Then this of Eden, and far happier daies. +So spake th' Archangel Michael, then paus'd, +As at the Worlds great period; and our Sire +Replete with joy and wonder thus repli'd. +O goodness infinite, goodness immense! +That all this good of evil shall produce, +And evil turn to good; more wonderful 470 +Then that which by creation first brought forth +Light out of darkness! full of doubt I stand, +Whether I should repent me now of sin +By mee done and occasiond, or rejoyce +Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring, +To God more glory, more good will to Men +>From God, and over wrauth grace shall abound. +But say, if our deliverer up to Heav'n +Must reascend, what will betide the few +His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd, 480 +The enemies of truth; who then shall guide +His people, who defend? will they not deale +Wors with his followers then with him they dealt? +Be sure they will, said th' Angel; but from Heav'n +Hee to his own a Comforter will send, +The promise of the Father, who shall dwell +His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith +Working through love, upon thir hearts shall write, +To guide them in all truth, and also arme +With spiritual Armour, able to resist 490 +Satans assaults, and quench his fierie darts +What Man can do against them, not affraid, +Though to the death, against such cruelties +With inward consolations recompenc't, +And oft supported so as shall amaze +Thir proudest persecuters: for the Spirit +Powrd first on his Apostles, whom he sends +To evangelize the Nations, then on all +Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue +To speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles, 500 +As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win +Great numbers of each Nation to receave +With joy the tidings brought from Heav'n: at length +Thir Ministry perform'd, and race well run, +Thir doctrine and thir story written left, +They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne, +Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous Wolves, +Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'n +To thir own vile advantages shall turne +Of lucre and ambition, and the truth 510 +With superstitions and traditions taint, +Left onely in those written Records pure, +Though not but by the Spirit understood. +Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, +Places and titles, and with these to joine +Secular power, though feigning still to act +By spiritual, to themselves appropriating +The Spirit of God, promisd alike and giv'n +To all Beleevers; and from that pretense, +Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force 520 +On every conscience; Laws which none shall finde +Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within +Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then +But force the Spirit of Grace it self, and binde +His consort Libertie; what, but unbuild +His living Temples, built by Faith to stand, +Thir own Faith not anothers: for on Earth +Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard +Infallible? yet many will presume: +Whence heavie persecution shall arise 530 +On all who in the worship persevere +Of Spirit and Truth; the rest, farr greater part, +Will deem in outward Rites and specious formes +Religion satisfi'd; Truth shall retire +Bestuck with slandrous darts, and works of Faith +Rarely be found: so shall the World goe on, +To good malignant, to bad men benigne, +Under her own waight groaning, till the day +Appeer of respiration to the just, +And vengeance to the wicked, at return 540 +Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid, +The Womans seed, obscurely then foretold, +Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, +Last in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveald +In glory of the Father, to dissolve +Satan with his perverted World, then raise +>From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, +New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date +Founded in righteousness and peace and love, +To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss. 550 +He ended; and thus Adam last reply'd. +How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, +Measur'd this transient World, the Race of time, +Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss, +Eternitie, whose end no eye can reach. +Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, +Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill +Of knowledge, what this vessel can containe; +Beyond which was my folly to aspire. +Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best, 560 +And love with feare the onely God, to walk +As in his presence, ever to observe +His providence, and on him sole depend, +Merciful over all his works, with good +Still overcoming evil, and by small +Accomplishing great things, by things deemd weak +Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise +By simply meek; that suffering for Truths sake +Is fortitude to highest victorie, +And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life; 570 +Taught this by his example whom I now +Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. +To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd: +This having learnt, thou hast attaind the summe +Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Starrs +Thou knewst by name, and all th' ethereal Powers, +All secrets of the deep, all Natures works, +Or works of God in Heav'n, Air, Earth, or Sea, +And all the riches of this World enjoydst, +And all the rule, one Empire; onely add 580 +Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith, +Add Vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, +By name to come call'd Charitie, the soul +Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath +To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess +A Paradise within thee, happier farr. +Let us descend now therefore from this top +Of Speculation; for the hour precise +Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards, +By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect 590 +Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword, +In signal of remove, waves fiercely round; +We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; +Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'd +Portending good, and all her spirits compos'd +To meek submission: thou at season fit +Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard, +Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know, +The great deliverance by her Seed to come +(For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind. 600 +That ye may live, which will be many dayes, +Both in one Faith unanimous though sad, +With cause for evils past, yet much more cheer'd +With meditation on the happie end. +He ended, and they both descend the Hill; +Descended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve +Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak't; +And thus with words not sad she him receav'd. +Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know; +For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise, 610 +Which he hath sent propitious, some great good +Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress +Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on; +In mee is no delay; with thee to goe, +Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, +Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee +Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou, +Who for my wilful crime art banisht hence. +This further consolation yet secure +I carry hence; though all by mee is lost, 620 +Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft, +By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore. +So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard +Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh +Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill +To thir fixt Station, all in bright array +The Cherubim descended; on the ground +Gliding meteorous, as Ev'ning Mist +Ris'n from a River o're the marish glides, +And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel 630 +Homeward returning. High in Front advanc't, +The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd +Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat, +And vapour as the Libyan Air adust, +Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat +In either hand the hastning Angel caught +Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate +Let them direct, and down the Cliff as fast +To the subjected Plaine; then disappeer'd. +They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld 640 +Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat, +Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate +With dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes: +Som natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon; +The World was all before them, where to choose +Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide: +They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow, +Through Eden took thir solitarie way. + +Notes: +Argument: The Angel .... seed] Thence from the Flood relates, +and by degrees explains who that seed 1667. +1-5 These five lines were added in the Second Edition (1674) when +the original tenth book was divided into an eleventh and twelfth. + +The End. + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Title page of first edition of Paradise +Regained follows: + + + PARADISE + REGAIND. + A + POEM. + In IV BOOKS + To which is added + SAMSON AGONISTES +------------------------------------------------------------ + The Author + JOHN MILTON +------------------------------------------------------------ +------------------------------------------------------------ + LONDON. + Printed by J.M. for John Starkey at the + Mitre in Fleetstreet, near Temple-Bar. + MDCLXXI + + + + + +PARADISE REGAIN'D. + + + + +The First Book. + + +I WHO e're while the happy Garden sung, +By one mans disobedience lost, now sing +Recover'd Paradise to all mankind, +By one mans firm obedience fully tri'd +Through all temptation, and the Tempter foil'd +In all his wiles, defeated and repuls't, +And Eden rais'd in the wast Wilderness. +Thou Spirit who ledst this glorious Eremite +Into the Desert, his Victorious Field +Against the Spiritual Foe, and broughtst him thence 10 +By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire, +As thou art wont, my prompted Song else mute, +And bear through highth or depth of natures bounds +With prosperous wing full summ'd to tell of deeds +Above Heroic, though in secret done, +And unrecorded left through many an Age, +Worthy t' have not remain'd so long unsung. +Now had the great Proclaimer with a voice +More awful then the sound of Trumpet, cri'd +Repentance, and Heavens Kingdom nigh at hand 20 +To all Baptiz'd: to his great Baptism flock'd +With aw the Regions round, and with them came +>From Nazareth the Son of Joseph deem'd +To the flood Jordan, came as then obscure, +Unmarkt, unknown; but him the Baptist soon +Descri'd, divinely warn'd, and witness bore +As to his worthier, and would have resign'd +To him his Heavenly Office, nor was long +His witness unconfirm'd: on him baptiz'd +Heaven open'd, and in likeness of a Dove 30 +The Spirit descended, while the Fathers voice +>From Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved Son +That heard the Adversary, who roving still +About the world, at that assembly fam'd +Would not be last, and with the voice divine +Nigh Thunder-struck, th' exalted man, to whom +Such high attest was giv'n, a while survey'd +With wonder, then with envy fraught and rage +Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air +To Councel summons all his mighty Peers, 40 +Within thick Clouds and dark ten-fold involv'd, +A gloomy Consistory; and them amidst +With looks agast and sad he thus bespake. +O ancient Powers of Air and this wide world, +For much more willingly I mention Air, +This our old Conquest, then remember Hell +Our hated habitation; well ye know +How many Ages, as the years of men, +This Universe we have possest, and rul'd +In manner at our will th' affairs of Earth, 50 +Since Adam and his facil consort Eve +Lost Paradise deceiv'd by me, though since +With dread attending when that fatal wound +Shall be inflicted by the Seed of Eve +Upon my head, long the decrees of Heav'n +Delay, for longest time to him is short; +And now too soon for us the circling hours +This dreaded time have compast, wherein we +Must bide the stroak of that long threatn'd wound, +At least if so we can, and by the head 60 +Broken be not intended all our power +To be infring'd, our freedom and our being +In this fair Empire won of Earth and Air; +For this ill news I bring, the Womans seed +Destin'd to this, is late of woman born, +His birth to our just fear gave no small cause, +But his growth now to youths full flowr, displaying +All vertue, grace and wisdom to atchieve +Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear. +Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70 +His coming is sent Harbinger, who all +Invites, and in the Consecrated stream +Pretends to wash off sin and fit them so +Purified to receive him pure, or rather +To do him honour as their King; all come, +And he himself among them was baptiz'd, +Not thence to be more pure, but to receive +The testimony of Heaven, that who he is +Thenceforth the Nations may not doubt; I saw +The Prophet do him reverence, on him rising 80 +Out of the water, Heav'n above the Clouds +Unfold her Crystal Dores, thence on his head +A perfect Dove descend, what e're it meant +And out of Heav'n the Sov'raign voice I heard, +This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd. +His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire, +He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n, +And what will he not do to advance his Son? +His first-begot we know, and sore have felt, +When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90 +Who this is we must learn, for man he seems +In all his lineaments, though in his face +The glimpses of his Fathers glory shine. +Ye see our danger on the utmost edge +Of hazard, which admits no long debate, +But must with something sudden be oppos'd, +Not force, but well couch't fraud, well woven snares, +E're in the head of Nations he appear +Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth. +I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100 +The dismal expedition to find out +And ruine Adam, and the exploit perform'd +Successfully; a calmer voyage now +Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once +Induces best to hope of like success. +He ended, and his words impression left +Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew, +Distracted and surpriz'd with deep dismay +At these sad tidings; but no time was then +For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110 +Unanimous they all commit the care +And management of this main enterprize +To him their great Dictator, whose attempt +At first against mankind so well had thriv'd +In Adam's overthrow, and led thir march +>From Hell's deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light, +Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea gods +Of many a pleasant Realm and Province wide. +So to the Coast of Jordan he directs +His easie steps; girded with snaky wiles, 120 +Where he might likeliest find this new-declar'd, +This man of men, attested Son of God, +Temptation and all guile on him to try; +So to subvert whom he suspected rais'd +To end his Raign on Earth so long enjoy'd: +But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd +The purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt +Of the most High, who in full frequence bright +Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake. +Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130 +Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth +With man or mens affairs, how I begin +To verifie that solemn message late, +On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure +In Galilee, that she should bear a Son +Great in Renown, and call'd the Son of God; +Then toldst her doubting how these things could be +To her a Virgin, that on her should come +The Holy Ghost, and the power of the highest +O're-shadow her: this man born and now up-grown, 140 +To shew him worthy of his birth divine +And high prediction, henceforth I expose +To Satan; let him tempt and now assay +His utmost subtilty, because he boasts +And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng +Of his Apostasie; he might have learnt +Less over-weening, since he fail'd in Job, +Whose constant perseverance overcame +Whate're his cruel malice could invent. +He now shall know I can produce a man 150 +Of female Seed, far abler to resist +All his sollicitations, and at length +All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell, +Winning by Conquest what the first man lost +By fallacy surpriz'd. But first I mean +To exercise him in the Wilderness, +There he shall first lay down the rudiments +Of his great warfare, e're I send him forth +To conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes, +By Humiliation and strong Sufferance: 160 +His weakness shall o'recome Satanic strength +And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh; +That all the Angels and Aetherial Powers, +They now, and men hereafter may discern, +>From what consummate vertue I have chose +This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son, +To earn Salvation for the Sons of men. +So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven +Admiring stood a space, then into Hymns +Burst forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd, 170 +Circling the Throne and Singing, while the hand +Sung with the voice, and this the argument. +Victory and Triumph to the Son of God +Now entring his great duel, not of arms, +But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles. +The Father knows the Son; therefore secure +Ventures his filial Vertue, though untri'd, +Against whate're may tempt, whate're seduce, +Allure, or terrifie, or undermine. +Be frustrate all ye stratagems of Hell, 180 +And devilish machinations come to nought. +So they in Heav'n their Odes and Vigils tun'd: +Mean while the Son of God, who yet some days +Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd, +Musing and much revolving in his brest, +How best the mighty work he might begin +Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first +Publish his God-like office now mature, +One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading; +And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190 +With solitude, till far from track of men, +Thought following thought, and step by step led on, +He entred now the bordering Desert wild, +And with dark shades and rocks environ'd round, +His holy Meditations thus persu'd. +O what a multitude of thoughts at once +Awakn'd in me swarm, while I consider +What from within I feel my self and hear +What from without comes often to my ears, +Ill sorting with my present state compar'd. 200 +When I was yet a child, no childish play +To me was pleasing, all my mind was set +Serious to learn and know, and thence to do +What might be publick good; my self I thought +Born to that end, born to promote all truth, +All righteous things: therefore above my years, +The Law of God I read, and found it sweet, +Made it my whole delight, and in it grew +To such perfection, that e're yet my age +Had measur'd twice six years, at our great Feast 210 +I went into the Temple, there to hear +The Teachers of our Law, and to propose +What might improve my knowledge or their own; +And was admir'd by all, yet this not all +To which my Spirit aspir'd, victorious deeds +Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while +To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke, +Thence to subdue and quell o're all the earth +Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r, +Till truth were freed, and equity restor'd: 220 +Yet held it more humane, more heavenly first +By winning words to conquer willing hearts, +And make perswasion do the work of fear; +At least to try, and teach the erring Soul +Not wilfully mis-doing, but unware +Misled: the stubborn only to subdue. +These growing thoughts my Mother soon perceiving +By words at times cast forth inly rejoyc'd, +And said to me apart, high are thy thoughts +O Son, but nourish them and let them soar 230 +To what highth sacred vertue and true worth +Can raise them, though above example high; +By matchless Deeds express thy matchless Sire. +For know, thou art no Son of mortal man, +Though men esteem thee low of Parentage, +Thy Father is the Eternal King, who rules +All Heaven and Earth, Angels and Sons of men, +A messenger from God fore-told thy birth +Conceiv'd in me a Virgin, he fore-told +Thou shouldst be great and sit on David's Throne. 240 +And of thy Kingdom there should be no end. +At thy Nativity a glorious Quire +Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem sung +To Shepherds watching at their folds by night, +And told them the Messiah now was born, +Where they might see him, and to thee they came; +Directed to the Manger where thou lais't, +For in the Inn was left no better room: +A Star, not seen before in Heaven appearing +Guided the Wise Men thither from the East, 250 +To honour thee with Incense, Myrrh, and Gold, +By whose bright course led on they found the place, +Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heaven, +By which they knew thee King of Israel born. +Just Simeon and Prophetic Anna, warn'd +By Vision, found thee in the Temple, and spake +Before the Altar and the vested Priest, +Like things of thee to all that present stood. +This having heard, strait I again revolv'd +The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ 260 +Concerning the Messiah, to our Scribes +Known partly, and soon found of whom they spake +I am; this chiefly, that my way must lie +Through many a hard assay even to the death, +E're I the promis'd Kingdom can attain, +Or work redemption for mankind, whose sins +Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head. +Yet neither thus disheartn'd or dismay'd, +The time prefixt I waited, when behold +The Baptist, (of whose birth I oft had heard, 270 +Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come +Before Messiah and his way prepare. +I as all others to his Baptism came, +Which I believ'd was from above; but he +Strait knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'd +Me him (for it was shew'n him so from Heaven) +Me him whose Harbinger he was; and first +Refus'd on me his Baptism to confer, +As much his greater, and was hardly won; +But as I rose out of the laving stream, 280 +Heaven open'd her eternal doors, from whence +The Spirit descended on me like a Dove, +And last the sum of all, my Father's voice, +Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his, +Me his beloved Son, in whom alone +He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time +Now full, that I no more should live obscure, +But openly begin, as best becomes +The Authority which I deriv'd from Heaven. +And now by some strong motion I am led 290 +Into this wilderness, to what intent +I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know; +For what concerns my knowledge God reveals. +So spake our Morning Star then in his rise, +And looking round on every side beheld +A pathless Desert, dusk with horrid shades; +The way he came not having mark'd, return +Was difficult, by humane steps untrod; +And he still on was led, but with such thoughts +Accompanied of things past and to come 300 +Lodg'd in his brest, as well might recommend +Such Solitude before choicest Society. +Full forty days he pass'd, whether on hill +Sometimes, anon in shady vale, each night +Under the covert of some ancient Oak, +Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew, +Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd; +Nor tasted humane food, nor hunger felt +Till those days ended, hunger'd then at last +Among wild Beasts: they at his sight grew mild, 310 +Nor sleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk +The fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm, +The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof. +But now an aged man in Rural weeds, +Following, as seem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe, +Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might serve +Against a Winters day when winds blow keen, +To warm him wet return'd from field at Eve, +He saw approach, who first with curious eye +Perus'd him, then with words thus utt'red spake. 