THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
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 Ilmwn hU,J, iW,.^.,/r Jt^. 
 
 j;n„r„v,:nvP.W.T,m 
 
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 THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 BRITISH POETS; 
 
 IKCLUDING THE MOST ESTEEMED 
 
 TRANSLATIONS 
 
 'E^e (Srxtt'k anti Moman ^utf)or0. 
 
 COLLATED WITH THE BEST EDITIONS 
 
 15 Y 
 
 THOMAS PARK, F.S.A. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE FIRST AND SECOND VOLUxMES OF 
 
 MILTON. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR JOHN SHARPE, PICCADILLY ; 
 
 AND SUTTABY, EVANCE, AND FOX, STATIONERS' 
 
 COURT, LUDGATE STREET. 
 
 1818.
 
 THE 
 
 POETICAL WORKS 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN MILTON. 
 
 COLLATED WITH THE BEST EDITIONS: 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS PARK, F.S.A. 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 ^rinteb at tlje ^tanljope p«#, 
 
 BY WHITTINGHAM AND ROWLAND, 
 
 Caswell S-reet ; 
 
 ^Oe. SUFTABY, EVANCE, AND FOX, STATfONERS' .COURT; 
 
 SHXRPE AND HAILRS, MUSEUM, PICCADILLY; TAYLOR AND 
 
 «£SSEY, FLEET-STREET; AND R. JENNINGS, POULTilY. 
 
 1814.
 
 6a YK 
 
 ^ ins 
 
 «^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Encomiums upon Milton 3 
 
 paradise lost. 
 
 Book 1 17 
 
 Book II 43 
 
 BookIII 77 
 
 Book IV 103 
 
 BookV 137 
 
 Book VI. 167 

 
 PARADISE LOST 
 
 A POEM, 
 
 IN TWELVE BOOKS, 
 
 THE AUTHOR, 
 
 JOHN MILTON, 
 
 COLLATED WITH THE BEST EDITIONS^ 
 
 EY 
 
 THOMAS PARK, F.S.A, 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printeti at tlje ^tanljope pre?^, 
 
 BY WHITTINGHAM AND KOWLAN D, 
 Gosuell Street ; 
 FOR SUTTADY, EVANCE, AND FOX, STATIONERS' COURT^ 
 SHARPE AN DHAILES, MUSEUM, PICCADILLY; TAYLOR AM> 
 HESSEY, FLEET-STREET; AND R, JENNINGS, POULTRY. 
 
 1814.
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 
 
 IN 
 
 PARADISUM A3IISSAM SUMMI POETJE 
 JOHANNIS MILTON I. 
 
 SAMUELE BARROW, M. D. AUCTORE. 
 
 Qui legis Amissam Paradisum, grandia magni 
 
 Carmina Miltoni, quid nisicuncta legis? 
 Res cunctas, et cunctarum primordia rerum, 
 
 Et fata, et fines, eontinet iste liber. 
 Intlraa panduntur magoi penetralia mundi, 
 
 Scribitur et toto quicquid in orbe latet : 
 Terraeque,tractusque maris, coeliimqueprofiindum, 
 
 Sulphurenmque Erebi,flammivomunique specus : 
 Quasque coluDt terras, ponttimqne, et Tartara czeca, 
 
 Quaeqne colunt summi lucida regna poli : 
 Et quodcunque ullis conciusum est finibus usqaam, 
 
 Et sine fine Chaos, et sine fine Deus ; 
 Et sine fine magis, si quid magi? est sine fine, 
 
 In Christo erga homines conciliatus amor. 
 HaBC qui speraret quis crederet esse futurura? 
 
 Et tamen htcc hodie terra Britanna legit. 
 O quantos in bella duces ! quee protulit arma t 
 
 Quee canit, et quanta preelia dira tnba! 
 Coelestes acies ! atque iu certamine ccelnm ! 
 
 Et quae coelestes pugna deceret agros !
 
 4 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 
 
 Quantiis in aethereis tollit se Lucifer armis ! 
 
 Atque ipso graditnr vix Michaele minor! 
 Quantis, et quam fuuestis concurritur iris, 
 
 Dum ferus hie Stellas protegit, ille rapit ! 
 Dam vulsos montes ceu tela reciproca torquent, 
 
 Et non niortali desiiper igne pluunt : 
 Stat dubiiis cni se parti concedat Olympus, 
 
 Et metuit pugnae non superesse suae. 
 At simul in coelis jMessia3 insignia fulgent, 
 
 Et currus animes, arniaque digna Deo, 
 Horrendiimque rotae strident, etsceva rotarum 
 
 Erumpunt torvis fulgura luminibus, 
 Et flanmiae vibrant, et vera tonitrua rauco 
 
 Admistis flammis insonuere polo : 
 Excidit attonitis mens omnis, et impetus omnis, 
 
 Et cassis dextris irrita tela cadunt ; 
 Ad poenas fugiunt ; et, ceu foret Orcus asylum, 
 
 Infernis certant condere se tenebris. 
 Cedite, Romani Scriptores ; cedite, Graii; 
 
 Et quos fania recens vel celebravit anus. 
 Ha^c quicunque leget tantum cecinisse putabit 
 
 Maeonidem ranas, Virgiliam culices. 
 
 ON PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BY ANDREW MARVliLL. 
 
 When I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, 
 In slender book his vast design unfold, 
 jMessiah crov^n'd, God's reconcild decree, 
 Rebelling Angels, the forbidden-tree,
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTO.V. 5 
 
 Heaven, Hell, Earth, Chaos, all ; the argument 
 Held me a while misdoubting his intent, 
 That he would ruin (for I saw him strong) 
 The sacred truths to fable and old song ; 
 (So Sampson grop'd the temple's post in spight,) 
 The world o'erwhelmiug, to revenge his sight. 
 
 Yet as I read, still growing less severe, 
 I lik'd his project, the success did fear; 
 Through that wide field how he his way should 
 
 find. 
 O'er which lame Faith leads Understanding blind ; 
 Lest he'd perplex the things he would explain, 
 And what was easy he should render vain. 
 
 Or if a work so infinite he span'd. 
 Jealous I was, that some less skilful hand 
 (Such as disquiet always what is well, 
 Aud, by ill imitating, would excel,) 
 Might hence presume the whole Creation's 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 laboui-s 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 treat'st of in such state 
 As them preserves, and thee, inviolate. 
 At once delight and horror on us seize, 
 Thou sing'st with so much gravity and ease j
 
 6 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 
 
 And above human flight dost soar aloft 
 With plume so strong, so equal, and so soft : 
 The bird, named from that Paradise you sing, 
 So never flags, but always keeps on wing. 
 
 Where couldst thou words of such a compass 
 find? 
 Whence furnish such a vast expense of mind ? 
 Just Heaven thee, hke Tiresias, to requite, 
 Rewards with prophecy thy loss of sight. 
 
 Well might'st thou scorn thy readers to allure 
 With tinkling rhime, of thy own sense secure ; 
 While the Town-Bays 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, hke thy theme, sublime, 
 In number, weight, and measure, needs not rhime. 
 
 EPIGRAM ON MILTON, 
 
 BY DRYDEN. 
 
 Three Poets, in three distant ages bom, 
 Greece, Italy, and England, did adorn : 
 The First in loftiness of thought surpass'd ; 
 The Next, in majesty; in both the last. 
 The force of Nature could no farther go : 
 To make a third, she join'd the former two.
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTOX. 7 
 
 FROM AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE GREATEST ENGLISH POETS. 
 
 BY ADUISON. 
 
 But Milton next, with high and hanghty stalks, 
 
 Unfettei'd, in majestic numbers, walks : 
 
 No vulgar hero can his Muse engage, 
 
 Nor earth's wide scene confine his hallow'd rage. 
 
 See! see! he upward springs, and, towering high, 
 
 Spurns the dull province of mortality; 
 
 Shakes Heaven's eternal throne with dire alarms. 
 
 And sets the' Almighty Thunderer in arms ! 
 
 Whate'er his pen describes I more than see, 
 
 Whilst every verse array'd in majesty. 
 
 Bold and sublime, my whole attention draws, 
 
 And seems above the critic's nicer laws. 
 
 How are you struck with terror and delight, 
 
 When angel with archangel copes in fight ! 
 
 When great Messiah's outspread banner shines, 
 
 How does the chariot rattle in his lines ! 
 