320 +Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place +So far from path or road of men, who pass +In Troop or Caravan, for single none +Durst ever, who return'd, and dropt not here +His Carcass, pin'd with hunger and with droughth? +I ask the rather and the more admire, +For that to me thou seem'st the man, whom late +Our new baptizing Prophet at the Ford +Of Jordan honour'd so, and call'd thee Son +Of God: I saw and heard, for we sometimes 330 +Who dwell this wild, constrain'd by want, come forth +To Town or Village nigh (nighest is far) +Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear, +What happ'ns new; Fame also finds us out. +To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither +Will bring me hence, no other Guide I seek, +By Miracle he may, reply'd the Swain, +What other way I see not, for we here +Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inur'd +More then the Camel, and to drink go far, 340 +Men to much misery and hardship born; +But if thou be the Son of God, Command +That out of these hard stones be made thee bread; +So shalt thou save thy self and us relieve +With Food, whereof we wretched seldom taste. +He ended, and the Son of God reply'd. +Think'st thou such force in Bread? is it not written +(For I discern thee other then thou seem'st) +Man lives not by Bread only, but each Word +Proceeding from the mouth of God; who fed 350 +Our Fathers here with Manna; in the Mount +Moses was forty days, nor eat nor drank, +And forty days Eliah without food +Wandred this barren waste, the same I now: +Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust, +Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art? +Whom thus answer'd th' Arch Fiend now undisguis'd. +'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate, +Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt +Kept not my happy Station, but was driv'n 360 +With them from bliss to the bottomless deep, +Vet to that hideous place not so confin'd +By rigour unconniving, but that oft +Leaving my dolorous Prison I enjoy +Large liberty to round this Globe of Earth, +Or range in th' Air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns +Hath he excluded my resort sometimes. +I came among the Sons of God, when he +Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job +To prove him, and illustrate his high worth; 370 +And when to all his Angels he propos'd +To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud +That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring, +I undertook that office, and the tongues +Of all his flattering Prophets glibb'd with lyes +To his destruction, as I had in charge. +For what he bids I do; though I have lost +Much lustre of my native brightness, lost +To be belov'd of God, I have not lost +To love, at least contemplate and admire 380 +What I see excellent in good, or fair, +Or vertuous, I should so have lost all sense. +What can be then less in me then desire +To see thee and approach thee, whom I know +Declar'd the Son of God, to hear attent +Thy wisdom, and behold thy God-like deeds? +Men generally think me much a foe +To all mankind: why should I? they to me +Never did wrong or violence, by them +I lost not what I lost, rather by them 390 +I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them dwell +Copartner in these Regions of the World, +If not disposer; lend them oft my aid, +Oft my advice by presages and signs, +And answers, oracles, portents and dreams, +Whereby they may direct their future life. +Envy they say excites me, thus to gain +Companions of my misery and wo. +At first it may be; but long since with wo +Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof, 400 +That fellowship in pain divides not smart, +Nor lightens aught each mans peculiar load. +Small consolation then, were Man adjoyn'd: +This wounds me most (what can it less) that Man, +Man fall'n shall be restor'd, I never more. +To whom our Saviour sternly thus reply'd. +Deservedly thou griev'st, compos'd of lyes +>From the beginning, and in lies wilt end; +Who boast'st release from Hell, and leave to come +Into the Heav'n of Heavens; thou com'st indeed, 410 +As a poor miserable captive thrall, +Comes to the place where he before had sat +Among the Prime in Splendour, now depos'd, +Ejected, emptyed, gaz'd, unpityed, shun'd, +A spectacle of ruin or of scorn +To all the Host of Heaven; the happy place +Imparts to thee no happiness, no joy, +Rather inflames thy torment, representing +Lost bliss, to thee no more communicable, +So never more in Hell then when in Heaven. 420 +But thou art serviceable to Heaven's King. +Wilt thou impute to obedience what thy fear +Extorts, or pleasure to do ill excites? +What but thy malice mov'd thee to misdeem +Of righteous Job, then cruelly to afflict him +With all inflictions, but his patience won? +The other service was thy chosen task, +To be a lyer in four hundred mouths; +For lying is thy sustenance, thy food. +Yet thou pretend'st to truth; all Oracles 430 +By thee are giv'n, and what confest more true +Among the Nations ? that hath been thy craft, +By mixing somewhat true to vent more lyes. +But what have been thy answers, what but dark +Ambiguous and with double sense deluding, +Which they who ask'd have seldom understood, +And not well understood as good not known? +Who ever by consulting at thy shrine +Return'd the wiser, or the more instruct +To flye or follow what concern'd him most, 440 +And run not sooner to his fatal snare? +For God hath justly giv'n the Nations up +To thy Delusions; justly, since they fell +Idolatrous, but when his purpose is +Among them to declare his Providence +To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth, +But from him or his Angels President +In every Province, who themselves disdaining +To approach thy Temples, give thee in command +What to the smallest tittle thou shalt say 450 +To thy Adorers; thou with trembling fear, +Or like a Fawning Parasite obey'st; +Then to thy self ascrib'st the truth fore-told. +But this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd; +No more shalt thou by oracling abuse +The Gentiles; henceforth Oracles are ceast, +And thou no more with Pomp and Sacrifice +Shalt be enquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere, +At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute. +God hath now sent his living Oracle 460 +Into the World, to teach his final will, +And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell +In pious Hearts, an inward Oracle +To all truth requisite for men to know. +So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend, +Though inly stung with anger and disdain, +Dissembl'd, and this answer smooth return'd. +Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke, +And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will +But misery hath rested from me; where 470 +Easily canst thou find one miserable, +And not inforc'd oft-times to part from truth; +If it may stand him more in stead to lye, +Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure? +But thou art plac't above me, thou art Lord; +>From thee I can and must submiss endure +Check or reproof, and glad to scape so quit. +Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk, +Smooth on the tongue discourst, pleasing to th' ear, +And tuneable as Silvan Pipe or Song; 480 +What wonder then if I delight to hear +Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire +Vertue, who follow not her lore: permit me +To hear thee when I come (since no man comes) +And talk at least, though I despair to attain. +Thy Father, who is holy, wise and pure, +Suffers the Hypocrite or Atheous Priest +To tread his Sacred Courts, and minister +About his Altar, handling holy things, +Praying or vowing, and vouchsaf'd his voice 490 +To Balaam reprobate, a Prophet yet +Inspir'd; disdain not such access to me. +To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow +Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope, +I bid not or forbid; do as thou find'st +Permission from above; thou canst not more. +He added not; and Satan bowing low +His gray dissimulation, disappear'd +Into thin Air diffus'd: for now began +Night with her sullen wing to double-shade 500 +The Desert Fowls in thir clay nests were couch't; +And now wild Beasts came forth the woods to roam. + +The End of the First Book. + + + +The Second Book. + + +MEAN while the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd +At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen +Him whom they heard so late expresly call'd +Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd, +And on that high Authority had believ'd, +And with him talkt, and with him lodg'd, I mean +Andrew and Simon, famous after known +With others though in Holy Writ not nam'd, +Now missing him thir joy so lately found, +So lately found, and so abruptly gone, 10 +Began to doubt, and doubted many days, +And as the days increas'd, increas'd thir doubt: +Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn, +And for a time caught up to God, as once +Moses was in the Mount, and missing long; +And the great Thisbite who on fiery wheels +Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come. +Therefore as those young Prophets then with care +Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these +Nigh to Bethabara; in Jerico 20 +The City of Palms, Aenon, and Salem Old, +Machaerus and each Town or City wall'd +On this side the broad lake Genezaret +Or in Perea, but return'd in vain. +Then on the bank of Jordan, by a Creek: +Where winds with Reeds, and Osiers whisp'ring play +Plain Fishermen, no greater men them call, +Close in a Cottage low together got +Thir unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd. +Alas from what high hope to what relapse 30 +Unlook'd for are we fall'n, our eyes beheld +Messiah certainly now come, so long +Expected of our Fathers; we have heard +His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth, +Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand, +The Kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd: +Thus we rejoyc'd, but soon our joy is turn'd +Into perplexity and new amaze: +For whither is he gone, what accident +Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire 40 +After appearance, and again prolong +Our expectation? God of Israel, +Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come; +Behold the Kings of the Earth how they oppress +Thy chosen, to what highth thir pow'r unjust +They have exalted, and behind them cast +All fear of thee, arise and vindicate +Thy Glory, free thy people from thir yoke, +But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd, +Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, 50 +By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown, +In publick, and with him we have convers'd; +Let us be glad of this, and all our fears +Lay on his Providence; he will not fail +Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall, +Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence, +Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return. +Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume +To find whom at the first they found unsought: +But to his Mother Mary, when she saw 60 +Others return'd from Baptism, not her Son, +Nor left at Jordan, tydings of him none; +Within her brest, though calm; her brest though pure, +Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd +Some troubl'd thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad. +O what avails me now that honour high +To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute +Hale highly favour'd, among women blest; +While I to sorrows am no less advanc't, +And fears as eminent, above the lot 70 +Of other women, by the birth I bore, +In such a season born when scarce a Shed +Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me +>From the bleak air; a Stable was our warmth, +A Manger his, yet soon enforc't to flye +Thence into Egypt, till the Murd'rous King +Were dead, who sought his life, and missing fill'd +With Infant blood the streets of Bethlehem; +>From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth +Hath been our dwelling many years, his life 80 +Private, unactive, calm, contemplative, +Little suspicious to any King; but now +Full grown to Man, acknowledg'd, as I hear, +By John the Baptist, and in publick shown, +Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice; +I look't for some great change; to Honour? no, +But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold, +That to the fall and rising he should be +Of Many in Israel, and to a sign +Spoken against, that through my very Soul 90 +A sword shall pierce, this is my favour'd lot, +My Exaltation to Afflictions high; +Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest; +I will not argue that, nor will repine. +But where delays he now? some great intent +Conceals him: when twelve years he scarce had seen, +I lost him, but so found, as well I saw +He could not lose himself; but went about +His Father's business; what he meant I mus'd, +Since understand; much more his absence now 100 +Thus long to some great purpose he obscures. +But I to wait with patience am inur'd; +My heart hath been a store-house long of things +And sayings laid up, portending strange events. +Thus Mary pondering oft, and oft to mind +Recalling what remarkably had pass'd +Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts +Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling: +The while her Son tracing the Desert wild, +Sole but with holiest Meditations fed, 110 +Into himself descended, and at once +All his great work to come before him set; +How to begin, how to accomplish best +His end of being on Earth, and mission high: +For Satan with slye preface to return +Had left him vacant, and with speed was gon +Up to the middle Region of thick Air, +Where all his Potentates in Council sate; +There without sign of boast, or sign of joy, +Sollicitous and blank he thus began. 120 +Princes, Heavens antient Sons, Aethereal Thrones, +Demonian Spirits now, from the Element +Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd, +Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath, +So may we hold our place and these mild seats +Without new trouble; such an Enemy +Is ris'n to invade us, who no less +Threat'ns then our expulsion down to Hell; +I, as I undertook, and with the vote +Consenting in full frequence was impowr'd, 130 +Have found him, view'd him, tasted him, but find +Far other labour to be undergon +Then when I dealt with Adam first of Men, +Though Adam by his Wives allurement fell, +However to this Man inferior far, +If he be Man by Mothers side at least, +With more then humane gifts from Heav'n adorn'd, +Perfections absolute, Graces divine, +And amplitude of mind to greatest Deeds. +Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence 140 +Of my success with Eve in Paradise +Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure +Of like succeeding here; I summon all +Rather to be in readiness, with hand +Or counsel to assist; lest I who erst +Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd. +So spake the old Serpent doubting, and from all +With clamour was assur'd thir utmost aid +At his command; when from amidst them rose +Belial the dissolutest Spirit that fell 150 +The sensuallest, and after Asmodai +The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advis'd. +Set women in his eye and in his walk, +Among daughters of men the fairest found; +Many are in each Region passing fair +As the noon Skie; more like to Goddesses +Then Mortal Creatures, graceful and discreet, +Expert in amorous Arts, enchanting tongues +Perswasive, Virgin majesty with mild +And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach, 160 +Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw +Hearts after them tangl'd in Amorous Nets. +Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame +Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow, +Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve, +Draw out with credulous desire, and lead +At will the manliest, resolutest brest, +As the Magnetic hardest Iron draws. +Women, when nothing else, beguil'd the heart +Of wisest Solomon, and made him build, 170 +And made him bow to the Gods of his Wives. +To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd +Belial in much uneven scale thou weigh'st +All others by thy self; because of old +Thou thy self doat'st on womankind, admiring +Thir shape, thir colour, and attractive grace, +None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys. +Before the Flood thou with thy lusty Crew, +False titl'd Sons of God, roaming the Earth +Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, 180 +And coupl'd with them, and begot a race. +Have we not seen, or by relation heard, +In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk'st, +In Wood or Grove by mossie Fountain side, +In Valley or Green Meadow to way-lay +Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene, +Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa, +Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more +Too long, then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd, +Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, 190 +Satyr, or Fawn, or Silvan? But these haunts +Delight not all; among the Sons of Men, +How many have with a smile made small account +Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd +All her assaults, on worthier things intent? +Remember that Pellean Conquerour, +A youth, how all the Beauties of the East +He slightly view'd, and slightly over-pass'd; +How hee sirnam'd of Africa dismiss'd +In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid. 200 +For Solomon he liv'd at ease, and full +Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond +Higher design then to enjoy his State; +Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd; +But he whom we attempt is wiser far +Then Solomon, of more exalted mind, +Made and set wholly on the accomplishment +Of greatest things; what woman will you find, +Though of this Age the wonder and the fame, +On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye 210 +Of fond desire? or should she confident, +As sitting Queen ador'd on Beauties Throne, +Descend with all her winning charms begirt +To enamour, as the Zone of Venus once +Wrought that effect on Jove, so Fables tell; +How would one look from his Majestick brow +Seated as on the top of Vertues hill, +Discount'nance her despis'd, and put to rout +All her array; her female pride deject, +Or turn to reverent awe? for Beauty stands 220 +In the admiration only of weak minds +Led captive; cease to admire, and all her Flumes +Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy, +At every sudden slighting quite abasht: +Therefore with manlier objects we must try +His constancy, with such as have more shew +Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise; +Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd; +Or that which only seems to satisfie +Lawful desires of Nature, not beyond; 230 +And now I know he hungers where no food +Is to be found, in the wide Wilderness; +The rest commit to me, I shall let pass +No advantage, and his strength as oft assay. +He ceas'd, and heard thir grant in loud acclaim; +Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band +Of Spirits likest to himself in guile +To be at hand, and at his beck appear, +If cause were to unfold some active Scene +Of various persons each to know his part; 240 +Then to the Desert takes with these his flight; +Where still from shade to shade the Son of God +After forty days fasting had remain'd, +Now hungring first, and to himself thus said. +Where will this end? four times ten days I have pass'd +Wandring this woody maze, and humane food +Nor tasted, nor had appetite: that Fast +To Vertue I impute not, or count part +Of what I suffer here; if Nature need not, +Or God support Nature without repast 250 +Though needing, what praise is it to endure? +But now I feel I hunger, which declares, +Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God +Can satisfie that need some other way, +Though hunger still remain: so it remain +Without this bodies wasting, I content me, +And from the sting of Famine fear no harm, +Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed +Mee hungring more to do my Fathers will. +It was the hour of night, when thus the Son 260 +Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down +Under the hospitable covert nigh +Of Trees thick interwoven; there he slept, +And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream, +Of meats and drinks, Natures refreshment sweet; +Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood +And saw the Ravens with thir horny beaks +Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn, +Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought: +He saw the Prophet also how he fled 270 +Into the Desert, and how there he slept +Under a Juniper; then how awakt, +He found his Supper on the coals prepar'd, +And by the Angel was bid rise and eat, +And eat the second time after repose, +The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days; +Sometimes that with Elijah he partook, +Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse. +Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark +Left his ground-nest, high towring to descry 280 +The morns approach, and greet her with his Song: +As lightly from his grassy Couch up rose +Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream, +Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak'd. +Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd, +>From whose high top to ken the prospect round, +If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd; +But Cottage, Herd or Sheep-cote none he saw, +Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove, +With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud; 290 +Thither he bent his way, determin'd there +To rest at noon, and entr'd soon the shade +High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown +That open'd in the midst a woody Scene, +Natures own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art) +And