 What sound of brazen wheels, with thunder, scare 
 
 And stun the reader with the din of war ! 
 
 With fear my spirits and my blood retire, 
 
 To see the seraphs sunk in clouds of fire : 
 
 But when, with eager steps, from hence I rise. 
 
 And view the first gay scene of Paradise ; 
 
 What tongue, what words of rapture, can express 
 
 A vision so profuse of pleasantness !
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MiLToN, 
 
 ADDRESS TO GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 FROM THOMSON'S SUMMER. 
 
 •For lofty sense, 
 
 Creative fancy, and inspection keen 
 
 Through the deep windings of the human heart. 
 
 Is not wild Shakspeare thine and Nature's boast? 
 
 Is not each great, each amiable, Muse 
 
 Of classic ages in thy Milton met? 
 
 A genius universal as his theme ; 
 
 Astonishing as chaos; as the bloom 
 
 Of blowing Eden fair ; as Heaven sublime ! 
 
 DR. JOHNSON'S PROLOGUE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 MASK OF COMUS. 
 
 ACTED AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE, APRIL 5, 1750y 
 For the Benefit of Milton's Grand-Daughter, 
 
 Ye patriot crowds, who burn for England's fame, ' 
 Ye nymphs, whose bosoms beat at Milton's name, ' 
 VV^hose generous zeal, unbought by flattering i 
 rhimes, \ 
 
 Shames the mean pensions of Augustan times j 
 Immortal patrons of succeeding days, 
 Attend this prelude of perpetual praise ! 
 Let Wit, conderan'd the feeble war to wage 
 With close malevolence, or public rage ;
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 9 
 
 Let Study, worn with virtue's fruitless lore, 
 
 Behold this Theatre, and grieve no more. 
 
 Tliis night, distinguish'd by your smiles, shall tell, 
 
 That never Britain can in vain excel ; 
 
 The slighted arts futurity shall trust, 
 
 And rising ages hasten to be just. 
 
 At length our mighty Bard's victorious lays 
 Fill the loud voice of universal praise ; 
 And baffled Spite, with hopeless anguish dumb, 
 Yields to renown the centuries to come ; 
 With ardent haste each candidate of fame, 
 Ambitious, catches at his towering name : 
 He sees, and pitying sees, vain wealth bestow 
 Those pageant honours which he scorn'd below, 
 While crowds aloft the laureat bust behold, 
 Or trace his form on circulating gold. 
 Unknown, — unheeded, long his offspring lay, 
 And want hung threatening o'er her slow decay. 
 What though she shine with no Miltonian fire. 
 No favouring Muse her morning-dreams inspire > 
 Yet softer claims the melting heart engage, 
 Ker youth laborious, and her blameless age ; 
 Her's the mild merits of domestic life. 
 The patient sufferer, and the faithful wife. 
 Thus grac'd with humble Virtue's native charmSj, 
 Her grandsire leaves her in Britannia's arms; 
 Secure with peace, with competence, to dwell, 
 While tutelary nations guard her cell. 
 I Yours is the charge, ye fair, ye wise, ye brave f 
 ■ Tis yours to crown desert — beyond the grave.
 
 10 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 
 
 GRAY'S PROGRESS OF POESY, 
 
 Nor second he that rode sublime 
 
 Upon the seraph-whigs of ecstasy; 
 
 The secrets of the' abyss to spy, 
 
 He pass'd the flaming bounds of place and time 
 
 Tiie living throne, the sapphire blaze. 
 
 Where Angels tremble while they gaze, 
 
 He saw ; but, blasted with excess of light, 
 
 Clos'd his eyes in endless night. 
 
 COLLINS'S ODE ON THE POETICAL 
 CHARACTER, 
 
 High on some cliff, to Heaven up-pil'd, 
 
 Of rude access, of prospect wild. 
 
 Where, tangled round the jealous steep. 
 
 Strange shades o'erbrow the vallies deep, 
 
 And holy Genii guard the rock. 
 
 Its glooms embrown, its springs unlock, 
 
 While on its rich ambitious head 
 
 An Eden, like his own, lies spread; 
 
 I view that oak the fancied glades among, 
 
 By w^hich as Milton lay, his evening ear. 
 
 From many a cloud that drop'd ethereal dew. 
 
 Nigh spher'd in Heaven, its native strains could 
 
 hear. 
 On which that ancient trump he reach'd was liung;
 
 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 11 
 
 ThiUier oft bis glory greeting, 
 From Waller's myrtle-shades retreating, 
 With many a vow from Hope's aspiring tongue, 
 My trembling feet his guiding steps pursue ; 
 In vain : — ^Such bliss to one alone 
 Of all the sons of Soul was known ; 
 And Heaven and Fancy, kindred Powers, 
 Have now o'erturn'd the' inspiring bowers, 
 Or curtain'd close such scene from every future 
 view. 
 
 FROM 
 
 MASON'S ODE TO MEMORY. 
 
 Rise, hallow'd Milton ! rise, and say, 
 
 How, at thy gloomy close of day ; 
 How, when * depress'd by age, beset with wrongs ,' 
 When * fall'n on evil days and evil tongues ;' 
 
 When Darkness, brooding on thy sight, 
 
 Exil'd the sov'reign lamp of light : 
 Say, what could then one cheering hope diffuse: 
 What friends were thine, save Memory and the 
 Muse ? 
 
 Hence the rich spoils, thy studious youtli 
 
 Caught from the stores of ancient Truth: 
 Hence all thy busy eye could pleas'd explore, 
 When Rapture led thee to the Latian shore j 
 
 Each scene, that Tiber's bank supply'd ; 
 
 Each grace, that play'd on Arno's side ;
 
 12 ENCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. 
 
 The tepid gales, through Tuscan glades that fly ; 
 The blue serene, that spreads Hesperia's sky; 
 
 Were still thine own : thy ample mind 
 
 Each charm receiv'd, retain'd, combined. 
 And thence ' the nightly Visitant,' that came 
 To touch thy bosom with her sacred flame, 
 
 RecaU'd the long-lost beams of grace ; 
 
 That whilom shot from Nature's face, 
 When God, in Eden, o'er her youthful breast 
 Spread with his own right hand Perfection's gor- 
 geous vest. 
 
 DR. ROBERTS' EPISTLE ON THE 
 ENGLISH POETS. 
 
 ADDRESSED TO CHRISTOPHER ANSTEY, ESQ. 
 
 Poet of other times ! to thee I bow 
 
 With lowliest reverence. Oft thou tak'st my soul, 
 
 And waft'st it by tliy potent harmony 
 
 To that empyreal mansion, where thine ear 
 
 Caught the soft warblings of a seraph's harp, 
 
 What time the nightly visitant unlock'd 
 
 The gates of Heaven, and to thy mental sight 
 
 Display'd celestial scenes. She from thy lyre 
 
 With indignation tore the tinkling bells, 
 
 And tun'd it to sublimest argument.
 
 KNCOMIUMS UPON MILTON. l3 
 
 COWPERS TABLE TALK. 
 
 Ages elaps'd ere Homer's lamp appeard, 
 And ages ere the Mantuan swan was heard : 
 To carry Nature lengths unknown before, 
 To give a Milton birth, ask'd ages more. 
 Thus Genius rose and set at orderd times, 
 And shot a day-spring into distant climes, 
 EnnobUng every region that he chose ; 
 He sunk in Greece, in Italy he rose; 
 And, tedious years of gothic darkness pass'd, 
 Emerg'd all splendour in our isle at last. 
 Thus lovely halcyons dive into the main. 
 Then show far off their shining plumes again. 
 
 in. 
 
 Philosophy, baptiz'd 
 
 In the pure fountain of eternal love. 
 
 Has eyes indeed ; and, viewing all she sees 
 
 As meant to indicate a God to man. 
 
 Gives Him his praise, and forfeits not her own. 
 
 Learning has borne such fruit in other days 
 
 On all her branches: Piety has found 
 
 Friends in the friends of science, and true prayer 
 
 Has flow'd from lips wet with Castalian dews. 
 
 Such was thy wisdom, Newton, childlike sage ! 
 
 Sagacious reader of the works of God, 
 
 And in his word sagacious. Such too thine, 
 
 Milton, whose genius had angelic \^ings, 
 
 And fed on manna.

 
 THE VERSE*. 
 