to a Superstitious eye the haunt +Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round, +When suddenly a man before him stood, +Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad, +As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred, 300 +And with fair speech these words to him address'd. +With granted leave officious I return, +But much more wonder that the Son of God +In this wild solitude so long should bide +Of all things destitute, and well I know, +Not without hunger. Others of some note, +As story tells, have trod this Wilderness; +The Fugitive Bond-woman with her Son +Out cast Nebaioth, yet found he relief +By a providing Angel; all the race 310 +Of Israel here had famish'd, had not God +Rain'd from Heaven Manna, and that Prophet bold +Native of Thebes wandring here was fed +Twice by a voice inviting him to eat. +Of thee these forty days none hath regard, +Forty and more deserted here indeed. +To whom thus Jesus; what conclud'st thou hence? +They all had need, I as thou seest have none. +How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd, +Tell me if Food were now before thee set, 320 +Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like +The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that +Cause thy refusal, said the subtle Fiend, +Hast thou not right to all Created things, +Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee +Duty and Service, nor to stay till bid, +But tender all their power? nor mention I +Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first +To Idols, those young Daniel could refuse; +Nor proffer'd by an Enemy, though who 330 +Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold +Nature asham'd, or better to express, +Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd +>From all the Elements her choicest store +To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord +With honour, only deign to sit and eat. +He spake no dream, for as his words had end, +Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld +In ample space under the broadest shade +A Table richly spred, in regal mode, 340 +With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort +And savour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game, +In pastry built, or from the spit, or boyl'd, +Gris-amber-steam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore, +Freshet, or purling Brook, of shell or fin, +And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd +Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coast. +Alas how simple, to these Cates compar'd, +Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve! +And at a stately side-board by the wine 350 +That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood +Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew +Then Ganymed or Hylas, distant more +Under the Trees now trip'd, now solemn stood +Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades +With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn, +And Ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd +Fairer then feign'd of old, or fabl'd since +Of Fairy Damsels met in Forest wide +By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones, 360 +Lancelot or Pelleas, or Pellenore, +And all the while Harmonious Airs were heard +Of chiming strings, or charming pipes and winds +Of gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd +>From their soft wings, and flora's earliest smells. +Such was the Splendour, and the Tempter now +His invitation earnestly renew'd. +What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat? +These are not Fruits forbidden, no interdict +Defends the touching of these viands pure, 370 +Thir taste no knowledge works, at least of evil, +But life preserves, destroys life's enemy, +Hunger, with sweet restorative delight. +All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs, +Thy gentle Ministers, who come to pay +Thee homage, and acknowledge thee thir Lord: +What doubt'st thou Son of God? sit down and eat. +To whom thus Jesus temperately reply'd: +Said'st thou not that to all things I had right? +And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 380 +Shall I receive by gift what of my own, +When and where likes me best, I can command? +I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou, +Command a Table in this Wilderness, +And call swift flights of Angels ministrant +Array'd in Glory on my cup to attend: +Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence, +In vain, where no acceptance it can find, +And with my hunger what hast thou to do? +Thy pompous Delicacies I contemn, 390 +And count thy specious gifts no gifts but guiles. +To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent: +That I have also power to give thou seest, +If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary +What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd. +And rather opportunely in this place +Chose to impart to thy apparent need, +Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I see +What I can do or offer is suspect; +Of these things others quickly will dispose 400 +Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that +Both Table and Provision vanish'd quite +With sound of Harpies wings, and Talons heard; +Only the importune Tempter still remain'd, +And with these words his temptation pursu'd. +By hunger, that each other Creature tames, +Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd; +Thy temperance invincible besides, +For no allurement yields to appetite, +And all thy heart is set on high designs, 410 +High actions: but wherewith to be atchiev'd? +Great acts require great means of enterprise, +Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth, +A Carpenter thy Father known, thy self +Bred up in poverty and streights at home; +Lost in a Desert here and hunger-bit: +Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire +To greatness? whence Authority deriv'st, +What Followers, what Retinue canst thou gain, +Or at thy heels the dizzy Multitude, 420 +Longer then thou canst feed them on thy cost? +Money brings Honour, Friends, Conquest, and Realms; +What rais'd Antipater the Edomite, +And his Son Herod plac'd on Juda's Throne; +(Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends? +Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive, +Get Riches first, get Wealth, and Treasure heap, +Not difficult, if thou hearken to me, +Riches are mine, Fortune is in my hand; +They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain, 430 +While Virtue, Valour, Wisdom sit in want. +To whom thus Jesus patiently reply'd; +Yet Wealth without these three is impotent, +To gain dominion or to keep it gain'd. +Witness those antient Empires of the Earth, +In highth of all thir flowing wealth dissolv'd: +But men endu'd with these have oft attain'd +In lowest poverty to highest deeds; +Gideon and Jephtha, and the Shepherd lad, +Whose off-spring on the Throne of Juda sat 440 +So many Ages, and shall yet regain +That seat, and reign in Israel without end. +Among the Heathen, (for throughout the World +To me is not unknown what hath been done +Worthy of Memorial) canst thou not remember +Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus ? +For I esteem those names of men so poor +Who could do mighty things, and could contemn +Riches though offer'd from the hand of Kings. +And what in me seems wanting, but that I 450 +May also in this poverty as soon +Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more? +Extol not Riches then, the toyl of Fools +The wise mans cumbrance if not snare, more apt +To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge, +Then prompt her to do aught may merit praise. +What if with like aversion I reject +Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown, +Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns, +Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights 460 +To him who wears the Regal Diadem, +When on his shoulders each mans burden lies; +For therein stands the office of a King, +His Honour, Vertue, Merit and chief Praise, +That for the Publick all this weight he bears. +Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules +Passions, Desires, and Fears, is more a King; +Which every wise and vertuous man attains: +And who attains not, ill aspires to rule +Cities of men, or head-strong Multitudes, 470 +Subject himself to Anarchy within, +Or lawless passions in him which he serves. +But to guide Nations in the way of truth +By saving Doctrine, and from errour lead +To know, and knowing worship God aright, +Is yet more Kingly, this attracts the Soul, +Governs the inner man, the nobler part, +That other o're the body only reigns, +And oft by force, which to a generous mind +So reigning can be no sincere delight. 480 +Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought +Greater and nobler done, and to lay down +Far more magnanimous, then to assume. +Riches are needless then, both for themselves, +And for thy reason why they should be sought, +To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss't. + +Note: 309 he] here 1695. + +The End of the Second Book. + + + +The Third Book. + + +So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood +A while as mute confounded what to say, +What to reply, confuted and convinc't +Of his weak arguing, and fallacious drift; +At length collecting all his Serpent wiles, +With soothing words renew'd, him thus accosts. +I see thou know'st what is of use to know, +What best to say canst say, to do canst do; +Thy actions to thy words accord, thy words +To thy large heart give utterance due, thy heart 10 +Conteins of good, wise, just, the perfect shape. +Should Kings and Nations from thy mouth consult, +Thy Counsel would be as the Oracle +Urim and Thummin, those oraculous gems +On Aaron's breast: or tongue of Seers old +Infallible; or wert thou sought to deeds +That might require th' array of war, thy skill +Of conduct would be such, that all the world +Could not sustain thy Prowess, or subsist +In battel, though against thy few in arms. 20 +These God-like Vertues wherefore dost thou hide? +Affecting private life, or more obscure +In savage Wilderness, wherefore deprive +All Earth her wonder at thy acts, thy self +The fame and glory, glory the reward +That sole excites to high attempts the flame +Of most erected Spirits, most temper'd pure +Aetherial, who all pleasures else despise, +All treasures and all gain esteem as dross, +And dignities and powers all but the highest? 30 +Thy years are ripe, and over-ripe, the Son +Of Macedonian Philip had e're these +Won Asia and the Throne of Cyrus held +At his dispose, young Scipio had brought down +The Carthaginian pride, young Pompey quell'd +The Pontic King and in triumph had rode. +Yet years, and to ripe years judgment mature, +Quench not the thirst of glory, but augment. +Great Julius, whom now all the world admires, +The more he grew in years, the more inflam'd 40 +With glory, wept that he had liv'd so long +Inglorious: but thou yet art not too late. +To whom our Saviour calmly thus reply'd. +Thou neither dost perswade me to seek wealth +For Empires sake, nor Empire to affect +For glories sake by all thy argument. +For what is glory but the blaze of fame, +The peoples praise, if always praise unmixt? +And what the people but a herd confus'd, +A miscellaneous rabble, who extol 50 +Things vulgar, & well weigh'd, scarce worth the praise, +They praise and they admire they know not what; +And know not whom, but as one leads the other; +And what delight to be by such extoll'd, +To live upon thir tongues and be thir talk, +Of whom to be disprais'd were no small praise? +His lot who dares be singularly good. +Th' intelligent among them and the wise +Are few; and glory scarce of few is rais'd. +This is true glory and renown, when God 60 +Looking on the Earth, with approbation marks +The just man, and divulges him through Heaven +To all his Angels, who with true applause +Recount his praises; thus he did to Job, +When to extend his fame through Heaven & Earth, +As thou to thy reproach mayst well remember, +He ask'd thee, hast thou seen my servant Job? +Famous he was in Heaven, on Earth less known; +Where glory is false glory, attributed +To things not glorious, men not worthy of fame. 70 +They err who count it glorious to subdue +By Conquest far and wide, to over-run +Large Countries, and in field great Battels win, +Great Cities by assault: what do these Worthies, +But rob and spoil, burn, slaughter, and enslave +Peaceable Nations, neighbouring, or remote, +Made Captive, yet deserving freedom more +Then those thir Conquerours, who leave behind +Nothing but ruin wheresoe're they rove, +And all the flourishing works of peace destroy, 80 +Then swell with pride, and must be titl'd Gods, +Great Benefactors of mankind, Deliverers, +Worship't with Temple, Priest and Sacrifice; +One is the Son of Jove, of Mars the other, +Till Conquerour Death discover them scarce men, +Rowling in brutish vices, and deform'd, +Violent or shameful death thir due reward. +But if there be in glory aught of good, +It may by means far different be attain'd +Without ambition, war, or violence; 90 +By deeds of peace, by wisdom eminent, +By patience, temperance; I mention still +Him whom thy wrongs with Saintly patience born, +Made famous in a Land and times obscure; +Who names not now with honour patient Job? +Poor Socrates (who next more memorable?) +By what he taught and suffer'd for so doing, +For truths sake suffering death unjust, lives now +Equal in fame to proudest Conquerours. +Yet if for fame and glory aught be done, 100 +Aught suffer'd; if young African for fame +His wasted Country freed from Punic rage, +The deed becomes unprais'd, the man at least, +And loses, though but verbal, his reward. +Shall I seek glory then, as vain men seek +Oft not deserv'd? I seek not mine, but his +Who sent me, and thereby witness whence I am. +To whom the Tempter murmuring thus reply'd. +Think not so slight of glory; therein least, +Resembling thy great Father: he seeks glory, 110 +And for his glory all things made, all things +Orders and governs, nor content in Heaven +By all his Angels glorifi'd, requires +Glory from men, from all men good or bad, +Wise or unwise, no difference, no exemption; +Above all Sacrifice, or hallow'd gift +Glory he requires, and glory he receives +Promiscuous from all Nations, Jew, or Greek, +Or Barbarous, nor exception hath declar'd; +>From us his foes pronounc't glory he exacts. 120 +To whom our Saviour fervently reply'd. +And reason; since his word all things produc'd, +Though chiefly not for glory as prime end, +But to shew forth his goodness, and impart +His good communicable to every soul +Freely; of whom what could he less expect +Then glory and benediction, that is thanks, +The slightest, easiest, readiest recompence +>From them who could return him nothing else, +And not returning that would likeliest render 130 +Contempt instead, dishonour, obloquy? +Hard recompence, unsutable return +For so much good, so much beneficence. +But why should man seek glory? who of his own +Hath nothing, and to whom nothing belongs +But condemnation, ignominy, and shame? +Who for so many benefits receiv'd +Turn'd recreant to God, ingrate and false, +And so of all true good himself despoil'd, +Yet, sacrilegious, to himself would take 140 +That which to God alone of right belongs; +Yet so much bounty is in God, such grace, +That who advance his glory, not thir own, +Them he himself to glory will advance. +So spake the Son of God; and here again +Satan had not to answer, but stood struck +With guilt of his own sin, for he himself +Insatiable of glory had lost all, +Yet of another Plea bethought him soon. +Of glory as thou wilt, said he, so deem, 150 +Worth or not worth the seeking, let it pass: +But to a Kingdom thou art born, ordain'd +To sit upon thy Father David's Throne; +By Mother's side thy Father, though thy right +Be now in powerful hands, that will not part +Easily from possession won with arms; +Judaea now and all the promis'd land +Reduc't a Province under Roman yoke, +Obeys Tiberius; nor is always rul'd +With temperate sway; oft have they violated 160 +The Temple, oft the Law with foul affronts, +Abominations rather, as did once +Antiochus: and think'st thou to regain +Thy right by sitting still or thus retiring? +So did not Machabeus: he indeed +Retir'd unto the Desert, but with arms; +And o're a mighty King so oft prevail'd, +That by strong hand his Family obtain'd, +Though Priests, the Crown, and David's Throne usurp'd, +With Modin and her Suburbs once content. 170 +If Kingdom move thee not, let move thee Zeal, +And Duty; Zeal and Duty are not slow; +But on Occasions forelock watchful wait. +They themselves rather are occasion best, +Zeal of thy Fathers house, Duty to free +Thy Country from her Heathen servitude; +So shalt thou best fullfil, best verifie +The Prophets old, who sung thy endless raign, +The happier raign the sooner it begins, +Raign then; what canst thou better do the while? 180 +To whom our saviour answer thus return'd. +All things are best fullfil'd in thir due time, +And time there is for all things, Truth hath said: +If of my raign Prophetic Writ hath told +That it shall never end, so when begin +The Father in his purpose hath decreed, +He in whose hand all times and seasons roul. +What if he hath decreed that I shall first +Be try'd in humble state, and things adverse, +By tribulations, injuries, insults, 190 +Contempts, and scorns, and snares, and violence, +Suffering, abstaining, quietly expecting +Without distrust or doubt, that he may know +What I can suffer, how obey? who best +Can suffer, best can do; best reign, who first +Well hath obey'd; just tryal e're I merit +My exaltation without change or end. +But what concerns it thee when I begin +My everlasting Kingdom, why art thou +Sollicitous, what moves thy inquisition? 200 +Know'st thou not that my rising is thy fall, +And my promotion will be thy destruction? +To whom the Tempter inly rackt reply'd. +Let that come when it comes; all hope is lost +Of my reception into grace; what worse? +For where no hope is left, is left no fear; +If there be worse, the expectation more +Of worse torments me then the feeling can. +I would be at the worst; worst is my Port. +My harbour and my ultimate repose, 210 +The end I would attain, my final good. +My error was my error, and my crime +My crime; whatever for it self condemn'd +And will alike be punish'd; whether thou +Raign or raign not; though to that gentle brow +Willingly I could flye, and hope thy raign, +>From that placid aspect and meek regard, +Rather then aggravate my evil state, +Would stand between me and thy Fathers ire, +(Whose ire I dread more then the fire of Hell,) 220 +A shelter and a kind of shading cool +Interposition, as a summers cloud. +If I then to the worst that can be hast, +Why move thy feet so slow to what is best, +Happiest both to thy self and all the world, +That thou who worthiest art should'st be thir King? +Perhaps thou linger'st in deep thoughts detain d +Of the enterprize so hazardous and high; +No wonder, for though in thee be united +What of perfection can in man be found, 230 +Or human nature can receive, consider +Thy life hath yet been private, most part spent +At home, scarce view'd the Gallilean Towns +And once a year Jerusalem, few days +Short sojourn; and what thence could'st thou observe? +The world thou hast not seen, much less her glory, +Empires, and Monarchs, and thir radiant Courts +Best school of best experience, quickest in sight +In all things that to greatest actions lead. +The wisest, unexperienc't, will be ever 240 +Timorous and loth, with novice modesty, +(As he who seeking Asses found a Kingdom) +Irresolute, unhardy, unadventrous: +But I will bring thee where thou soon shalt quit +Those rudiments, and see before thine eyes +The Monarchies of the Earth, thir pomp and state, +Sufficient introduction to inform +Thee, of thy self so apt, in regal Arts, +And regal Mysteries; that thou may'st know +How best their opposition to withstand. 250 +With that (such power was giv'n him then) he took +The Son of God up to a Mountain high. +It was a Mountain at whose verdant feet +A spatious plain out strech't in circuit wide +Lay pleasant; from his side two rivers flow'd, +Th' one winding, the other strait and left between +Fair Champain with less rivers interveind, +Then meeting joyn'd thir tribute to the Sea: +Fertil of corn the glebe, of oyl and wine, +With herds the pastures throng'd, with flocks the hills, 260 +Huge Cities and high towr'd, that well might seem +The seats of mightiest Monarchs, and so large +The Prospect was, that here and there was room +For barren desert fountainless and dry. +To this high mountain top the Tempter brought +Our Saviour, and new train of words began. +Well have we speeded, and o're hill and dale, +Forest and field, and flood, Temples and Towers +Cut shorter many a league; here thou behold'st +Assyria and her Empires antient bounds, 270 +Araxes and the Caspian lake, thence on +As far as Indus East, Euphrates West, +And oft beyond; to South the Persian Bay, +And inaccessible the Arabian drouth: +Here Ninevee, of length within her wall +Several days journey, built by Ninus old, +Of that first golden Monarchy the seat, +And seat of Salmanassar, whose success +Israel in long captivity still mourns; +There Babylon the wonder of all tongues, 280 +As antient, but rebuilt by him who twice +Judah and all thy Father David's house +Led captive, and Jerusalem laid waste, +Till Cyrus set them free; Persepolis +His City there thou seest, and Bactra there; +Ecbatana her structure vast there shews, +And Hecatompylos her hunderd gates, +There Susa by Choaspes, amber stream, +The drink of none but Kings; of later fame +Built by Emathian, or by Parthian hands, 290 +The great Seleucia, Nisibis, and there +Artaxata, Teredon, Tesiphon, +Turning with easie eye thou may'st behold. +All these the Parthian, now some Ages past, +By great Arsaces led, who founded first +That Empire, under his dominion holds +>From the luxurious Kings of Antioch won. +And just in time thou com'st to have a view +Of his great power; for now the Parthian King +In Ctesiphon hath gather'd all his Host 300 +Against the Scythian, whose incursions wild +Have wasted Sogdiana; to her aid +He marches now in hast; see, though from far, +His thousands, in what martial equipage +They issue forth, Steel Bows, and Shafts their arms +Of equal dread in flight, or in pursuit; +All Horsemen, in which fight they most excel; +See how in warlike muster they appear, +In Rhombs and wedges, and half moons, and wings. +He look't and saw what numbers numberless 310 +The City gates out powr'd, light armed Troops +In coats of Mail and military pride; +In Mail thir horses clad, yet fleet and strong, +Prauncing their riders bore, the flower and choice +Of many Provinces from bound to bound; +>From Arachosia, from Candaor East, +And Margiana to the Hyrcanian cliffs +Of Caucasus, and dark Iberian dales, +>From Atropatia and the neighbouring plains +Of Adiabene, Media, and the South 320 +Of Susiana to Balsara's hav'n. +He saw them in thir forms of battell rang'd, +How quick they wheel'd, and flying behind them shot +Sharp sleet of arrowie showers against the face +Of thir pursuers, and overcame by flight; +The field all iron cast a gleaming brown, +Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor on each horn, +Cuirassiers all in steel for standing fight; +Chariots or Elephants endorst with Towers +Of Archers, nor of labouring Pioners 330 +A multitude with Spades and Axes arm'd +To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill, +Or where plain was raise hill, or over-lay +With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke; +Mules after these, Camels and Dromedaries, +And Waggons fraught with Utensils of war. +Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp, +When Agrican with all his Northern powers +Besieg'd Albracca, as Romances tell; +The City of Gallaphrone, from thence to win 340 +The fairest of her Sex Angelica +His daughter, sought by many Prowest Knights, +Both Paynim, and the Peers of Charlemane. +Such and so numerous was thir Chivalrie; +At sight whereof the Fiend yet more presum'd, +And to our Saviour thus his words renew'd. +That thou may'st know I seek not to engage +Thy Vertue, and not every way secure +On no slight grounds thy safety; hear, and mark +To what end I have brought thee hither and shewn 350 +All this fair sight; thy Kingdom though foretold +By Prophet or by Angel, unless thou +Endeavour, as thy Father David did, +Thou never shalt obtain; prediction still +In all things, and all men, supposes means, +Without means us'd, what it predicts revokes. +But say thou wer't possess'd of David's Throne +By free consent of all, none opposite, +Samaritan or Jew; how could'st thou hope +Long to enjoy it quiet and secure, 360 +Between two such enclosing enemies +Roman and Parthian? therefore one of these +Thou must make sure thy own, the Parthian first +By my advice, as nearer and of late +Found able by invasion to annoy +Thy country, and captive lead away her Kings +Antigonus, and old Hyrcanus bound, +Maugre the Roman: it shall be my task +To render thee the Parthian at dispose; +Chuse which thou wilt by conquest or by league 370 +By him thou shalt regain, without him not, +That which alone can truly reinstall thee +In David's royal seat, his true Successour, +Deliverance of thy brethren, those ten Tribes +Whose off-spring in his Territory yet serve +In Habor, and among the Medes dispers't, +Ten Sons of Jacob, two of Joseph lost +Thus long from Israel; serving as of old +Thir Fathers in the land of Egypt serv'd, +This offer sets before thee to deliver. 380 +These if from servitude thou shalt restore +To thir inheritance, then, nor till then, +Thou on the Throne of David in full glory, +>From Egypt to Euphrates and beyond +Shalt raign, and Rome or Caesar not need fear. +To whom our Saviour answer'd thus unmov'd. +Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm, +And fragile arms, much instrument of war +Long in preparing, soon to nothing brought, +Before mine eyes thou hast set; and in my ear 390 +Vented much policy, and projects deep +Of enemies, of aids, battels and leagues, +Plausible to the world, to me worth naught. +Means I must use thou say'st, prediction else +Will unpredict and fail me of the Throne: +My time I told thee, (and that time for thee +Were better farthest off) is not yet come; +When that comes think not thou to find me slack +On my part aught endeavouring, or to need +Thy politic maxims, or that cumbersome 400 +Luggage of war there shewn me, argument +Of human weakness rather then of strength. +My brethren, as thou call'st them; those Ten Tribes +I must deliver, if I mean to raign +David's true heir, and his full Scepter sway +To just extent over all Israel's Sons; +But whence to thee this zeal, where was it then +For Israel or for David, or his Throne, +When thou stood'st up his Tempter to the pride +Of numbring Israel which cost the lives 410 +Of threescore and ten thousand Israelites +By three days Pestilence? such was thy zeal +To Israel then, the same that now to me. +As for those captive Tribes, themselves were they +Who wrought their own captivity, fell off +>From God to worship Calves, the Deities +Of Egypt, Baal next and Ashtaroth, +And all the Idolatries of Heathen round, +Besides thir other worse then heathenish crimes; +Nor in the land of their captivity 420 +Humbled themselves, or penitent besought +The God of their fore-fathers; but so dy'd +Impenitent, and left a race behind +Like to themselves, distinguishable scarce +>From Gentils, but by Circumcision vain, +And God with Idols in their worship joyn'd. +Should I of these the liberty regard, +Who freed, as to their antient Patrimony, +Unhumbl'd, unrepentant, unreform'd, +Headlong would follow; and to thir Gods perhaps 430 +Of Bethel and of Dan? no, let them serve +Thir enemies, who serve Idols with God. +Yet he at length, time to himself best known, +Remembring Abraham by some wond'rous call +May bring them back repentant and sincere, +And at their passing cleave the Assyrian flood, +While to their native land with joy they hast, +As the Red Sea and Jordan once he cleft, +When to the promis'd land thir Fathers pass'd; +To his due time and providence I leave them. 440 +So spake Israel's true King, and to the Fiend +Made answer meet, that made void all his wiles. +So fares it when with truth falshood contends. + +The End of the Third Book. + + + +The Fourth Book. + + +PERPLEX'D and troubl'd at his bad success +The Tempter stood, nor had what to reply, +Discover'd in his fraud, thrown from his hope, +So oft, and the perswasive Rhetoric +That sleek't his tongue, and won so much on Eve, +So little here, nay lost; but Eve was Eve, +This far his over-match, who self deceiv'd +And rash, before-hand had no better weigh'd +The strength he was to cope with, or his own: +But as a man who had been matchless held 10 +In cunning, over-reach't where least he thought, +To salve his credit, and for very spight +Still will be tempting him who foyls him still, +And never cease, though to his shame the more; +Or as a swarm of flies in vintage time, +About the wine-press where sweet moust is powr'd, +Beat off; returns as oft with humming sound; +Or surging waves against a solid rock, +Though all to shivers dash't, the assault renew, +Vain battry, and in froth or bubbles end: 20 +So Satan, whom repulse upon repulse +Met ever; and to shameful silence brought, +Yet gives not o're though desperate of success, +And his vain importunity pursues. +He brought our Saviour to the western side +Of that high mountain, whence he might behold +Another plain, long but in bredth not wide; +Wash'd by the Southern Sea, and on the North +To equal length back'd with a ridge of hills +That screen'd the fruits of the earth and seats of men 30 +>From cold Septentrion blasts, thence in the midst +Divided by a river, of whose banks +On each side an Imperial City stood, +With Towers and Temples proudly elevate +On seven small Hills, with Palaces adorn'd, +Porches and Theatres, Baths, Aqueducts, +Statues and Trophees, and Triumphal Arcs, +Gardens and Groves presented to his eyes, +Above the highth of Mountains interpos'd. +By what strange Parallax or Optic skill 40 +Of vision multiplyed through air or glass +Of Telescope, were curious to enquire: +And now the Tempter thus his silence broke. +The City which thou seest no other deem +Then great and glorious Rome, Queen of the Earth +So far renown'd, and with the spoils enricht +Of Nations; there the Capitol thou seest +Above the rest lifting his stately head +On the Tarpeian rock, her Cittadel +Impregnable, and there Mount Palatine 50 +The Imperial Palace, compass huge, and high +The Structure, skill of noblest Architects, +With gilded battlements, conspicuous far, +Turrets and Terrases, and glittering Spires. +Many a fair Edifice besides, more like +Houses of Gods (so well I have dispos'd +My Aerie Microscope) thou may'st behold +Outside and inside both, pillars and roofs +Carv'd work, the hand of fam'd Artificers +In Cedar, Marble, Ivory or Gold. 60 +Thence to the gates cast round thine eye, and see +What conflux issuing forth, or entring in, +Pretors, Proconsuls to thir Provinces +Hasting or on return, in robes of State; +Lictors and rods the ensigns of thir power, +Legions and Cohorts, turmes of horse and wings: +Or Embassies from Regions far remote +In various habits on the Appian road, +Or on the Aemilian, some from farthest South, +Syene, and where the shadow both way falls, 70 +Meroe, Nilotic Isle, and more to West, +The Realm of Bocchus to the Black-moor Sea; +>From the Asian Kings and Parthian among these, +>From India 'and the golden Chersoness, +And utmost Indian Isle Taprobane, +Dusk faces with white silken Turbants wreath'd: +>From Gallia, Gades, and the Brittish West, +Germans and Scythians, and Sarmatians North +Beyond Danubius to the Tauric Pool. +All Nations now to Rome obedience pay, 80 +To Rome's great Emperour, whose wide domain +In ample Territory, wealth and power, +Civility of Manners, Arts, and Arms, +And long Renown thou justly may'st prefer +Before the Parthian; these two Thrones except, +The rest are barbarous, and scarce worth the sight, +Shar'd among petty Kings too far remov'd; +These having shewn thee, I have shewn thee all +The Kingdoms of the world, and all thir glory. +This Emperour hath no Son, and now is old, 90 +Old, and lascivious, and from Rome retir'd +To Capreae an Island small but strong +On the Campanian shore, with purpose there +His horrid lusts in private to enjoy, +Committing to a wicked Favourite +All publick cares, and yet of him suspicious, +Hated of all, and hating; with what ease +Indu'd with Regal Vertues as thou art, +Appearing, and beginning noble deeds, +Might'st thou expel this monster from his Throne 100 +Now made a stye, and in his place ascending +A victor people free from servile yoke? +And with my help thou may'st; to me the power +Is given, and by that right I give it thee. +Aim therefore at no less then all the world, +Aim at the highest, without the highest attain'd +Will be for thee no sitting, or not long +On Davids Throne, be propheci'd what will, +To whom the Son of God unmov'd reply'd. +Nor doth this grandeur and majestic show 110 +Of luxury, though call'd magnificence, +More then of alms before, allure mine eye, +Much less my mind; though thou should'st add to tell +Thir sumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts +On Cittron tables or Atlantic stone; +(For I have also heard, perhaps have read) +Their wines of Setia, Cales, and Falerne, +Chios and Creet, and how they quaff in Gold, +Crystal and Myrrhine cups imboss'd with Gems +And studs of Pearl, to me should'st tell who thirst 120 +And hunger still: then Embassies thou shew'st +>From Nations far and nigh; what honour that, +But tedious wast of time to sit and hear +So many hollow complements and lies, +Outlandish flatteries? then proceed'st to talk +Of the Emperour, how easily subdu'd, +How gloriously; I shall, thou say'st, expel +A brutish monster: what if I withal +Expel a Devil who first made him such? +Let his tormenter Conscience find him out, 130 +For him I was not sent, nor yet to free +That people victor once, now vile and base, +Deservedly made vassal, who once just, +Frugal, and mild, and temperate, conquer'd well, +But govern ill the Nations under yoke, +Peeling thir Provinces, exhausted all +By lust and rapine; first ambitious grown +Of triumph that insulting vanity; +Then cruel, by thir sports to blood enur'd +Of fighting beasts, and men to beasts expos'd, 140 +Luxurious by thir wealth, and greedier still, +And from the daily Scene effeminate. +What wise and valiant man would seek to free +These thus degenerate, by themselves enslav'd, +Or could of inward slaves make outward free? +Know therefore when my season comes to sit +On David's Throne, it shall be like a tree +Spreading and over-shadowing all the Earth, +Or as a stone that shall to pieces dash +All Monarchies besides throughout the world, 150 +And of my Kingdom there shall be no end: +Means there shall be to this, but what the means, +Is not for thee to know, nor me to tell. +To whom the Tempter impudent repli'd. +I see all offers made by me how slight +Thou valu'st, because offer'd, and reject'st: +Nothing will please the difficult and nice, +Or nothing more then still to contradict: +On the other side know also thou, that I +On what I offer set as high esteem, 160 +Nor what I part with mean to give for naught; +All these which in a moment thou behold'st, +The Kingdoms of the world to thee I give; +For giv'n to me, I give to whom I please, +No trifle; yet with this reserve, not else, +On this condition, if thou wilt fall down, +And worship me as thy superior Lord, +Easily done, and hold them all of me; +For what can less so great a gift deserve? +Whom thus our Saviour answer'd with disdain. 170 +I never lik'd thy talk, thy offers less, +Now both abhor, since thou hast dar'd to utter +The abominable terms, impious condition; +But I endure the time, till which expir'd, +Thou hast permission on me. It is written +The first of all Commandments, Thou shalt worship +The Lord thy God, and only him shalt serve; +And dar'st thou to the Son of God propound +To worship thee accurst, now more accurst +For this attempt bolder then that on Eve, 180 +And more blasphemous? which expect to rue. +The Kingdoms of the world to thee were giv'n, +Permitted rather, and by thee usurp't, +Other donation none thou canst produce: +If given, by whom but by the King of Kings, +God over all supreme? if giv'n to thee, +By thee how fairly is the Giver now +Repaid? But gratitude in thee is lost +Long since. Wert thou so void of fear or shame, +As offer them to me the Son of God, 190 +To me my own, on such abhorred pact, +That I fall down and worship thee as God? +Get thee behind me; plain thou now appear'st +That Evil one, Satan for ever damn'd. +To whom the Fiend with fear abasht reply'd. +Be not so sore offended, Son of God; +Though Sons of God both Angels are and Men, +If I to try whether in higher sort +Then these thou bear'st that title, have propos'd +What both from Men and Angels I receive, 200 +Tetrarchs of fire, air, flood, and on the earth +Nations besides from all the quarter'd winds, +God of this world invok't and world beneath; +Who then thou art, whose coming is foretold +To me so fatal, me it most concerns. +The tryal hath indamag'd thee no way, +Rather more honour left and more esteem; +Me naught advantag'd, missing what I aim'd. +Therefore let pass, as they are transitory, +The Kingdoms of this world; I shall no more 210 +Advise thee, gain them as thou canst, or not. +And thou thy self seem'st otherwise inclin'd +Then to a worldly Crown, addicted more +To contemplation and profound dispute, +As by that early action may be judg'd, +When slipping from thy Mothers eye thou went'st +Alone into the Temple; there was found +Among the gravest Rabbies disputant +On points and questions fitting Moses Chair, +Teaching not taught; the childhood shews the man, 220 +As morning shews the day. Be famous then +By wisdom; as thy Empire must extend, +So let extend thy mind o're all the world, +In knowledge, all things in it comprehend, +All knowledge is not couch't in Moses Law, +The Pentateuch or what the Prophets wrote, +The Gentiles also know, and write, and teach +To admiration, led by Natures light; +And with the Gentiles much thou must converse, +Ruling them by perswasion as thou mean'st, 230 +Without thir learning how wilt thou with them, +Or they with thee hold conversation meet? +How wilt thou reason with them, how refute +Thir Idolisms, Traditions, Paradoxes? +Error by his own arms is best evinc't. +Look once more e're we leave this specular Mount +Westward, much nearer by Southwest, behold +Where on the Aegean shore a City stands +Built nobly, pure the air, and light the soil, +Athens the eye of Greece, Mother of Arts 240 +And Eloquence, native to famous wits +Or hospitable, in her sweet recess, +City or Suburban, studious walks and shades; +See there the Olive Grove of Academe, +Plato's retirement, where the Attic Bird +Trills her thick-warbl'd notes the summer long, +There flowrie hill Hymettus with the sound +Of Bees industrious murmur oft invites +To studious musing; there Ilissus rouls +His whispering stream; within the walls then view 250 +The schools of antient Sages; his who bred +Great Alexander to subdue the world, +Lyceum there, and painted Stoa next: +There thou shalt hear and learn the secret power +Of harmony in tones and numbers hit +By voice or hand, and various-measur'd verse, +Aeolian charms and Dorian Lyric Odes, +And his who gave them breath, but higher sung, +Blind Melesigenes thence Homer call'd, +Whose Poem Phoebus challeng'd for his own. 260 +Thence what the lofty grave Tragoedians taught +In Chorus or Iambic, teachers best +Of moral prudence, with delight receiv'd +In brief sententious precepts, while they treat +Of fate, and chance, and change in human life; +High actions, and high passions best describing; +Thence to the famous Orators repair, +Those antient, whose resistless eloquence +Wielded at will that fierce Democratie, +Shook the Arsenal and fulmin'd over Greece, 270 +To Macedon, and Artaxerxes Throne; +To sage Philosophy next lend thine ear, +>From Heaven descended to the low-rooft house +Of Socrates, see there his Tenement, +Whom well inspir'd the Oracle pronounc'd +Wisest of men; from whose mouth issu'd forth +Mellifluous streams that water'd all the schools +Of Academics old and new, with those +Sirnam'd Peripatetics, and the Sect +Epicurean, and the Stoic severe; 280 +These here revolve, or, as thou lik'st, at home, +Till time mature thee to a Kingdom's waight; +These rules will render thee a King compleat +Within thy self, much more with Empire joyn'd. +To whom our Saviour sagely thus repli'd. +Think not but that I know these things, or think +I know them not; not therefore am I short +Of knowing what I aught: he who receives +Light from above, from the fountain of light, +No other doctrine needs, though granted true; 290 +But these are false, or little else but dreams, +Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm. +The first and wisest of them all profess'd +To know this only, that he nothing knew; +The next to fabling fell and smooth conceits, +A third sort doubted all things, though plain sence; +Others in vertue plac'd felicity, +But vertue joyn'd with riches and long life, +In corporal pleasure he, and careless ease, +The Stoic last in Philosophic pride, 300 +By him call'd vertue; and his vertuous man, +Wise, perfect in himself, and all possessing +Equal to God, oft shames not to prefer, +As fearing God nor man, contemning all +Wealth, pleasure, pain or torment, death and life, +Which when he lists, he leaves, or boasts he can, +For all his tedious talk is but vain boast, +Or subtle shifts conviction to evade. +Alas what can they teach, and not mislead; +Ignorant of themselves, of God much more, 310 +And how the world began, and how man fell +Degraded by himself, on grace depending? +Much of the Soul they talk, but all awrie, +And in themselves seek vertue, and to themselves +All glory arrogate, to God give none, +Rather accuse him under usual names, +Fortune and Fate, as one regardless quite +Of mortal things. Who therefore seeks in these +True wisdom, finds her not, or by delusion +Far worse, her false resemblance only meets, 320 +An empty cloud. However many books +Wise men have said are wearisom; who reads +Incessantly, and to his reading brings not +A spirit and judgment equal or superior, +(And what he brings, what needs he elsewhere seek) +Uncertain and unsettl'd still remains +Deep verst in books and shallow in himself; +Crude or intoxicate, collecting toys, +And trifles for choice matters, worth a spunge; +As Children gathering pibles on the shore. 330 +Or if I would delight my private hours +With Music or with Poem, where so soon +As in our native Language can I find +That solace? All our Law and Story strew'd +With Hymns, our Psalms with artful terms inscrib'd, +Our Hebrew Songs and Harps in Babylon, +That pleas'd so well our Victors ear, declare +That rather Greece from us these Arts deriv'd; +Ill imitated, while they loudest sing +The vices of thir Deities, and thir own 340 +In Fable, Hymn, or Song, so personating +Thir Gods ridiculous, and themselves past shame. +Remove their swelling Epithetes thick laid +As varnish on a Harlots cheek, the rest, +Thin sown with aught of profit or delight, +Will far be found unworthy to compare +With Sion's songs, to all true tasts excelling, +Where God is prais'd aright, and Godlike men, +The Holiest of Holies, and his Saints; +Such are from God inspir'd, not such from thee; 350 +Unless where moral vertue is express't +By light of Nature not in all quite lost. +Thir Orators thou then extoll'st, as those +The top of Eloquence, Statists indeed, +And lovers of thir Country, as may seem; +But herein to our Prophets far beneath, +As men divinely taught, and better teaching +The solid rules of Civil Government +In thir majestic unaffected stile +Then all the Oratory of Greece and Rome. 360 +In them is plainest taught, and easiest learnt, +What makes a Nation happy, and keeps it so, +What ruins Kingdoms, and lays Cities flat; +These only with our Law best form a King. +So spake the Son of God; but Satan now +Quite at a loss, for all his darts were spent, +Thus to our Saviour with stern brow reply'd. +Since neither wealth, nor honour, arms nor arts, +Kingdom nor Empire pleases thee, nor aught +By me propos'd in life contemplative, +Or active, tended on by glory, or fame, 370 +What dost thou in this World? the Wilderness +For thee is fittest place, I found thee there, +And thither will return thee, yet remember +What I foretell thee, soon thou shalt have cause +To wish thou never hadst rejected thus +Nicely or cautiously my offer'd aid, +Which would have set thee in short time with ease +On David's Throne; or Throne of all the world, +Now at full age, fulness of time, thy season, 380 +When Prophesies of thee are best fullfill'd. +Now contrary, if I read aught in Heaven, +Or Heav'n write aught of Fate, by what the Stars +Voluminous, or single characters, +In thir conjunction met, give me to spell, +Sorrows, and labours, Opposition, bate, +Attends thee, scorns, reproaches, injuries, +Violence and stripes, and lastly cruel death, +A Kingdom they portend thee, but what Kingdom, +Real or Allegoric I discern not, 390 +Nor when, eternal sure, as without end, +Without beginning; for no date prefixt +Directs me in the Starry Rubric set. +So saying he took (for still he knew his power +Not yet expir'd) and to the Wilderness +Brought back the Son of God, and left him there, +Feigning to disappear. Darkness now rose, +As day-light sunk, and brought in lowring night +Her shadowy off-spring unsubstantial both, +Privation meer of light and absent day. 400 +Our Saviour meek and with untroubl'd mind +After his aerie jaunt, though hurried sore, +Hungry and cold betook him to his rest, +Wherever, under some concourse of shades +Whose branching arms thick intertwind might shield +>From dews and damps of night his shelter'd head, +But shelter'd slept in vain, for at his head +The Tempter watch'd, and soon with ugly dreams +Disturb'd his sleep; and either Tropic now +'Gan thunder, and both ends of Heav'n, the Clouds 410 +>From many a horrid rift abortive pour'd +Fierce rain with lightning mixt, water with fire +In ruine reconcil'd: nor slept the winds +Within thir stony caves, but rush'd abroad +>From the four hinges of the world, and fell +On the vext Wilderness, whose tallest Pines, +Though rooted deep as high, and sturdiest Oaks +Bow'd