 The measure is English heroic verse without 
 rhime, as that of Homer in Greek, and of Virgil 
 in Latin : rhime 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 ufF wretched matter and lame metre ; 
 graced indeed since by the use of some famous 
 modern poets, carried away by custom, but much 
 to their own vexation, hindrance, and constraint 
 to express many things otherwise, and for the most 
 part worse than else tliey would have expressed 
 them. Not without cause, therefore, some both 
 Italian and Spanish poets of prime note have re- 
 jected rhime both in longer and shorter works: 
 as have also long since our best English tragedies t ; 
 
 • The first ediliou of Paradise Lost, in 1667. was without 
 this apology for the verse. In 1663, when a new title-page 
 was prefixed to the edition, it wa? added with the following 
 address of the printer to the reader: " Courteous Reader, 
 4here was no Argzimcnt at first intended to the Book; but 
 for th« satisfaction of many that have des.red it, I have pro- 
 cured it, and withal a reason of that which stumbled many 
 others, uhr/ the Poem rimes not.''' 
 
 t Milton is here thi ueht by Mr. Todd, to mean the trage- 
 dies of Shakspeare, which he commends in II Pettseroso as 
 having " ennobled the buskin'd stage."
 
 16 
 
 as a thing of itself, to all judicious ears, trivial, 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 ano- 
 ther, not in tiie jingling sound of like endings ; a 
 fault avoided by the learned ancients, both in 
 poetry and all good oratory. This neglect then of 
 rhime so little is to be taken for a defect (though 
 it may seem so perhaps to vulgar readers), that it 
 is rather to be esteemed an example set, the first 
 in English, of ancient liberty recovered to heroic 
 poem, from the troublesome and modern bondage 
 ofrhiming.
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The first Book proposes, first in brief, ibe whole subject, 
 Man's disobetlience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise 
 wherein he was placed : then touches the prime cause of 
 his Fall, the Serpent, or raiher Satan in the serpent; who, 
 revolting from God, and drawing to his s^de many legions 
 of angels, was, by the command of God, driven «)ut of 
 Heaven, with all his crew, into the great deep. Which 
 action passed over, the Poem hastens into the midst of 
 things, presenting Satan with his angels now falling into 
 Hell; described here, not in the centre (tor Heaven and 
 Earth may be supposed as yet not made, certainly not 
 yet accursed), but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest 
 called Chaos: here Satan, with his angels, lying on the 
 burning lake, thunder-struck and astonished, after a cer- 
 tain space recovers, as from confusion ; calls up him who 
 next in order and dignity lay by him. They confer of 
 their miserable fall. Satan awakens all his legions ; who lay 
 till then in the same manner confounded. They rise; 
 their numbers; array of battle; their chief leaders named, 
 according to the idols known afterwards in Canaan and 
 the countries adjoining. To these Satan directs his speech; 
 comforts them with hope yet of regaining Heaven; but tells 
 them lastly of a new world and new kind of creature to 
 be created, according to an ancient prophecy or report in 
 Heaven: for, that angels were long before this visible ere- 
 ation, was the opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find 
 out the truth of this prophecy, and what to determine 
 thereon, he refers to a full council. What his associates 
 thence attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rises, 
 suddenly built out of the deep. The iaiernal peers there 
 ait in council.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit 
 
 Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste 
 
 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, heavenly jMuse! 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 Heavens and Earth 
 
 Rose out of Chaos : or, if Sion-hill 
 
 Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd 
 
 Fast by the oracle of God ; I thence 
 
 Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song. 
 
 That with no middle flight intends to soar 
 
 Above the' Aonian mount, while it pursues 
 
 Things unatterapted yet in prose or rhime. 
 
 And chiefly Thou, O Spirit ! tliat dost prefer 
 
 Before all temples the' upright heart and pure, 
 
 Instruct me, for Thou know'sl ; Thou from the first
 
 ^20 PARADISE LOST, Bookl. 
 
 Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread 
 Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast abyss, 
 And niad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark, 
 Ilkimine ; what is low, raise and support j 
 That to the heighth of this great argument 
 I may assert Eternal Providence, 
 And justify the ways of God to men. 
 