thir Stiff necks, loaden with stormy blasts, +Or torn up sheer: ill wast thou shrouded then, +O patient Son of God, yet only stoodst 420 +Unshaken; nor yet staid the terror there, +Infernal Ghosts, and Hellish Furies, round +Environ'd thee, some howl'd, some yell'd, some shriek'd, +Some bent at thee thir fiery darts, while thou +Sat'st unappall'd in calm and sinless peace. +Thus pass'd the night so foul till morning fair +Came forth with Pilgrim steps in amice gray; +Who with her radiant finger still'd the roar +Of thunder, chas'd the clouds, and laid the winds, +And grisly Spectres, which the Fiend had rais'd 430 +To tempt the Son of God with terrors dire. +And now the Sun with more effectual beams +Had chear'd the face of Earth, and dry'd the wet +>From drooping plant, or dropping tree; the birds +Who all things now behold more fresh and green, +After a night of storm so ruinous, +Clear'd up their choicest notes in bush and spray +To gratulate the sweet return of morn; +Nor yet amidst this joy and brightest morn +Was absent, after all his mischief done, 440 +The Prince of darkness, glad would also seem +Of this fair change, and to our Saviour came, +Yet with no new device, they all were spent, +Rather by this his last affront resolv'd, +Desperate of better course, to vent his rage, +And mad despight to be so oft repell'd. +Him walking on a Sunny hill he found, +Back'd on the North and West by a thick wood, +Out of the wood he starts in wonted shape; +And in a careless mood thus to him said. 450 +Fair morning yet betides thee Son of God, +After a dismal night; I heard the rack +As Earth and Skie would mingle; but my self +Was distant; and these flaws, though mortals fear them +As dangerous to the pillard frame of Heaven, +Or to the Earths dark basis underneath, +Are to the main as inconsiderable, +And harmless, if not wholsom, as a sneeze +To mans less universe, and soon are gone; +Yet as being oft times noxious where they light 460 +On man, beast, plant, wastful and turbulent, +Like turbulencies in the affairs of men, +Over whose heads they rore, and seem to point, +They oft fore-signifie and threaten ill: +This Tempest at this Desert most was bent; +Of men at thee, for only thou here dwell'st. +Did I not tell thee, if thou didst reject +The perfet season offer'd with my aid +To win thy destin'd seat, but wilt prolong +All to the push of Fate, persue thy way 470 +Of gaining David's Throne no man knows when, +For both the when and how is no where told, +Thou shalt be what thou art ordain'd, no doubt; +For Angels have proclaim'd it, but concealing +The time and means: each act is rightliest done, +Not when it must, but when it may be best. +If thou observe not this, be sure to find, +What I foretold thee, many a hard assay +Of dangers, and adversities and pains, +E're thou of Israel's Scepter get fast hold; 480 +Whereof this ominous night that clos'd thee round, +So many terrors, voices, prodigies +May warn thee, as a sure fore-going sign. +So talk'd he, while the Son of God went on +And staid not, but in brief him answer'd thus. +Mee worse then wet thou find'st not; other harm +Those terrors which thou speak'st of did me none; +I never fear'd they could, though noising loud +And threatning nigh; what they can do as signs +Betok'ning, or ill boding, I contemn 490 +As false portents, not sent from God, but thee; +Who knowing I shall raign past thy preventing. +Obtrud'st thy offer'd aid, that I accepting +At least might seem to hold all power of thee, +Ambitious spirit, and wouldst be thought my God, +And storm'st refus'd, thinking to terrifie +Mee to thy will; desist, thou art discern'd +And toil'st in vain, nor me in vain molest. +To whom the Fiend now swoln with rage reply'd: +Then hear, O Son of David, Virgin-born; 500 +For Son of God to me is yet in doubt, +Of the Messiah I have heard foretold +By all the Prophets; of thy birth at length +Announc't by Gabriel with the first I knew, +And of the Angelic Song in Bethlehem field, +On thy birth-night, that sung thee Saviour born. +>From that time seldom have I ceas'd to eye +Thy infancy, thy childhood, and thy youth, +Thy manhood last, though yet in private bred; +Till at the Ford of Jordan whither all 510 +Flock'd to the Baptist, I among the rest, +Though not to be Baptiz'd, by voice from Heav'n +Heard thee pronounc'd the Son of God belov'd. +Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view +And narrower Scrutiny, that I might learn +In what degree or meaning thou art call'd +The Son of God, which bears no single sence; +The Son of God I also am, or was, +And if I was, I am; relation stands; +All men are Sons of God; yet thee I thought 520 +In some respect far higher so declar'd. +Therefore I watch'd thy footsteps from that hour, +And follow'd thee still on to this wast wild; +Where by all best conjectures I collect +Thou art to be my fatal enemy. +Good reason then, if I before-hand seek +To understand my Adversary, who +And what he is; his wisdom, power, intent, +By parl, or composition, truce, or league +To win him, or win from him what I can. 530 +And opportunity I here have had +To try thee, sift thee, and confess have found thee +Proof against all temptation as a rock +Of Adamant, and as a Center, firm +To the utmost of meer man both wise and good, +Not more; for Honours, Riches, Kingdoms, Glory +Have been before contemn'd, and may agen: +Therefore to know what more thou art then man, +Worth naming Son of God by voice from Heav'n, +Another method I must now begin. 540 +So saying he caught him up, and without wing +Of Hippogrif bore through the Air sublime +Over the Wilderness and o're the Plain; +Till underneath them fair Jerusalem, +The holy City lifted high her Towers, +And higher yet the glorious Temple rear'd +Her pile, far off appearing like a Mount +Of Alabaster, top't with golden Spires: +There on the highest Pinacle he set +The Son of God; and added thus in scorn: 550 +There stand, if thou wilt stand; to stand upright +Will ask thee skill; I to thy Fathers house +Have brought thee, and highest plac't, highest is best, +Now shew thy Progeny; if not to stand, +Cast thy self down; safely if Son of God: +For it is written, He will give command +Concerning thee to his Angels, in thir hands +They shall up lift thee, lest at any time +Thou chance to dash thy foot against a stone. +To whom thus Jesus: also it is written, 560 +Tempt not the Lord thy God, he said and stood. +But Satan smitten with amazement fell +As when Earths Son Antaeus (to compare +Small things with greatest) in Irassa strove +With Joves Alcides and oft foil'd still rose, +Receiving from his mother Earth new strength, +Fresh from his fall, and fiercer grapple joyn'd, +Throttl'd at length in the Air, expir'd and fell; +So after many a foil the Tempter proud, +Renewing fresh assaults, amidst his pride 570 +Fell whence he stood to see his Victor fall. +And as that Theban Monster that propos'd +Her riddle, and him, who solv'd it not, devour'd; +That once found out and solv'd, for grief and spight +Cast her self headlong from th' Ismenian steep, +So strook with dread and anguish fell the Fiend, +And to his crew, that sat consulting, brought +Joyless triumphals of his hop't success, +Ruin, and desperation, and dismay, +Who durst so proudly tempt the Son of God. 580 +So Satan fell and strait a fiery Globe +Of Angels on full sail of wing flew nigh, +Who on their plumy Vans receiv'd him soft +>From his uneasie station, and upbore +As on a floating couch through the blithe Air, +Then in a flowry valley set him down +On a green bank, and set before him spred +A table of Celestial Food, Divine, +Ambrosial, Fruits fetcht from the tree of life, +And from the fount of life Ambrosial drink, 590 +That soon refresh'd him wearied, and repair'd +What hunger, if aught hunger had impair'd, +Or thirst, and as he fed, Angelic Quires +Sung Heavenly Anthems of his victory +Over temptation, and the Tempter proud. +True Image of the Father whether thron'd +In the bosom of bliss, and light of light +Conceiving, or remote from Heaven, enshrin'd +In fleshly Tabernacle, and human form, +Wandring the Wilderness, whatever place, 600 +Habit, or state, or motion, still expressing +The Son of God, with Godlike force indu'd +Against th' Attempter of thy Fathers Throne, +And Thief of Paradise; him long of old +Thou didst debel, and down from Heav'n cast +With all his Army, now thou hast aveng'd +Supplanted Adam, and by vanquishing +Temptation, hast regain'd lost Paradise, +And frustrated the conquest fraudulent: +He never more henceforth will dare set foot 610 +In Paradise to tempt; his snares are broke: +For though that seat of earthly bliss be fail'd, +A fairer Paradise is founded now +For Adam and his chosen Sons, whom thou +A Saviour art come down to re-install. +Where they shall dwell secure, when time shall be +Of Tempter and Temptation without fear. +But thou, Infernal Serpent, shalt not long +Rule in the Clouds; like an Autumnal Star +Or Lightning thou shalt fall from Heav'n trod down 620 +Under his feet: for proof, e're this thou feel'st +Thy wound, yet not thy last and deadliest wound +By this repulse receiv'd, and hold'st in Hell +No triumph; in all her gates Abaddon rues +Thy bold attempt; hereafter learn with awe +To dread the Son of God: he all unarm'd +Shall chase thee with the terror of his voice +>From thy Demoniac holds, possession foul, +Thee and thy Legions, yelling they shall flye, +And beg to hide them in a herd of Swine, 630 +Lest he command them down into the deep +Bound, and to torment sent before thir time. +Hail Son of the most High, heir of both worlds, +Queller of Satan, on thy glorious work +Now enter, and begin to save mankind. +Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek +Sling Victor, and from Heavenly Feast refresht +Brought on his way with joy; hee unobserv'd +Home to his Mothers house private return'd. + +The End. +Transcriber's Note: Title page of first edition of Samson Agonistes +follows: + + + SAMSON + AGONISTES, + A + DRAMATIC POEM. +------------------------------------------------------------ + The Author + JOHN MILTON +------------------------------------------------------------ + Aristot. Poet. Cap. 6. + Tragedia mimeis praxeos spadaias, &c. +Tragedia est imitatio actionis seriae. &c. Per misericordiam & + metum perficiens talium affectuum lustrationem. +------------------------------------------------------------ +------------------------------------------------------------ + LONDON. + Printed by J.M. for John Starkey at the + Mitre in Fleetstreet, near Temple-Bar. + MDCLXXI + + + +SAMSON AGONISTES + + + +Of that sort of Dramatic Poem which is call'd Tragedy. + + +TRAGEDY, as it was antiently compos'd, hath been ever held the +gravest, moralest, and most profitable of all other Poems: +therefore said by Aristotle to be of power by raising pity and fear, +or terror, to purge the mind of those and such like passions, that is +to temper and reduce them to just measure with a kind of delight, +stirr'd up by reading or seeing those passions well imitated. Nor is +Nature wanting in her own effects to make good his assertion: for +so in Physic things of melancholic hue and quality are us'd against +melancholy, sowr against sowr, salt to remove salt humours. +Hence Philosophers and other gravest Writers, as Cicero, Plutarch +and others, frequently cite out of Tragic Poets, both to adorn and +illustrate thir discourse. The Apostle Paul himself thought it not +unworthy to insert a verse of Euripides into the Text of Holy +Scripture, I Cor. 15. 33. and Paraeus commenting on the +Revelation, divides the whole Book as a Tragedy, into Acts +distinguisht each by a Chorus of Heavenly Harpings and Song +between. Heretofore Men in highest dignity have labour'd not a +little to be thought able to compose a Tragedy. Of that honour +Dionysius the elder was no less ambitious, then before of his +attaining to the Tyranny. Augustus Caesar also had begun his +Ajax, but unable to please his own judgment with what he had +begun. left it unfinisht. Seneca the Philosopher is by some thought +the Author of those Tragedies (at lest the best of them) that go +under that name. Gregory Nazianzen a Father of the Church, +thought it not unbeseeming the sanctity of his person to write a +Tragedy which he entitl'd, Christ suffering. This is mention'd to +vindicate Tragedy from the small esteem, or rather infamy, which +in the account of many it undergoes at this day with other common +Interludes; hap'ning through the Poets error of intermixing Comic +stuff with Tragic sadness and gravity; or introducing trivial and +vulgar persons, which by all judicious hath bin counted absurd; and +brought in without discretion, corruptly to gratifie the people. And +though antient Tragedy use no Prologue, yet using sometimes, in +case of self defence, or explanation, that which Martial calls an +Epistle; in behalf of this Tragedy coming forth after the antient +manner, much different from what among us passes for best, thus +much before-hand may be Epistl'd; that Chorus is here introduc'd +after the Greek manner, not antient only but modern, and still in +use among the Italians. In the modelling therefore of this Poem +with good reason, the Antients and Italians are rather follow'd, as +of much more authority and fame. The measure of Verse us'd in +the Chorus is of all sorts, call'd by the Greeks Monostrophic, or +rather Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antistrophe +or Epod, which were a kind of Stanza's fram'd only for the Music, +then us'd with the Chorus that sung; not essential to the Poem, and +therefore not material; or being divided into Stanza's or Pauses +they may be call'd Allaeostropha. Division into Act and Scene +referring chiefly to the Stage (to which this work never was +intended) is here omitted. + + It suffices if the whole Drama be found not produc't beyond the +fift Act, of the style and uniformitie, and that commonly call'd the +Plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but such +oeconomy, or disposition of the fable as may stand best with +verisimilitude and decorum; they only will best judge who are not +unacquainted with Aeschulus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the three +Tragic Poets unequall'd yet by any, and the best rule to all who +endeavour to write Tragedy. The circumscription of time wherein +the whole Drama begins and ends, is according to antient rule, and +best example, within the space of 24 hours. + + + +The ARGUMENT. + + +Samson made Captive, Blind, and now in the Prison at Gaza, there +to labour as in a common work-house, on a Festival day, in the +general cessation from labour, comes forth into the open Air, to a +place nigh, somewhat retir'd there to sit a while and bemoan his +condition. Where he happens at length to be visited by certain +friends and equals of his tribe, which make the Chorus, who seek +to comfort him what they can ; then by his old Father Manoa, who +endeavours the like, and withal tells him his purpose to procure his +liberty by ransom; lastly, that this Feast was proclaim'd by the +Philistins as a day of Thanksgiving for thir deliverance from the +hands of Samson, which yet more troubles him. Manoa then +departs to prosecute his endeavour with the Philistian Lords for +Samson's redemption; who in the mean while is visited by other +persons; and lastly by a publick Officer to require coming to the +Feast before the Lords and People, to play or shew his strength in +thir presence; he at first refuses, dismissing the publick officer with +absolute denyal to come; at length perswaded inwardly that this +was from God, he yields to go along with him, who came now the +second time with great threatnings to fetch him; the Chorus yet +remaining on the place, Manoa returns full of joyful hope, to +procure e're long his Sons deliverance: in the midst of which +discourse an Ebrew comes in haste confusedly at first; and +afterward more distinctly relating the Catastrophe, what Samson +had done to the Philistins, and by accident to himself; wherewith +the Tragedy ends. + + +The Persons + +Samson. +Manoa the father of Samson. +Dalila his wife. +Harapha of Gath. +Publick Officer. +Messenger. +Chorus of Danites + + +The Scene before the Prison in Gaza. + +Sam: A little onward lend thy guiding hand +To these dark steps, a little further on; +For yonder bank hath choice of Sun or shade, +There I am wont to sit, when any chance +Relieves me from my task of servile toyl, +Daily in the common Prison else enjoyn'd me, +Where I a Prisoner chain'd, scarce freely draw +The air imprison'd also, close and damp, +Unwholsom draught: but here I feel amends, +The breath of Heav'n fresh-blowing, pure and sweet, 10 +With day-spring born; here leave me to respire. +This day a solemn Feast the people hold +To Dagon thir Sea-Idol, and forbid +Laborious works, unwillingly this rest +Thir Superstition yields me; hence with leave +Retiring from the popular noise, I seek +This unfrequented place to find some ease, +Ease to the body some, none to the mind +>From restless thoughts, that like a deadly swarm +Of Hornets arm'd, no sooner found alone, 20 +But rush upon me thronging, and present +Times past, what once I was, and what am now. +O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold +Twice by an Angel, who at last in sight +Of both my Parents all in flames ascended +>From off the Altar, where an Off'ring burn'd, +As in a fiery column charioting +His Godlike presence, and from some great act +Or benefit reveal'd to Abraham's race? +Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd 30 +As of a person separate to God, +Design'd for great exploits; if I must dye +Betray'd, Captiv'd, and both my Eyes put out, +Made of my Enemies the scorn and gaze; +To grind in Brazen Fetters under task +With this Heav'n-gifted strength? O glorious strength +Put to the labour of a Beast, debas't +Lower then bondslave! Promise was that I +Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver; +Ask for this great Deliverer now, and find him 40 +Eyeless in Gaza at the Mill with slaves, +Himself in bonds under Philistian yoke; +Yet stay, let me not rashly call in doubt +Divine Prediction; what if all foretold +Had been fulfilld but through mine own default, +Whom have I to complain of but my self? +Who this high gift of strength committed to me, +In what part lodg'd, how easily bereft me, +Under the Seal of silence could not keep, +But weakly to a woman must reveal it 50 +O'recome with importunity and tears. +O impotence of mind, in body strong ! +But what is strength without a double share +Of wisdom, vast, unwieldy, burdensom, +Proudly secure, yet liable to fall +By weakest suttleties, not made to rule, +But to subserve where wisdom bears command. +God, when he gave me strength, to shew withal +How slight the gift was, hung it in my Hair. +But peace, I must not quarrel with the will 60 +Of highest dispensation, which herein +Happ'ly had ends above my reach to know: +Suffices that to me strength is my bane, +And proves the sourse of all my miseries; +So many, and so huge, that each apart +Would ask a life to wail, but chief of all, +O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! +Blind among enemies, O worse then chains, +Dungeon, or beggery, or decrepit age! +Light the prime work of God to me is extinct, +And all her various objects of delight +Annull'd, which might in part my grief have eas'd, +Inferiour to the vilest now become +Of man or worm; the vilest here excel me, +They creep, yet see, I dark in light expos'd +To daily fraud, contempt, abuse and wrong, +Within doors, or without, still as a fool, +In power of others, never in my own; +Scarce half I seem to live, dead more then half. +O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, 80 +Irrecoverably dark, total Eclipse +Without all hope of day! +O first created Beam, and thou great Word, +Let there be light, and light was over all; +Why am I thus bereav'd thy prime decree? +The Sun to me is dark +And silent as the Moon, +When she deserts the night +Hid in her vacant interlunar cave. +Since light so necessary is to life, 90 +And almost life itself, if it be true +That light is in the Soul, +She all in every part; why was the sight +To such a tender ball as th' eye confin'd? +So obvious and so easie to be quench't, +And not as feeling through all parts diffus'd, +That she might look at will through every pore? +Then had I not been thus exil'd from light; +As in the land of darkness yet in light, +To live a life half dead, a living death, 100 +And buried; but O yet more miserable! +My self, my Sepulcher, a moving Grave, +Buried, yet not exempt +By priviledge of death and burial +>From worst of other evils, pains and wrongs, +But made hereby obnoxious more +To all the miseries of life, +Life in captivity +Among inhuman foes. +But who are these? for with joint pace I hear 110 +The tread of many feet stearing this way; +Perhaps my enemies who come to stare +At my affliction, and perhaps to insult, +Thir daily practice to afflict me more. + +Chor: This, this is he; softly a while, +Let us not break in upon him; +O change beyond report, thought, or belief! +See how he lies at random, carelessly diffus'd, +With languish't head unpropt, +As one past hope, abandon'd 120 +And by himself given over; +In slavish habit, ill-fitted weeds +O're worn and soild; +Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this be hee, +That Heroic, that Renown'd, +Irresistible Samson? whom unarm'd +No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast could withstand; +Who tore the Lion, as the Lion tears the Kid, +Ran on embattelld Armies clad in Iron, +And weaponless himself, 130 +Made Arms ridiculous, useless the forgery +Of brazen shield and spear, the hammer'd Cuirass, +Chalybean temper'd steel, and frock of mail +Adamantean Proof; +But safest he who stood aloof, +When insupportably his foot advanc't, +In scorn of thir proud arms and warlike tools, +Spurn'd them to death by Troops. The bold Ascalonite +Fled from his Lion ramp, old Warriors turn'd +Thir plated backs under his heel; 140 +Or grovling soild thir crested helmets in the dust. +Then with what trivial weapon came to Hand, +The Jaw of a dead Ass, his sword of bone, +A thousand fore-skins fell, the flower of Palestin +In Ramath-lechi famous to this day: +Then by main force pull'd up, and on his shoulders bore +The Gates of Azza, Post, and massie Bar +Up to the Hill by Hebron, seat of Giants old, +No journey of a Sabbath day, and loaded so; +Like whom the Gentiles feign to bear up Heav'n. 150 +Which shall I first bewail, +Thy Bondage or lost Sight, +Prison within Prison +Inseparably dark? +Thou art become (O worst imprisonment!) +The Dungeon of thy self; thy Soul + (Which Men enjoying sight oft without cause complain) +Imprison'd now indeed, +In real darkness of the body dwells, +Shut up from outward light 160 +To incorporate with gloomy night; +For inward light alas +Puts forth no visual beam. +O mirror of our fickle state, +Since man on earth unparallel'd! +The rarer thy example stands, +By how much from the top of wondrous glory, +Strongest of mortal men, +To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall'n. +For him I reckon not in high estate 170 +Whom long descent of birth +Or the sphear of fortune raises; +But thee whose strength, while vertue was her mate +Might have subdu'd the Earth, +Universally crown'd with highest praises. + +Sam: I hear the sound of words, thir sense the air +Dissolves unjointed e're it reach my ear. + +Chor: Hee speaks, let us draw nigh. Matchless in might, +The glory late of Israel, now the grief; +We come thy friends and neighbours not unknown 180 +>From Eshtaol and Zora's fruitful Vale +To visit or bewail thee, or if better, +Counsel or Consolation we may bring, +Salve to thy Sores, apt words have power to swage +The tumors of a troubl'd mind, +And are as Balm to fester'd wounds. + +Sam: Your coming, Friends, revives me, for I learn +Now of my own experience, not by talk, +How counterfeit a coin they are who friends +Bear in their Superscription (of the most 190 +I would be understood) in prosperous days +They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head +Not to be found, though sought. Wee see, O friends. +How many evils have enclos'd me round; +Yet that which was the worst now least afflicts me, +Blindness, for had I sight, confus'd with shame, +How could I once look up, or heave the head, +Who like a foolish Pilot have shipwrack't, +My Vessel trusted to me from above, +Gloriously rigg'd; and for a word, a tear, 200 +Fool, have divulg'd the secret gift of God +To a deceitful Woman : tell me Friends, +Am I not sung and proverbd for a Fool +In every street, do they not say, how well +Are come upon him his deserts? yet why? +Immeasurable strength they might behold +In me, of wisdom nothing more then mean; +This with the other should, at least, have paird, +These two proportiond ill drove me transverse. + +Chor: Tax not divine disposal, wisest Men 210 +Have err'd, and by bad Women been deceiv'd; +And shall again, pretend they ne're so wise. +Deject not then so overmuch thy self, +Who hast of sorrow thy full load besides; +Yet truth to say, I oft have heard men wonder +Why thou shouldst wed Philistian women rather +Then of thine own Tribe fairer, or as fair, +At least of thy own Nation, and as noble. + +Sam: The first I saw at Timna, and she pleas'd +Mee, not my Parents, that I sought to wed, 220 +The daughter of an Infidel: they knew not +That what I motion'd was of God; I knew +>From intimate impulse, and therefore urg'd +The Marriage on; that by occasion hence +I might begin Israel's Deliverance, +The work to which I was divinely call'd; +She proving false, the next I took to Wife +(O that I never had ! fond wish too late) +Was in the Vale of Sorec, Dalila, +That specious Monster, my accomplisht snare. 