 Say first, for Heaven 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 Heaven so highly, to fall oflf 
 From their Creator, and transgress his will 
 For one restraint, lords of the world besides ? 
 Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt? — 
 The' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, 
 Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd 
 The mother of mankind, what time his pride 
 Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host 
 Of rebel angels; by whose aid, aspiring 
 To set himself in glory' above his peers, 
 He trusted to have equall'd the Most High, 
 If he oppos'd ; and, with ambitious aim 
 Against the throne and monarchy of God, 
 Rais'd impious war in Heaven, and battle proud, 
 With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power 
 Hurl'd headlong flaming from the' ethereal sky, 
 With hideous ruin and combustion, down 
 To bottomless perdition; tliere to dwell 
 In adamantine chains and penal fire, 
 Who durst defy the' Omnipotent to arms. 
 Nine times the space that measures day and night 
 To mortal men, he with his horrid crew 
 Lay vanquish'd, roUing in the fiery gulf. 
 Confounded, though immortal : but his doom
 
 Book 1. PARA.D1SE LOST. 21 
 
 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 wituess'd huge affliction and dismay 
 
 Mix'd with obdurate pride and stedfast bate : 
 
 At once, as far as angels ken, lie views 
 
 The dismal situation waste and wild ; 
 
 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 conies 
 
 That comes to all ; but torture without end 
 
 Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed 
 
 Witii ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd : 
 
 Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd 
 
 For those rebelUous > here their prison ordain'd 
 
 In utter darkness, and their portion set 
 
 As far remov'd from God and light of Heaven, 
 
 As from the centre thrice to the' utmost pole. 
 
 O, how unlike the place from whence they fell ! 
 
 There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd 
 
 With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, 
 
 He soon discerns; and weltering by his side 
 
 One next himself in power, and next in crime. 
 
 Long after known in Palestine, and nam'd 
 
 Beelzebub. To whom the' Arch-Encmy, 
 
 And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words 
 
 Breaking the horrid silence, thus began : 
 
 " Ifthoubeesthe; but O, how fall'n ; how chang'd 
 
 From him, who, in the happy realms of light, 
 
 Cloth'd with transcendent brightness, didst outshine 
 
 Myriads though bright ! If he whom nmtual league,
 
 S2 PARADISE LOST. Book 1. 
 
 United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 
 And hazard in the glorious enterprise, 
 Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd 
 In equal ruin : into what pit thou seest [prov'd 
 From wiiat heighth fallen ; so much the stronger 
 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 fix'd mind, 
 And high disdain from sense of injur'd merit, 
 That with the Mightiest rais'd me to contend, 
 And to the fierce contention brought along 
 Innumerable force of Spirits arm'd. 
 That durst dislike his reign; and, me preferring, 
 His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd 
 In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 
 And shook his throne. What though the field be 
 All is not lost; the' unconquerable will, [lost? 
 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 
 Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace 
 With suppliant knee, and deify his power, 
 Who from the terror 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'd, 
 We may with more successful hope resolve 
 To wage by force or guile eternal war,
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 23 
 
 Irreconcilable to our grand foe, 
 
 Who now trhmiphs, and, in the' excess of joy 
 
 Sole reigning, holds the tyranny of Heaven." 
 
 So spake tlie' apostate Angel, though in pain, 
 Vaunting aloud, but rack'd with deep despair : 
 And him thus answer'd soon his bold compeer. — 
 
 ^' O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers, 
 That led the' embattled Seraphim to war 
 Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds 
 Fearless, endanger'd Heaven's perpetual king, 
 And put to proof his high supremacy. 
 Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fatej 
 Too well I see, and rue the dire event. 
 That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat. 
 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host 
 In horrible destruction laid thus low, 
 As far as Gods and heavenly essences 
 Can perish : for the mind and spirit remains 
 Invincible, and vigour soon returns. 
 Though all our glory' extinct, and happy state 
 Here swallow'd up in endless misery. 
 But what if he, our conqueror, (whom I now 
 Of force believe Almighty, since no less 
 Than such could have o'er-power'd such force as 
 
 ours,) 
 Have left us this our spirit and strength entire 
 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 war, whate'er his business be, 
 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 imdiminish'd, or eternal being
 
 9A PARADISE LOST. Book 1, 
 
 To undergo eternal punishment ?" 
 
 Whereto with speedy words the' Arch-Fiend re- 
 
 " Fall'n Cherub, to be weak is miserable, [plied : 
 
 Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, 
 
 To do aught good never will be our task, 
 
 But ever to do ill our sole delight, 
 
 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 iind 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 destin'd aim. 
 
 But see, the angry victor hath recall'd 
 
 His ministers of vengeance and pursuit, 
 
 Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, 
 
 Shot after us in storm, o'erblown, hath laid 
 
 The fiery surge, that from the precipice 
 
 Of Heaven 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 tlie' occasion, whether scorn. 
 
 Or satiate fury, yield it from our Foe. 
 
 Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild. 
 
 The seat of desolation, void 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, re-assembling our afflicted Powers, 
 
 Consult how we may henceforth most offend 
 
 Our enemy ; our own loss how repair :
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 25 
 
 How overcome this dire calamity; 
 
 What reinforcement we may gain from hope j 
 
 If not, what resohition from despair." 
 
 Tlius Satan, talking to his nearest 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 wan-'d ou Jove; 
 Briareos or Typhon, whom the den 
 By ancient Tarsus held ; or that sea-beast 
 Leviathan, which God of all his works 
 Created hugest that swim the' ocean stream : 
 Him, haply, slumbering on the Norway foam, 
 Tiie 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 luuler the lee, while night 
 Invests the sea, and wished morn delays : 
 So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-flend lay, 
 Chain'd on the burning lake : nor ever thence 
 Had risen, 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, shown 
 On Man by him seduc'd ; but on himself 
 Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pouv'd 
 Forthwith upright he rears from off the poo 
 His mighty stature ; on each hand the flanu 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 ^fy PARADISE LOST. Book I. 
 
 Driven backward, slope their pointing spires, and. 
 
 In hillows, leave i' the' midst a horrid vale. [roU'd 
 
 Then uith expanded v/inj^s he steers his flight 
 
 Aloft, incumbent on the dnsky air 
 
 Tiiat felt unusual Aveight ; 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 
 
 Of subterranean wind transports a hill 
 
 Torn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd side 
 
 Of thundering iEtna, whose combustible 
 
 And fuell'd entrails thence conceiving fire, 
 
 SubHm'd w ith mineral fury, aid tiie winds, 
 
 And leave a singed bottom all involv'd [sole 
 
 With stench and smoke: such resting found the 
 
 Of unblest feet. Him foUow'd his next mate : 
 
 Both glorying to have 'scap'd the Stygian flood 
 
 As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, 
 
 Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 
 
 " Ts this the region, this the soil, the clime, 
 (Said then the lost Arch-angel) this the seat 
 Tliat we must change for Heaven ; this mournful 
 
 gloom 
 For that celestial light ? Be' it so, since he, 
 Who now is Sov'ran, can dispose and bid 
 What shall be right : fartliest from him is best. 
 Whom reason hath equall'd, force hath made su- 
 preme 
 Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields. 
 Where joy for ever dwells: hail horrors, hail 
 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 itself
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. ^7 
 
 Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 
 What matter where, if I be still the same, 
 And what I should be; all but less than He 
 Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least 
 We shall be free; the' Almighty hath not built 
 Here for his envy; will not drive us hence : 
 Here we may reign secure; — and, in my choice, 
 To Feign is worth ambition, though in Hell : 
 Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven. 
 But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, 
 The' associates and copartners of our loss, 
 Lie thus astonish'd on the' oblivious pool, 
 And call them not to share with us their part 
 In this unhappy mansion ; or once more 
 Wiih rallied arms to try what may be yet 
 Regain'd in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" 
 
 So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub 
 Thus answer'd : " Leader of those armies bright, 
 Which but the' Omnipotent none could have foild, 
 If once they hear that voice,(theirlivehest pledge 
 Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 
 In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge 
 Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults 
 Their surest signal,) they will soon resume 
 New courage and revive ; though now they lie 
 Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 
 As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd ; 
 No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious hcighth." 
 
 He scarce had ceas'd, when the superior 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
 
 *G PARADISE LOST. Book 1. 
 