230 +I thought it lawful from my former act, +And the same end; still watching to oppress +Israel's oppressours: of what now I suffer +She was not the prime cause, but I my self, +Who vanquisht with a peal of words (O weakness!) +Gave up my fort of silence to a Woman. + +Chor: In seeking just occasion to provoke +The Philistine, thy Countries Enemy, +Thou never wast remiss, I hear thee witness: +Yet Israel still serves with all his Sons. 240 + +Sam: That fault I take not on me, but transfer +On Israel's Governours, and Heads of Tribes, +Who seeing those great acts which God had done +Singly by me against their Conquerours +Acknowledg'd not, or not at all consider'd +Deliverance offerd : I on th' other side +Us'd no ambition to commend my deeds, +The deeds themselves, though mute, spoke loud the dooer; +But they persisted deaf, and would not seem +To count them things worth notice, till at length 250 +Thir Lords the Philistines with gather'd powers +Enterd Judea seeking mee, who then +Safe to the rock of Etham was retir'd, +Not flying, but fore-casting in what place +To set upon them, what advantag'd best; +Mean while the men of Judah to prevent +The harrass of thir Land, beset me round; +I willingly on some conditions came +Into thir hands, and they as gladly yield me +To the uncircumcis'd a welcom prey, 260 +Bound with two cords; but cords to me were threds +Toucht with the flame: on thir whole Host I flew +Unarm'd, and with a trivial weapon fell'd +Thir choicest youth; they only liv'd who fled. +Had Judah that day join'd, or one whole Tribe, +They had by this possess'd the Towers of Gath, +And lorded over them whom now they serve; +But what more oft in Nations grown corrupt, +And by thir vices brought to servitude, +Then to love Bondage more then Liberty, 270 +Bondage with ease then strenuous liberty; +And to despise, or envy, or suspect +Whom God hath of his special favour rais'd +As thir Deliverer; if he aught begin, +How frequent to desert him, and at last +To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds? + +Chor: Thy words to my remembrance bring +How Succoth and the Fort of Penuel +Thir great Deliverer contemn'd, +The matchless Gideon in pursuit 280 +Of Madian and her vanquisht Kings; +And how ingrateful Ephraim +Not worse then by his shield and spear +Had dealt with Jephtha, who by argument, +Defended Israel from the Ammonite, +Had not his prowess quell'd thir pride +In that sore battel when so many dy'd +Without Reprieve adjudg'd to death, +For want of well pronouncing Shibboleth. + +Sam: Of such examples adde mee to the roul, 290 +Mee easily indeed mine may neglect, +But Gods propos'd deliverance not so. + +Chor: Just are the ways of God, +And justifiable to Men; +Unless there be who think not God at all, +If any be, they walk obscure; +For of such Doctrine never was there School, +But the heart of the Fool, +And no man therein Doctor but himself. +Yet more there be who doubt his ways not just, 300 +As to his own edicts, found contradicting, +Then give the rains to wandring thought, +Regardless of his glories diminution; +Till by thir own perplexities involv'd +They ravel more, still less resolv'd, +But never find self-satisfying solution. +As if they would confine th' interminable, +And tie him to his own prescript, +Who made our Laws to bind us, not himself, +And hath full right to exempt 310 +Whom so it pleases him by choice +>From National obstriction, without taint +Of sin, or legal debt; +For with his own Laws he can best dispence. +He would not else who never wanted means, +Nor in respect of the enemy just cause +To set his people free, +Have prompted this Heroic Nazarite, +Against his vow of strictest purity, +To seek in marriage that fallacious Bride, 320 +Unclean, unchaste. +Down Reason then, at least vain reasonings down, +Though Reason here aver +That moral verdit quits her of unclean : +Unchaste was subsequent, her stain not his. +But see here comes thy reverend Sire +With careful step, Locks white as doune, +Old Manoah: advise +Forthwith how thou oughtst to receive him. + +Sam: Ay me, another inward grief awak't, 330 +With mention of that name renews th' assault. + +Man: Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem, +Though in this uncouth place; if old respect, +As I suppose, towards your once gloried friend, +My Son now Captive, hither hath inform'd +Your younger feet, while mine cast back with age +Came lagging after; say if he be here. + +Chor: As signal now in low dejected state, +As earst in highest; behold him where be lies. + +Man: O miserable change! is this the man, 340 +That invincible Samson, far renown'd, +The dread of Israel's foes, who with a strength +Equivalent to Angels walk'd thir streets, +None offering fight; who single combatant +Duell'd thir Armies rank't in proud array, +Himself an Army, now unequal match +To save himself against a coward arm'd +At one spears length. O ever failing trust +In mortal strength! and oh what not in man +Deceivable and vain! Nay what thing good 350 +Pray'd for, but often proves our woe, our bane? +I pray'd for Children, and thought barrenness +In wedlock a reproach; I gain'd a Son, +And such a Son as all Men hail'd me happy; +Who would be now a Father in my stead? +O wherefore did God grant me my request, +And as a blessing with such pomp adorn'd? +Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt +Our earnest Prayers, then giv'n with solemn hand +As Graces, draw a Scorpions tail behind? 360 +For this did the Angel twice descend? for this +Ordain'd thy nurture holy, as of a Plant; +Select, and Sacred, Glorious for a while, +The miracle of men: then in an hour +Ensnar'd, assaulted, overcome, led bound, +Thy Foes derision, Captive, Poor, and Blind +Into a Dungeon thrust, to work with Slaves? +Alas methinks whom God hath chosen once +To worthiest deeds, if he through frailty err, +He should not so o'rewhelm, and as a thrall 370 +Subject him to so foul indignities, +Be it but for honours sake of former deeds. + +Sam: Appoint not heavenly disposition, Father, +Nothing of all these evils hath befall'n me +But justly; I my self have brought them on, +Sole Author I, sole cause: if aught seem vile, +As vile hath been my folly, who have profan'd +The mystery of God giv'n me under pledge +Of vow, and have betray'd it to a woman, +A Canaanite, my faithless enemy. 380 +This well I knew, nor was at all surpris'd, +But warn'd by oft experience: did not she +Of Timna first betray me, and reveal +The secret wrested from me in her highth +Of Nuptial Love profest, carrying it strait +To them who had corrupted her, my Spies, +And Rivals? In this other was there found +More Faith? who also in her prime of love, +Spousal embraces, vitiated with Gold, +Though offer'd only, by the sent conceiv'd 390 +Her spurious first-born; Treason against me? +Thrice she assay'd with flattering prayers and sighs, +And amorous reproaches to win from me +My capital secret, in what part my strength +Lay stor'd in what part summ'd, that she might know: +Thrice I deluded her, and turn'd to sport +Her importunity, each time perceiving +How openly, and with what impudence +She purpos'd to betray me, and (which was worse +Then undissembl'd hate) with what contempt 400 +She sought to make me Traytor to my self; +Yet the fourth time, when mustring all her wiles, +With blandisht parlies, feminine assaults, +Tongue-batteries, she surceas'd not day nor night +To storm me over-watch't, and wearied out. +At times when men seek most repose and rest, +I yielded, and unlock'd her all my heart, +Who with a grain of manhood well resolv'd +Might easily have shook off all her snares : +But foul effeminacy held me yok't 410 +Her Bond-slave; O indignity, O blot +To Honour and Religion! servil mind +Rewarded well with servil punishment! +The base degree to which I now am fall'n, +These rags, this grinding, is not yet so base +As was my former servitude, ignoble, +Unmanly, ignominious, infamous, +True slavery, and that blindness worse then this, +That saw not how degeneratly I serv'd. + +Man: I cannot praise thy Marriage choises, Son, 420 +Rather approv'd them not; but thou didst plead +Divine impulsion prompting how thou might'st +Find some occasion to infest our Foes. +I state not that; this I am sure; our Foes +Found soon occasion thereby to make thee +Thir Captive, and thir triumph; thou the sooner +Temptation found'st, or over-potent charms +To violate the sacred trust of silence +Deposited within thee; which to have kept +Tacit, was in thy power; true; and thou hear'st 430 +Enough, and more the burden of that fault; +Bitterly hast thou paid, and still art paying +That rigid score. A worse thing yet remains, +This day the Philistines a popular Feast +Here celebrate in Gaza, and proclaim +Great Pomp, and Sacrifice, and Praises loud +To Dagon, as their God who hath deliver'd +Thee Samson bound and blind into thir hands, +Them out of thine, who slew'st them many a slain. +So Dagon shall be magnifi'd, and God, 440 +Besides whom is no God, compar'd with Idols, +Disglorifi'd, blasphem'd, and had in scorn +By th' Idolatrous rout amidst thir wine; +Which to have come to pass by means of thee, +Samson, of all thy sufferings think the heaviest, +Of all reproach the most with shame that ever +Could have befall'n thee and thy Fathers house. + +Sam: Father, I do acknowledge and confess +That I this honour, I this pomp have brought +To Dagon, and advanc'd his praises high 450 +Among the Heathen round; to God have brought +Dishonour, obloquie, and op't the mouths +Of Idolists, and Atheists; have brought scandal +To Israel diffidence of God, and doubt +In feeble hearts, propense anough before +To waver, or fall off and joyn with Idols: +Which is my chief affliction, shame and sorrow, +The anguish of my Soul, that suffers not +Mine eie to harbour sleep, or thoughts to rest. +This only hope relieves me, that the strife 460 +With me hath end; all the contest is now +'Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presum'd, +Me overthrown, to enter lists with God, +His Deity comparing and preferring +Before the God of Abraham. He, he sure, +Will not connive, or linger, thus provok'd, +But will arise and his great name assert: +Dagon must stoop, and shall e're long receive +Such a discomfit, as shall quite despoil him +Of all these boasted Trophies won on me, 470 +And with confusion blank his Worshippers. + +Man: With cause this hope relieves thee, and these words +I as a Prophecy receive: for God, +Nothing more certain, will not long defer +To vindicate the glory of his name +Against all competition, nor will long +Endure it, doubtful whether God be Lord, +Or Dagon. But for thee what shall be done? +Thou must not in the mean while here forgot +Lie in this miserable loathsom plight 480 +Neglected. I already have made way +To some Philistian Lords, with whom to treat +About thy ransom: well they may by this +Have satisfi'd thir utmost of revenge +By pains and slaveries, worse then death inflicted +On thee, who now no more canst do them harm. + +Sam: Spare that proposal, Father, spare the trouble +Of that sollicitation; let me here, +As I deserve, pay on my punishment; +And expiate, if possible, my crime, 490 +Shameful garrulity. To have reveal'd +Secrets of men, the secrets of a friend, +How hainous had the fact been, how deserving +Contempt, and scorn of all, to be excluded +All friendship, and avoided as a blab, +The mark of fool set on his front? +But I Gods counsel have not kept, his holy secret +Presumptuously have publish'd, impiously, +Weakly at least, and shamefully: A sin +That Gentiles in thir Parables condemn 500 +To thir abyss and horrid pains confin'd. + +Man: Be penitent and for thy fault contrite, +But act not in thy own affliction, Son, +Repent the sin, but if the punishment +Thou canst avoid, selfpreservation bids; +Or th' execution leave to high disposal, +And let another hand, not thine, exact +Thy penal forfeit from thy self; perhaps +God will relent, and quit thee all his debt; +Who evermore approves and more accepts 510 +(Best pleas'd with humble and filial submission) +Him who imploring mercy sues for life, +Then who selfrigorous chooses death as due; +Which argues overjust, and self-displeas'd +For self-offence, more then for God offended. +Reject not then what offerd means, who knows +But God hath set before us, to return thee +Home to thy countrey and his sacred house, +Where thou mayst bring thy off'rings, to avert +His further ire, with praiers and vows renew'd. 520 + +Sam: His pardon I implore; but as for life, +To what end should I seek it? when in strength +All mortals I excell'd, and great in hopes +With youthful courage and magnanimous thoughts +Of birth from Heav'n foretold and high exploits, +Full of divine instinct, after some proof +Of acts indeed heroic, far beyond +The Sons of Anac, famous now and blaz'd, +Fearless of danger, like a petty God +I walk'd about admir'd of all and dreaded 530 +On hostile ground, none daring my affront. +Then swoll'n with pride into the snare I fell +Of fair fallacious looks, venereal trains, +Softn'd with pleasure and voluptuous life; +At length to lay my head and hallow'd pledge +Of all my strength in the lascivious lap +Of a deceitful Concubine who shore me +Like a tame Weather, all my precious fleece, +Then turn'd me out ridiculous, despoil'd, +Shav'n, and disarm'd among my enemies. 540 + +Chor. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, +Which many a famous Warriour overturns, +Thou couldst repress, nor did the dancing Rubie +Sparkling; out-pow'rd, the flavor, or the smell, +Or taste that cheers the heart of Gods and men, +Allure thee from the cool Crystalline stream. + +Sam. Where ever fountain or fresh current flow'd +Against the Eastern ray, translucent, pure, +With touch aetherial of Heav'ns fiery rod +I drank, from the clear milkie juice allaying 550 +Thirst, and refresht; nor envy'd them the grape +Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes. + +Chor. O madness, to think use of strongest wines +And strongest drinks our chief support of health, +When God with these forbid'n made choice to rear +His mighty Champion, strong above compare, +Whose drink was only from the liquid brook. + + Sam. But what avail'd this temperance, not compleat +Against another object more enticing? +What boots it at one gate to make defence, 560 +And at another to let in the foe +Effeminatly vanquish't? by which means, +Now blind, disheartn'd, sham'd, dishonour'd, quell'd, +To what can I be useful, wherein serve +My Nation, and the work from Heav'n impos'd, +But to sit idle on the houshold hearth, +A burdenous drone; to visitants a gaze, +Or pitied object, these redundant locks +Robustious to no purpose clustring down, +Vain monument of strength; till length of years 570 +And sedentary numness craze my limbs +To a contemptible old age obscure. +Here rather let me drudge and earn my bread, +Till vermin or the draff of servil food +Consume me, and oft-invocated death +Hast'n the welcom end of all my pains. + +Man. Wilt thou then serve the Philistines with that gift +Which was expresly giv'n thee to annoy them? +Better at home lie bed-rid, not only idle, +Inglorious, unimploy'd, with age out-worn. 580 +But God who caus'd a fountain at thy prayer +>From the dry ground to spring, thy thirst to allay +After the brunt of battel, can as easie +Cause light again within thy eies to spring, +Wherewith to serve him better then thou hast; +And I perswade me so; why else this strength +Miraculous yet remaining in those locks? +His might continues in thee not for naught, +Nor shall his wondrous gifts be frustrate thus. + +Sam: All otherwise to me my thoughts portend, 590 +That these dark orbs no more shall treat with light, +Nor th' other light of life continue long, +But yield to double darkness nigh at hand: +So much I feel my genial spirits droop, +My hopes all flat, nature within me seems +In all her functions weary of herself; +My race of glory run, and race of shame, +And I shall shortly be with them that rest. + +Man. Believe not these suggestions which proceed +>From anguish of the mind and humours black, 600 +That mingle with thy fancy. I however +Must not omit a Fathers timely care +To prosecute the means of thy deliverance +By ransom or how else: mean while be calm, +And healing words from these thy friends admit. + +Sam. O that torment should not be confin'd +To the bodies wounds and sores +With maladies innumerable +In heart, head, brest, and reins; +But must secret passage find 610 +To th' inmost mind, +There exercise all his fierce accidents, +And on her purest spirits prey, +As on entrails, joints, and limbs, +With answerable pains, but more intense, +'Though void of corporal sense. +My griefs not only pain me +As a lingring disease, +But finding no redress, ferment and rage, +Nor less then wounds immedicable 620 +Ranckle, and fester, and gangrene, +To black mortification. +Thoughts my Tormenters arm'd with deadly stings +Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts, +Exasperate, exulcerate, and raise +Dire inflammation which no cooling herb +Or rnedcinal liquor can asswage, +Nor breath of Vernal Air from snowy Alp. +Sleep hath forsook and giv'n me o're +To deaths benumming Opium as my only cure. 630 +Thence faintings, swounings of despair, +And sense of Heav'ns desertion. +I was his nursling once and choice delight, +His destin'd from the womb, +Promisd by Heavenly message twice descending. +Under his special eie +Abstemious I grew up and thriv'd amain; +He led me on to mightiest deeds +Above the nerve of mortal arm +Against the uncircumcis'd, our enemies. 640 +But now hath cast me off as never known, +And to those cruel enemies, +Whom I by his appointment had provok't, +Left me all helpless with th' irreparable loss +Of sight, reserv'd alive to be repeated +The subject of thir cruelty, or scorn. +Nor am I in the list of them that hope; +Hopeless are all my evils, all remediless; +This one prayer yet remains, might I be heard, +No long petition, speedy death, 650 +The close of all my miseries, and the balm. + +Chor: Many are the sayings of the wise +In antient and in modern books enroll'd; +Extolling Patience as the truest fortitude; +And to the bearing well of all calamities, +All chances incident to mans frail life +Consolatories writ +With studied argument, and much perswasion sought +Lenient of grief and anxious thought, +But with th' afflicted in his pangs thir sound 680 +Little prevails, or rather seems a tune, +Harsh, and of dissonant mood from his complaint, +Unless he feel within +Some sourse of consolation from above; +Secret refreshings, that repair his strength, +And fainting spirits uphold. +God of our Fathers, what is man! +That thou towards him with hand so various, +Or might I say contrarious, +Temperst thy providence through his short course, 670 +Not evenly, as thou rul'st +The Angelic orders and inferiour creatures mute, +Irrational and brute. +Nor do I name of men the common rout, +That wandring loose about +Grow up and perish, as the summer flie, +Heads without name no more rememberd, +But such as thou hast solemnly elected, +With gifts and graces eminently adorn'd +To some great work, thy glory, 680 +And peoples safety, which in part they effect: +Yet toward these thus dignifi'd, thou oft +Amidst thir highth of noon, +Changest thy countenance, and thy hand with no regard +Of highest favours past +>From thee on them, or them to thee of service. +Nor only dost degrade them, or remit +To life obscur'd, which were a fair dismission, +But throw'st them lower then thou didst exalt them high, +Unseemly falls in human eie, 690 +Too grievous for the trespass or omission, +Oft leav'st them to the hostile sword +Of Heathen and prophane, thir carkasses +To dogs and fowls a prey, or else captiv'd: +Or to the unjust tribunals, under change of times, +And condemnation of the ingrateful multitude. +If these they scape, perhaps in poverty +With sickness and disease thou bow'st them down, +Painful diseases and deform'd, 700 +In crude old age; +Though not disordinate, yet causless suffring +The punishment of dissolute days, in fine, +Just or unjust, alike seem miserable, +For oft alike, both come to evil end. +So deal not with this once thy glorious Champion, +The Image of thy strength, and mighty minister. +What do I beg? how hast thou dealt already? +Behold him in this state calamitous, and turn +His labours, for thou canst, to peaceful end. +But who is this, what thing of Sea or Land? 710 +Femal of sex it seems, +That so bedeckt, ornate, and gay, +Comes this way sailing +Like a stately Ship +Of Tarsus, bound for th' Isles +Of Javan or Gadier +With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, +Sails fill'd, and streamers waving, +Courted by all the winds that hold them play, +An Amber sent of odorous perfume 720 +Her harbinger, a damsel train behind; +Some rich Philistian Matron she may seem, +And now at nearer view, no other certain +Than Dalila thy wife. + +Sam: My Wife, my Traytress, let her not come near me. + +Cho: Yet on she moves, now stands & eies thee fixt, +About t'have spoke, but now, with head declin'd +Like a fair flower surcharg'd with dew, she weeps +And words addrest seem into tears dissolv'd, +Wetting the borders of her silk'n veil: 730 +But now again she makes address to speak. + +Dal: With doubtful feet and wavering resolution +I came, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson, +Which to have merited, without excuse, +I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears +May expiate (though the fact more evil drew +In the perverse event then I foresaw) +My penance hath not slack'n'd, though my pardon +No way assur'd. But conjugal affection +Prevailing over fear, and timerous doubt 740 +Hath led me on desirous to behold +Once more thy face, and know of thy estate. +If aught in my ability may serve +To light'n what thou suffer'st, and appease +Thy mind with what amends is in my power, +Though late, yet in some part to recompense +My rash but more unfortunate misdeed. + +Sam: Out, out Hyaena; these are thy wonted arts, +And arts of every woman false like thee, +To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750 +Then as repentant to submit, beseech, +And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse, +Confess, and promise wonders in her change, +Not truly penitent, but chief to try +Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, +His vertue or weakness which way to assail: +Then with more cautious and instructed skill +Again transgresses, and again submits; +That wisest and best men full oft beguil'd +With goodness principl'd not to reject 760 +The penitent, but ever to forgive, +Are drawn to wear out miserable days, +Entangl'd with a poysnous bosom snake, +If not by quick destruction soon cut off +As I by thee, to Ages an example. + +Dal: Yet hear me Samson; not that I endeavour +To lessen or extenuate my offence, +But that on th' other side if it be weigh'd +By it self, with aggravations not surcharg'd, +Or else with just allowance counterpois'd 770 +I may, if possible, thy pardon find +The easier towards me, or thy hatred less. +First granting, as I do, it was a weakness +In me, but incident to all our sex, +Curiosity, inquisitive, importune +Of secrets, then with like infirmity +To publish them, both common female faults: +Was it not weakness also to make known +For importunity, that is for naught, +Wherein consisted all thy strength and safety? 780 +To what I did thou shewdst me first the way. +But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not. +Nor shouldst thou have trusted that to womans frailty +E're I to thee, thou to thy self wast cruel. +Let weakness then with weakness come to parl +So near related, or the same of kind, +Thine forgive mine; that men may censure thine +The gentler, if severely thou exact not +More strength from me, then in thy self was found. +And what if Love, which thou interpret'st hate, 790 +The jealousie of Love, powerful of sway +In human hearts, nor less in mine towards thee, +Caus'd what I did? I saw thee mutable +Of fancy, feard lest one day thou wouldst leave me +As her at Timna, sought by all means therefore +How to endear, and hold thee to me firmest: +No better way I saw then by importuning +To learn thy secrets, get into my power +Thy key of strength and safety: thou wilt say, +Why then reveal'd? I was assur'd by those 800 +Who tempted me, that nothing was design'd +Against thee but safe custody, and hold: +That made for me, I knew that liberty +Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises, +While I at home sate full of cares and fears +Wailing thy absence in my widow'd bed; +Here I should still enjoy thee day and night +Mine and Loves prisoner, not the Philistines, +Whole to my self, unhazarded abroad, +Fearless at home of partners in my love. 810 +These reasons in Loves law have past for good, +Though fond and reasonless to some perhaps: +And Love hath oft, well meaning, wrought much wo, +Yet always pity or pardon hath obtain'd. +Be not unlike all others, not austere +As thou art strong, inflexible as steel. +If thou in strength all mortals dost exceed, +In uncompassionate anger do not so. + +Sam: How cunningly the sorceress displays +Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine! 820 +That malice not repentance brought thee hither, +By this appears : I gave, thou say'st, th' example, +I led the way; bitter reproach, but true, +I to my self was false e're thou to me, +Such pardon therefore as I give my folly, +Take to thy wicked deed: which when thou seest +Impartial, self-severe, inexorable, +Thou wilt renounce thy seeking, and much rather +Confess it feign'd, weakness is thy excuse, +And I believe it, weakness to resist 830 +Philistian gold: if weakness may excuse, +What Murtherer, what Traytor, Parricide, +Incestuous, Sacrilegious, but may plead it? +All wickedness is weakness : that plea therefore +With God or Man will gain thee no remission. +But Love constrain'd thee; call it furious rage +To satisfie thy lust: Love seeks to have Love; +My love how couldst thou hope, who tookst the way +To raise in me inexpiable hate, +Knowing, as needs I must, by thee betray'd ? 840 +In vain thou striv'st to cover shame with shame, +Or by evasions thy crime uncoverst more. + +Dal: Since thou determinst weakness for no plea +In man or woman, though to thy own condemning, +Hear what assaults I had, what snares besides, +What sieges girt me round, e're I consented; +Which might have aw'd the best resolv'd of men, +The constantest to have yielded without blame. +It was not gold, as to my charge thou lay'st, +That wrought with me: thou know'st the Magistrates 850 +And Princes of my countrey came in person, +Sollicited, commanded, threatn'd, urg'd, +Adjur'd by all the bonds of civil Duty +And of Religion, press'd how just it was, +How honourable, how glorious to entrap +A common enemy, who had destroy'd +Such numbers of our Nation : and the Priest +Was not behind, but ever at my ear, +Preaching how meritorious with the gods +It would be to ensnare an irreligious 860 +Dishonourer of Dagon : what had I +To oppose against such powerful arguments? +Only my love of thee held long debate; +And combated in silence all these reasons +With hard contest: at length that grounded maxim +So rife and celebrated in the mouths +Of wisest men; that to the public good +Private respects must yield; with grave authority' +Took full possession of me and prevail'd; +Vertue, as I thought, truth, duty so enjoyning. 870 + +Sam: I thought where all thy circling wiles would end; +In feign'd Religion, smooth hypocrisie. +But had thy love, still odiously pretended, +Bin, as it ought, sincere, it would have taught thee +Far other reasonings, brought forth other deeds. +I before all the daughters of my Tribe +And of my Nation chose thee from among +My enemies, lov'd thee, as too well thou knew'st, +Too well, unbosom'd all my secrets to thee, +Not out of levity, but over-powr'd 880 +By thy request, who could deny thee nothing; +Yet now am judg'd an enemy. Why then +Didst thou at first receive me for thy husband? +Then, as since then, thy countries foe profest: +Being once a wife, for me thou wast to leave +Parents and countrey; nor was I their subject, +Nor under their protection but my own, +Thou mine, not theirs: if aught against my life +Thy countrey sought of thee, it sought unjustly, +Against the law of nature, law of nations, 890 +No more thy countrey, but an impious crew +Of men conspiring to uphold thir state +By worse than hostile deeds, violating the ends +For which our countrey is a name so dear; +Not therefore to be obey'd. But zeal mov'd thee; +To please thy gods thou didst it; gods unable +To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes +But by ungodly deeds, the contradiction +Of their own deity, Gods cannot be: +Less therefore to be pleas'd, obey'd, or fear'd, 900 +These false pretexts and varnish'd colours failing, +Bare in thy guilt how foul must thou appear? + +Dal: In argument with men a woman ever +Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause. + +Sam: For want of words no doubt, or lack of breath, +Witness when I was worried with thy peals. + +Dal: I was a fool, too rash, and quite mistaken +In what I thought would have succeeded best. +Let me obtain forgiveness of thee, Samson, +Afford me place to shew what recompence 910 +Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone, +Misguided: only what remains past cure +Bear not too sensibly, nor still insist +To afflict thy self in vain: though sight be lost, +Life yet hath many solaces, enjoy'd +Where other senses want not their delights +At home in leisure and domestic ease, +Exempt from many a care and chance to which +Eye-sight exposes daily men abroad. +I to the Lords will intercede, not doubting 920 +Thir favourable ear, that I may fetch thee +>From forth this loathsom prison-house, to abide +With me, where my redoubl'd love and care +With nursing diligence, to me glad office, +May ever tend about thee to old age +With all things grateful chear'd, and so suppli'd, +That what by me thou hast lost thou least shalt miss. + +Sam: No, no, of my condition take no care; +It fits not; thou and I long since are twain; +Nor think me so unwary or accurst 930 +To bring my feet again into the snare +Where once I have been caught; I know thy trains +Though dearly to my cost, thy ginns, and toyls; +Thy fair enchanted cup, and warbling charms +No more on me have power, their force is null'd, +So much of Adders wisdom I have learn't +To fence my ear against thy sorceries. +If in my flower of youth and strength, when all men +Lov'd, honour'd, fear'd me, thou alone could hate me +Thy Husband, slight me, sell me, and forgo me; 940 +How wouldst thou use me now, blind, and thereby +Deceiveable, in most things as a child +Helpless, thence easily contemn'd, and scorn'd, +And last neglected? How wouldst thou insult +When I must live uxorious to thy will +In perfet thraldom, how again betray me, +Bearing my words and doings to the Lords +To gloss upon, and censuring, frown or smile? +This Gaol I count the house of Liberty +To thine whose doors my feet shall never enter. 950 + +Dal: Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand. + +Sam: Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake +My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint. +At distance I forgive thee, go with that; +Bewail thy falshood, and the pious works +It hath brought forth to make thee memorable +Among illustrious women, faithful wives: +Cherish thy hast'n'd widowhood with the gold +Of Matrimonial treason: so farewel. + +Dal: I see thou art implacable, more deaf 960 +To prayers, then winds and seas, yet winds to seas +Are reconcil'd at length, and Sea to Shore: +Thy anger, unappeasable, still rages, +Eternal tempest never to be calm'd. +Why do I humble thus my self, and suing +For peace, reap nothing but repulse and hate? +Bid go with evil omen and the brand +Of infamy upon my name denounc't? +To mix with thy concernments I desist +Henceforth, nor too much disapprove my own. 970 +Fame if not double-fac't is double-mouth'd, +And with contrary blast proclaims most deeds, +On both his wings, one black, th' other white, +Bears greatest names in his wild aerie flight. +My name perhaps among the Circumcis'd +In Dan, in Judah, and the bordering Tribes, +To all posterity may stand defam'd, +With malediction mention'd, and the blot +Of falshood most unconjugal traduc't. +But in my countrey where I most desire, 980 +In Ecron, Gaza, Asdod, and in Gath +I shall be nam'd among the famousest +Of Women, sung at solemn festivals, +Living and dead recorded, who to save +Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose +Above the faith of wedlock-bands, my tomb +With odours visited and annual flowers. +Not less renown'd then in Mount Ephraim, +Jael who with inhospitable guile +Smote Sisera sleeping through the Temples nail'd. 990 +Nor shall I count it hainous to enjoy +The public marks of honour and reward +Conferr'd upon me, for the piety +Which to my countrey I was judg'd to have shewn. +At this who ever envies or repines +I leave him to his lot, and like my own. + +Chor: She's gone, a manifest Serpent by her sting +Discover'd in the end, till now conceal'd. + +Sam: So let her go, God sent her to debase me, +And aggravate my folly who committed 1000 +To such a viper his most sacred trust +Of secresie, my safety, and my life. + +Chor: Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, +After offence returning, to regain +Love once possest, nor can be easily +Repuls't, without much inward passion felt +And secret sting of amorous remorse. + +Sam: Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end, +Not wedlock-trechery endangering life. + +Chor: It is not vertue, wisdom, valour, wit, 1010 +Strength, comliness of shape, or amplest merit +That womans love can win or long inherit; +But what it is, hard is to say, +Harder to hit, +(Which way soever men refer it) +Much like thy riddle, Samson, in one day +Or seven, though one should musing sit; +If any of these or all, the Timnian bride +Had not so soon preferr'd +Thy Paranymph, worthless to thee compar'd, 1020 +Successour in thy bed, +Nor both so loosly disally'd +Thir nuptials, nor this last so trecherously +Had shorn the fatal harvest of thy head. +Is it for that such outward ornament +Was lavish't on thir Sex, that inward gifts +Were left for hast unfinish't, judgment scant, +Capacity not rais'd to apprehend +Or value what is best +In choice, but oftest to affect the wrong? 1030 +Or was too much of self-love mixt, +Of constancy no root infixt, +That either they love nothing, or not long? +What e're it be, to wisest men and best +Seeming at first all heavenly under virgin veil, +Soft, modest, meek, demure, +Once join'd, the contrary she proves, a thorn +Intestin, far within defensive arms +A cleaving mischief, in his way to vertue +Adverse and turbulent, or by her charms 1040 +Draws him awry enslav'd +With dotage, and his sense deprav'd +To folly and shameful deeds which ruin ends. +What Pilot so expert but needs must wreck +Embarqu'd with such a Stears-mate at the Helm? +Favour'd of Heav'n who finds +One vertuous rarely found, +That in domestic good combines: +Happy that house! his way to peace is smooth: +But vertue which breaks through all opposition, 1050 +And all temptation can remove, +Most shines and most is acceptable above. +Therefore Gods universal Law +Gave to the man despotic power +Over his female in due awe, +Nor from that right to part an hour, +Smile she or lowre: +So shall he least confusion draw +On his whole life, not sway'd +By female usurpation, nor dismay'd. 1060 +But had we best retire, I see a storm? + +Sam: Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. + +Chor: But this another kind of tempest brings. + +Sam: Be less abstruse, my riddling days are past. + +Chor: Look now for no inchanting voice, nor fear +The bait of honied words; a rougher tongue +Draws hitherward, I know him by his stride, +The Giant Harapha of Gath, his look +Haughty as is his pile high-built and proud. +Comes he in peace? what wind hath blown him hither 1070 +I less conjecture then when first I saw +The sumptuous Dalila floating this way: +His habit carries peace, his brow defiance. + +Sam: Or peace or not, alike to me he comes. + +Chor: His fraught we soon shall know, he now arrives. + +Har: I come not Samson, to condole thy chance, +As these perhaps, yet wish it had not been, +Though for no friendly intent. I am of Gath, +Men call me Harapha, of stock renown'd +As Og or Anak and the Emims old 1080 +That Kiriathaim held, thou knowst me now +If thou at all art known. Much I have heard +Of thy prodigious might and feats perform'd +Incredible to me, in this displeas'd, +That I was never present on the place +Of those encounters, where we might have tri'd +Each others force in camp or listed field: +And now am come to see of whom such noise +Hath walk'd about, and each limb to survey, +If thy appearance answer loud report. 1090 + +Sam: The way to know were not to see but taste. + +Har: Dost thou already single me; I thought +Gives and the Mill had tam'd thee? O that fortune +Had brought me to the field where thou art fam'd +To have wrought such wonders with an Asses Jaw; +I should have forc'd thee soon with other arms, +Or left thy carkass where the Ass lay thrown: +So had the glory of Prowess been recover'd +To Palestine, won by a Philistine +>From the unforeskinn'd race, of whom thou hear'st 1100 +The highest name for valiant Acts, that honour +Certain to have won by mortal duel from thee, +I lose, prevented by thy eyes put out. + +Sam: Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do +What then thou would'st, thou seest it in thy hand. + +Har: To combat with a blind man I disdain +And thou hast need much washing to be toucht. + +Sam: Such usage as your honourable Lords +Afford me assassinated and betray'd, +Who durst not with thir whole united powers 1110 +In fight withstand me single and unarm'd, +Nor in the house with chamber Ambushes +Close-banded durst attaque me, no not sleeping, +Till they had hir'd a woman with their gold +Breaking her Marriage Faith to circumvent me. +Therefore without feign'd shifts let be assign'd +Some narrow place enclos'd, where sight may give thee. +Or rather flight, no great advantage on me; +Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy Helmet +And Brigandine of brass, thy broad Habergeon. 1120 +Vant-brass and Greves, and Gauntlet, add thy Spear +A Weavers beam, and seven-times-folded shield. +I only with an Oak'n staff will meet thee, +And raise such out-cries on thy clatter'd Iron, +Which long shall not with-hold mee from thy head, +That in a little time while breath remains thee, +Thou oft shalt wish thy self at Gath to boast +Again in safety what thou wouldst have done +To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more. + +Har: Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms 1130 +Which greatest Heroes have in battel worn, +Thir ornament and safety, had not spells +And black enchantments, some Magicians Art +Arm'd thee or charm'd thee strong, which thou from Heaven +Feigndst at thy birth was giv'n thee in thy hair, +Where strength can least abide, though all thy hairs +Were bristles rang'd like those that ridge the back +Of chaf't wild Boars, or ruffl'd Porcupines. + +Sam: I know no Spells, use no forbidden Arts; +My trust is in the living God who gave me 1140 +At my Nativity this strength, diffus'd +No less through all my sinews, joints and bones, +Then thine, while I preserv'd these locks unshorn, +The pledge of my unviolated vow. +For proof hereof, if Dagon be thy god, +Go to his Temple, invocate his aid +With solemnest devotion, spread before him +How highly it concerns his glory now +To frustrate and dissolve these Magic spells, +Which I to be the power of Israel's God 1150 +Avow, and challenge Dagon to the test, +Offering to combat thee his Champion bold, +With th' utmost of his Godhead seconded: +Then thou shalt see, or rather to thy sorrow +Soon feel, whose God is strongest, thine or mine. + +Har: Presume not on thy God, what e're he be, +Thee he regards not, owns not, hath cut off +Quite from his people, and delivered up +Into thy Enemies hand, permitted them +To put out both thine eyes, and fetter'd send thee 1160 +Into the common Prison, there to grind +Among the Slaves and Asses thy comrades, +As good for nothing else, no better service +With those, thy boyst'rous locks, no worthy match +For valour to assail, nor by the sword +Of noble Warriour, so to stain his honour, +But by the Barbers razor best subdu'd. + +Sam: All these indignities, for such they are +>From thine, these evils I deserve and more, +Acknowledge them from God inflicted on me 1170 +Justly, yet despair not of his final pardon +Whose ear is ever open; and his eye +Gracious to re-admit the suppliant; +In confidence whereof I once again +Defie thee to the trial of mortal fight, +By combat to decide whose god is God, +Thine or whom I with Israel's Sons adore. + +Har: Fair honour that thou dost thy God, in trusting +He will accept thee to defend his cause, +A Murtherer, a Revolter, and a Robber. 1180 + +Sam: Tongue-doubtie Giant, how dost thou prove me these? + +Har: Is not thy Nation subject to our Lords? +Thir Magistrates confest it, when they took thee +As a League-breaker and deliver'd bound +Into our hands: for hadst thou not committed +Notorious murder on those thirty men +At Askalon, who never did thee harm, +Then like a Robber stripdst them of thir robes? +The Philistines, when thou hadst broke the league, +Went up with armed powers thee only seeking, 1190 +To others did no violence nor spoil. + +Sam: Among the Daughters of the Philistines +I chose a Wife, which argu'd me no foe; +And in your City held my Nuptial Feast: +But your ill-meaning Politician Lords, +Under pretence of Bridal friends and guests, +Appointed to await me thirty spies, +Who threatning cruel death constrain'd the bride +To wring from me and tell to them my secret, +That solv'd the riddle which I had propos'd. 1200 +When I perceiv'd all set on enmity, +As on my enemies, where ever chanc'd, +I us'd hostility, and took thir spoil +To pay my underminers in thir coin. +My Nation was subjected to your Lords. +It was the force of Conquest; force with force +Is well ejected when the Conquer'd can. +But I a private person, whom my Countrey +As a league-breaker gave up bound, presum'd +Single Rebellion and did Hostile Acts. 1210 +I was no private but a person rais'd +With strength sufficient and command from Heav'n +To free my Countrey; if their servile minds +Me their Deliverer sent would not receive, +But to thir Masters gave me up for nought, +Th' unworthier they; whence to this day they serve. +I was to do my part from Heav'n assign'd, +And had perform'd it if my known offence +Had not disabl'd me, not all your force: +These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant 1220 +Though by his blindness maim'd for high attempts, +Who now defies thee thrice to single fight, +As a petty enterprise of small enforce. + +Har: With thee a Man condemn'd, a Slave enrol'd, +Due by the Law to capital punishment? +To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. + +Sam: Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster, to survey me, +To descant on my strength, and give thy verdit? +Come nearer, part not hence so slight inform'd; +But take good heed my hand survey not thee. 1230 +Har: O Baal-zebub! can my ears unus'd +Hear these dishonours, and not render death? + +Sam: No man with-holds thee, nothing from thy hand +Fear I incurable; bring up thy van, +My heels are fetter'd, but my fist is free. + +Har: This insolence other kind of answer fits. + +Sam: Go baffl'd coward, lest I run upon thee, +Though in these chains, bulk without spirit vast, +And with one buffet lay thy structure low, +Or swing thee in the Air, then dash thee down 1240 +To the hazard of thy brains and shatter'd sides. + +Har: By Astaroth e're long thou shalt lament +These braveries in Irons loaden on thee. + +Chor: His Giantship is gone somewhat crestfall'n, +Stalking with less unconsci'nable strides, +And lower looks, but in a sultrie chafe. + +Sam: I dread him not, nor all his Giant-brood, +Though Fame divulge him Father of five Sons +All of Gigantic size, Goliah chief. + +Chor: He will directly to the Lords, I fear, 1250 +And with malitious counsel stir them up +Some way or other yet further to afflict thee. + +Sam: He must allege some cause, and offer'd fight +Will not dare mention, lest a question rise +Whether he durst accept the offer or not, +And that he durst not plain enough appear'd. +Much more affliction then already felt +They cannot well impose, nor I sustain; +If they intend advantage of my labours +The work of many hands, which earns my keeping 1260 +With no small profit daily to my owners. +But come what will, my deadliest foe will prove +My speediest friend, by death to rid me hence, +The worst that he can give, to me the best. +Yet so it may fall out, because thir end +Is hate, not help to me, it may with mine +Draw thir own ruin who attempt the deed. + +Chor: Oh how comely it is and how reviving +To the Spirits of just men long opprest! +When God into the hands of thir deliverer 1270 +Puts invincible might +To quell the mighty of the Earth, th' oppressour, +The brute and boist'rous force of violent men +Hardy and industrious to support +Tyrannic power, but raging to pursue +The righteous and all such as honour Truth; +He all thir Ammunition +And feats of War defeats +With plain Heroic magnitude of mind +And celestial vigour arm'd, 1270 +Thir Armories and Magazins contemns, +Renders them useless, while +With winged expedition +Swift as the lightning glance he executes +His errand on the wicked, who surpris'd +Lose thir defence distracted and amaz'd. +But patience is more oft the exercise +Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude, +Making them each his own Deliverer, +And Victor over all 1290 +That tyrannie or fortune can inflict, +Either of these is in thy lot, +Samson, with might endu'd +Above the Sons of men; but sight bereav'd +May chance to number thee with those +Whom Patience finally must crown. +This Idols day hath bin to thee no day of rest, +Labouring thy mind +More then the working day thy hands, +And yet perhaps more trouble is behind. 1300 +For I descry this way +Some other tending, in his hand +A Scepter or quaint staff he bears, +Comes on amain, speed in his look. +By his habit I discern him now +A Public Officer, and now at hand. +His message will be short and voluble. + +Off: Ebrews, the Pris'ner Samson here I seek. + +Chor: His manacles remark him, there he sits. + +Off: Samson, to thee our Lords thus bid me say; 1310 +This day to Dagon is a solemn Feast, +With Sacrifices, Triumph, Pomp, and Games; +Thy strength they know surpassing human rate, +And now some public proof thereof require +To honour this great Feast, and great Assembly; +Rise therefore with all speed and come along, +Where I will see thee heartn'd and fresh clad +To appear as fits before th' illustrious Lords. + +Sam: Thou knowst I am an Ebrew, therefore tell them, +Our Law forbids at thir Religious Rites 1320 +My presence; for that cause I cannot come. + +Off: This answer, be assur'd, will not content them. + +Sam: Have they not Sword-players, and ev'ry sort +Of Gymnic Artists, Wrestlers, Riders, Runners, +Juglers and Dancers, Antics, Mummers, Mimics, +But they must pick me out with shackles tir'd, +And over-labour'd at thir publick Mill, +To make them sport with blind activity? +Do they not seek occasion of new quarrels +On my refusal to distress me more, 1330 +Or make a game of my calamities? +Return the way thou cam'st, I will not come. + +Off: Regard thy self, this will offend them highly. + +Sam: My self? my conscience and internal peace. +Can they think me so broken, so debas'd +With corporal servitude, that my mind ever +Will condescend to such absurd commands? +Although thir drudge, to be thir fool or jester, +And in my midst of sorrow and heart-grief +To shew them feats, and play before thir god, 1340 +The worst of all indignities, yet on me +Joyn'd with extream contempt? I will not come. + +Off: My message was impos'd on me with speed, +Brooks no delay: is this thy resolution? + +Sam: So take it with what speed thy message needs. + +Off : I am sorry what this stoutness will produce. + +Sam: Perhaps thou shalt have cause to sorrow indeed. + +Chor: Consider, Samson; matters now are strain'd +Up to the highth, whether to bold or break; +He's gone, and who knows how he may report 1350 +Thy words by adding fuel to the flame? +Expect another message more imperious, +More Lordly thund'ring then thou well wilt bear. + +Sam: Shall I abuse this Consecrated gift +Of strength, again returning with my hair +After my great transgression, so requite +Favour renew'd, and add a greater sin +By prostituting holy things to Idols; +A Nazarite in place abominable +Vaunting my strength in honour to thir Dagon? 1360 +Besides, how vile, contemptible, ridiculous, +What act more execrably unclean, prophane? + +Chor: Yet with this strength thou serv'st the Philistines, +Idolatrous, uncircumcis'd, unclean. + +Sam: Not in thir Idol-worship, but by labour +Honest and lawful to deserve my food +Of those who have me in thir civil power. + +Chor: Where the heart joins not, outward acts defile not + +Sam: Where outward force constrains, the sentence holds: +But who constrains me to the Temple of Dagon, 1370 +Not dragging? the Philistian Lords command. +Commands are no constraints. If I obey them, +I do it freely; venturing to displease +God for the fear of Man, and Man prefer, +Set God behind: which in his jealousie +Shall never, unrepented, find forgiveness. +Yet that he may dispense with me or thee +Present in Temples at Idolatrous Rites +For some important cause, thou needst not doubt. + +Chor: How thou wilt here come off surmounts my reach. 1380 + +Sam: Be of good courage, I begin to feel +Some rouzing motions in me which dispose +To something extraordinary my thoughts. +I with this Messenger will go along, +Nothing to do, be sure, that may dishonour +Our Law, or stain my vow of Nazarite. +If there be aught of presage in the mind, +This day will be remarkable in my life +By some great act, or of my days the last. + +Chor: In time thou hast resolv'd, the man returns. 1390 + +Off: Samson, this second message from our Lords +To thee I am bid say. Art thou our Slave, +Our Captive, at the public Mill our drudge, +And dar'st thou at our sending and command +Dispute thy coming? come without delay; +Or we shall find such Engines to assail +And hamper thee, as thou shalt come of force, +Though thou wert firmlier fastn'd then a rock. + +Sam: I could be well content to try thir Art, +Which to no few of them would prove pernicious. 1400 +Yet knowing thir advantages too many, +Because they shall not trail me through thir streets +Like a wild Beast, I am content to go. +Masters commands come with a power resistless +To such as owe them absolute subjection; +And for a life who will not change his purpose? +(So mutable are all the ways of men) +Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply +Scandalous or forbidden in our Law. + +Off: I praise thy resolution, doff these links: 1410 +By this compliance thou wilt win the Lords +To favour, and perhaps to set thee free. + +Sam: Brethren farewel, your company along +I will not wish, lest it perhaps offend them +To see me girt with Friends; and how the sight +Of me as of a common Enemy, +So dreaded once, may now exasperate them +I know not. Lords are Lordliest in thir wine, +And the well-feasted Priest then soonest fir'd +With zeal, if aught Religion seem concern'd: 1420 +No less the people on thir Holy-days +Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable; +Happ'n what may, of me expect to hear +Nothing dishonourable, impure, unworthy +Our God, our Law, my Nation, or my self, +The last of me or no I cannot warrant. + +Chor: Go, and the Holy One +Of Israel be thy guide +To what may serve his glory best, & spread his name +Great among the Heathen round: 1430 +Send thee the Angel of thy Birth, to stand +Fast by thy side, who from thy Fathers field +Rode up in flames after his message told +Of thy conception, and be now a shield +Of fire; that Spirit that first rusht on thee +In the camp of Dan +Be efficacious in thee now at need. +For never was from Heaven imparted +Measure of strength so great to mortal seed, +As in thy wond'rous actions Hath been seen. 1440 +But wherefore comes old Manoa in such hast +With youthful steps? much livelier than e're while +He seems: supposing here to find his Son, +Or of him bringing to us some glad news? + +Man: Peace with you brethren; my inducement hither +Was not at present here to find my Son, +By order of the Lords new parted hence +To come and play before them at thir Feast. +I heard all as I came, the City rings +And numbers thither flock, I had no will, 1450 +Lest I should see him forc't to things unseemly. +But that which moved my coming now, was chiefly +To give ye part with me what hope I have +With good success to work his liberty. + +Chor: That hope would much rejoyce us to partake +With thee; say reverend Sire, we thirst to hear. + +Man: I have attempted one by one the Lords +Either at home, or through the high street passing, +With supplication prone and Fathers tears +To accept of ransom for my Son thir pris'ner, 1460 +Some much averse I found and wondrous harsh, +Contemptuous, proud, set on revenge and spite; +That part most reverenc'd Dagon and his Priests, +Others more moderate seeming, but thir aim +Private reward, for which both God and State +They easily would set to sale, a third +More generous far and civil, who confess'd +They had anough reveng'd, having reduc't +Thir foe to misery beneath thir fears, +The rest was magnanimity to remit, 1470 +If some convenient ransom were propos'd. +What noise or shout was that? it tore the Skie. + +Chor: Doubtless the people shouting to behold +Thir once great dread, captive, & blind before them, +Or at some proof of strength before them shown. + +Man: His ransom, if my whole inheritance +May compass it, shall willingly be paid +And numberd down: much rather I shall chuse +To live the poorest in my Tribe, then richest, +And he in that calamitous prison left. 1480 +No, I am fixt not to part hence without him. +For his redemption all my Patrimony, +If need be, I am ready to forgo +And quit: not wanting him, I shall want nothing. + +Chor: Fathers are wont to lay up for thir Sons, +Thou for thy Son art bent to lay out all; +Sons wont to nurse thir Parents in old age, +Thou in old age car'st how to nurse thy Son, +Made older then thy age through eye-sight lost. + +Man: It shall be my delight to tend his eyes, 1490 +And view him sitting in the house, enobl'd +With all those high exploits by him atchiev'd, +And on his shoulders waving down those locks, +That of a Nation arm'd the strength contain'd: +And I perswade me God had not permitted +His strength again to grow up with his hair +Garrison'd round about him like a Camp +Of faithful Souldiery, were not his purpose +To use him further yet in some great service, +Not to sit idle with so great a gift 1500 +Useless, and thence ridiculous about him. +And since his strength with eye-sight was not lost, +God will restore him eye-sight to his strength. + +Chor: Thy hopes are not ill founded nor seem vain +Of his delivery, and thy joy thereon +Conceiv'd, agreeable to a Fathers love, +In both which we, as next participate. + +Man: I know your friendly minds and -- O what noise! +Mercy of Heav'n what hideous noise was that! +Horribly loud unlike the former shout. 1510 + +Chor: Noise call you it or universal groan +As if the whole inhabitation perish'd, +Blood, death, and deathful deeds are in that noise, +Ruin, destruction at the utmost point. + +Man: Of ruin indeed methought I heard the noise, +Oh it continues, they have slain my Son. + +Chor: Thy Son is rather slaying them, that outcry +>From slaughter of one foe could not ascend. + +Man: Some dismal accident it needs must be; +What shall we do, stay here or run and see? 1520 + +Chor: Best keep together here, lest running thither +We unawares run into dangers mouth. +This evil on the Philistines is fall'n +>From whom could else a general cry be heard? +The sufferers then will scarce molest us here, +>From other hands we need not much to fear. +What if his eye-sight (for to Israels God +Nothing is hard) by miracle restor'd, +He now be dealing dole among his foes, +And over heaps of slaughter'd walk his way? 1530 + +Man: That were a joy presumptuous to be thought. + +Chor: Yet God hath wrought things as incredible +For his people of old; what hinders now? + +Man: He can I know, but doubt to think be will; +Yet Hope would fain subscribe, and tempts Belief. +A little stay will bring some notice hither. + +Chor: Of good or bad so great, of bad the sooner; +For evil news rides post, while good news baits. +And to our wish I see one hither speeding, +An Ebrew, as I guess, and of our Tribe. 1540 + +Mess: O whither shall I run, or which way flie +The sight of this so horrid spectacle +Which earst my eyes beheld and yet behold; +For dire imagination still persues me. +But providence or instinct of nature seems, +Or reason though disturb'd, and scarse consulted +To have guided me aright, I know not how, +To thee first reverend Manoa, and to these +My Countreymen, whom here I knew remaining, +As at some distance from the place of horrour, 1550 +So in the sad event too much concern'd. + +Man: The accident was loud, & here before thee +With rueful cry, yet what it was we hear not, +No Preface needs, thou seest we long to know. + +Mess: It would burst forth, but I recover breath +And sense distract, to know well what I utter. + +Man: Tell us the sum, the circumstance defer. + +Mess: Gaza yet stands, but all her Sons are fall'n, +All in a moment overwhelm'd and fall'n. + +Man: Sad, but thou knowst to Israelites not saddest 1560 +The desolation of a Hostile City. + +Mess: Feed on that first, there may in grief be surfet. + +Man: Relate by whom. + Mess: By Samson. + +Man: That still lessens +The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. + +Mess: Ah Manoa I refrain, too suddenly +To utter what will come at last too soon; +Lest evil tidings with too rude irruption +Hitting thy aged ear should pierce too deep. + +Man: Suspense in news is torture, speak them out. + +Mess: Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead. 1570 + +Man: The worst indeed, O all my hope's defeated +To free him hence! but death who sets all free +Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. +What windy joy this day had I conceiv'd +Hopeful of his Delivery, which now proves +Abortive as the first-born bloom of spring +Nipt with the lagging rear of winters frost. +Yet e're I give the rains to grief, say first, +How dy'd he? death to life is crown or shame. +All by him fell thou say'st, by whom fell he, 1580 +What glorious band gave Samson his deaths wound? + +Mess: Unwounded of his enemies he fell. + +Man: Wearied with slaughter then or how? explain. + +Mess: By his own hands. + Man: Self-violence? what cause +Brought him so soon at variance with himself +Among his foes? + Mess: Inevitable cause +At once both to destroy and be destroy'd; +The Edifice where all were met to see him +Upon thir heads and on his own he pull'd. + +Man: O lastly over-strong against thy self! 1590 +A dreadful way thou took'st to thy revenge. +More than anough we know; but while things yet +Are in confusion, give us if thou canst, +Eye-witness of what first or last was done, +Relation more particular and distinct. + +Mess: Occasions drew me early to this City, +And as the gates I enter'd with Sun-rise, +The morning Trumpets Festival proclaim'd +Through each high street: little I had dispatch't +When all abroad was rumour'd that this day 1600 +Samson should be brought forth to shew the people +Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games; +I sorrow'd at his captive state, but minded +Not to be absent at that spectacle. +The building was a spacious Theatre +Half round on two main Pillars vaulted high, +With seats where all the Lords and each degree +Of sort, might sit in order to behold, +The other side was op'n, where the throng +On banks and scaffolds under Skie might stand; 1610 +I among these aloof obscurely stood. +The Feast and noon grew high, and Sacrifice +Had fill'd thir hearts with mirth, high chear, & wine, +When to thir sports they turn'd. Immediately +Was Samson as a public servant brought, +In thir state Livery clad; before him Pipes +And Timbrels, on each side went armed guards, +Both horse and foot before him and behind +Archers, and Slingers, Cataphracts and Spears. +At sight of him the people with a shout 1620 +Rifted the Air clamouring thir god with praise, +Who had made thir dreadful enemy thir thrall. +He patient but undaunted where they led him. +Came to the place, and what was set before him +Which without help of eye, might be assay'd, +To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still perform'd +All with incredible, stupendious force, +None daring to appear Antagonist. +At length for intermission sake they led him +Between the pillars; he his guide requested 1630 +(For so from such as nearer stood we heard) +As over-tir'd to let him lean a while +With both his arms on those two massie Pillars +That to the arched roof gave main support. +He unsuspitious led him; which when Samson +Felt in his arms, with head a while enclin'd, +And eyes fast fixt he stood, as one who pray'd, +Or some great matter in his mind revolv'd. +At last with head erect thus cryed aloud, +Hitherto, Lords, what your commands impos'd 1640 +I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying, +Not without wonder or delight beheld. +Now of my own accord such other tryal +I mean to shew you of my strength, yet greater; +As with amaze shall strike all who behold. +This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd, +As with the force of winds and waters pent, +When Mountains tremble, those two massie Pillars +With horrible convulsion to and fro, +He tugg'd, he shook, till down they came and drew 1650 +The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder +Upon the heads of all who sate beneath, +Lords, Ladies, Captains, Councellors, or Priests, +Thir choice nobility and flower, not only +Of this but each Philistian City round +Met from all parts to solemnize this Feast. +Samson with these immixt, inevitably +Pulld down the same destruction on himself; +The vulgar only scap'd who stood without. + +Chor: O dearly-bought revenge, yet glorious! 1660 +Living or dying thou hast fulfill'd +The work for which thou wast foretold +To Israel and now ly'st victorious +Among thy slain self-kill'd +Not willingly, but tangl'd in the fold +Of dire necessity, whose law in death conjoin'd +Thee with thy slaughter'd foes in number more +Then all thy life had slain before. + +Semichor: While thir hearts were jocund and sublime +Drunk with Idolatry, drunk with Wine, 1670 +And fat regorg'd of Bulls and Goats, +Chaunting thir Idol, and preferring +Before our living Dread who dwells +In Silo his bright Sanctuary: +Among them he a spirit of phrenzie sent, +Who hurt thir minds, +And urg'd them on with mad desire +To call in hast for thir destroyer; +They only set on sport and play +Unweetingly importun'd 1680 +Thir own destruction to come speedy upon them. +So fond are mortal men +Fall'n into wrath divine, +As thir own ruin on themselves to invite, +Insensate left, or to sense reprobate, +And with blindness internal struck. + +Semichor: But he though blind of sight, +Despis'd and thought extinguish't quite, +With inward eyes illuminated +His fierie vertue rouz'd 1690 +>From under ashes into sudden flame, +And as an ev'ning Dragon came, +Assailant on the perched roosts, +And nests in order rang'd +Of tame villatic Fowl; but as an Eagle +His cloudless thunder bolted on thir heads. +So vertue giv'n for lost, +Deprest, and overthrown, as seem'd, +Like that self-begott'n bird +In the Arabian woods embost, 1700 +That no second knows nor third, +And lay e're while a Holocaust, +>From out her ashie womb now teem'd +Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most +When most unactive deem'd, +And though her body die, her fame survives, +A secular bird ages of lives. + +Man: Come, come, no time for lamentation now, +Nor much more cause, Samson hath quit himself +Like Samson, and heroicly hath finish'd 1710 +A life Heroic, on his Enemies +Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning, +And lamentation to the Sons of Caphtor +Through all Philistian bounds. To Israel +Honour hath left, and freedom, let but them +Find courage to lay hold on this occasion, +To himself and Fathers house eternal fame; +And which is best and happiest yet, all this +With God not parted from him, as was feard, +But favouring and assisting to the end. 1720 +Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail +Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, +Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair, +And what may quiet us in a death so noble. +Let us go find the body where it lies +Sok't in his enemies blood, and from the stream +With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off +The clotted gore. I with what speed the while +(Gaza is not in plight to say us nay) +Will send for all my kindred, all my friends 1730 +To fetch him hence and solemnly attend +With silent obsequie and funeral train +Home to his Fathers house: there will I build him +A Monument, and plant it round with shade +Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm, +With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll'd +In copious Legend, or sweet Lyric Song. +Thither shall all the valiant youth resort, +And from his memory inflame thir breasts +To matchless valour, and adventures high: 1740 +The Virgins also shall on feastful days +Visit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing +His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice, +>From whence captivity and loss of eyes. + +Chor: All is best, though we oft doubt, +What th' unsearchable dispose +Of highest wisdom brings about, +And ever best found in the close. +Oft he seems to hide his face, +But unexpectedly returns 1750 +And to his faithful Champion hath in place +Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns +And all that band them to resist +His uncontroulable intent, +His servants he with new acquist +Of true experience from this great event +With peace and consolation hath dismist, +And calm of mind all passion spent. + +The End. + + + + +APPENDIX. + +Specimen of Milton's spelling, from the Cambridge autograph +manuscript. + + +ON TIME + +set on a clock case + +Fly envious Time till thou run out thy race +call on the lazie leaden-stepping howres +whose speed is but the heavie plummets pace +& glut thy selfe wth what thy womb devoures +Wch is no more then what is false & vaine +& meerly mortall drosse +so little is our losse +so little is thy gaine +for when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd +& last of all thy greedie selfe consum'd 10 +then long Aeternity shall greet our blisse +wth an individuall kisse +and Joy shall overtake us as a flood +when every thing yt is sincerely good +& pfectly divine +with Truth, & Peace, & Love shall ever shine +about the supreme throne +of him t' whose happy-making sight alone +when once our heav'nly-guided soule shall clime +then all this earthie grossnesse quit 20 +attir'd wth starres wee shall for ever sit +Triumphing over Death, & Chance, & thee O Time. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg E-text of The Poetical Works of John Milton. + |