 Through optic-glass the Tuscan artist views 
 At evening from the top of Fesol^, 
 Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 
 Rivers or mountains in her spottj' globe. 
 His spear (to equal which the tallest pine 
 Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 
 Of some great admiral, were but a wand,) 
 He walkd with, to support uneasy steps 
 Over the burning marie, (not like those steps 
 On Heaven's azure) and the torrid clime 
 Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire : 
 Nathless he so endur'd, till on the beach 
 Of that inflamed sea he stood, and call'd 
 His legions, angel-forms, who lay intranc'd 
 Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks 
 In Vallombrosa, where the' Etrurian shades, 
 High over-arch'd, imbower; or scatter'd sedge 
 Afloat, when wifli fierce winds Orion ann'd 
 Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'er- 
 Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, [threvr 
 
 While with perfidious hatred they pursued 
 The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld 
 From the safe shore their floating carcasses 
 And broken chariot wheels : so thick bestrow n, 
 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, 
 Warriors, the flower of Heaven, once yours, now 
 If such astonishment as this can seize [lost, 
 
 Eternal Spirits ; or have ye chosen this place 
 After the toil of battle to repose 
 Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 
 To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 29 
 
 Or in this abject posture have ye swoin 
 To' adore the Conqueror? who now beholds 
 Cherub and Seraph rolhng in the flood 
 Withscatter'd arms and ensigns, till anon 
 His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern 
 The' advantage, and, descending, tread us down 
 Thus drooping; or with linked thunderbolts 
 Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf. 
 Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n !" 
 
 They heard, and were abash'd, 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 perceive the evil plight 
 In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; 
 Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd ; 
 Innumerable. As when the potent rod 
 Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 
 Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud 
 Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, 
 That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh 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 given, the' up-lifted spear 
 Of their great Sultan waving to direct 
 Their course, in even balance down they light 
 On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain ; 
 A multitude, like which the populous Nortii 
 Pour'd never from her frozen loins 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.
 
 30 PARADISE LOST. Bouk 1. 
 
 Forthwith from every squadron and each band 
 
 The heads and leaders thither haste, where stood 
 
 Their great Commander ; godlike shapes and forms 
 
 Excelling human : princely Dignities j 
 
 And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones ; 
 
 Though of their names in heavenly records now 
 
 Be no memorial) blotted out and ras'd 
 
 By their rebellion from the book of life. 
 
 Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 
 
 Got them nev/ names j till, wandering o'er the 
 
 earth. 
 Through God's high sufferance for the trial' of man, 
 By falsities and lies the greatest part 
 Of mankind they corrupted to forsake 
 God their Creator, and the' invisible 
 Glory of Him that made them, to transform 
 Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd 
 With gay religions full of pomp and gold. 
 And devils to adore for Deities : 
 Then w ere 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 their great emperor's call, as next in worth 
 Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, 
 While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof. 
 The chief were those, who, from the pit of Hell 
 Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix 
 Their seats long after next the seat of God, 
 Their altars by his altar ; (gods ador'd 
 Among the nations round;) and durst abide 
 Jehovah thundering out of Sion, thron'd 
 Between the Cherubim ; yea, often plac'd
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. ol 
 
 Within his sanctuary' itself their shrines, 
 
 Abominations; and with cursed tilings 
 
 His holy rites and solemn feasts profan'd. 
 
 And witli their darkness durst atfrout his li^ht. 
 
 First, Moloch, horrid king, besniear'd with blood 
 
 Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; 
 
 Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud 
 
 TIjeir children's cries unheard, that pass'd t!irono;h 
 
 To his grim idol. Him tiie Ammonite [fire 
 
 Worshipt in Rabba and her watery plain, 
 
 In Argob and in Basan, to the stream 
 
 Of utmost Arnon : nor content with such 
 
 Audacious neighbourliood, the wisest heart 
 
 Of Solomon he led by fraud to build 
 
 His temple right against the temple' of God 
 
 On that opprobrious hill; and made his grove 
 
 The pleasant valley of Hinnom, — Topiiet thence 
 
 And black Gelienna call d, the type of Hell. 
 
 Next, Chemos, the' obscene dread of Moab's sons. 
 
 From Aroer to Nebo, and the wild 
 
 Of southmost Abarim ; in Hesebon 
 
 And Horouaim, Seon's realm, beyond 
 
 The flowery dale of Sibnra clad with vines. 
 
 And Eleiile to the' Asphaltic pool. 
 
 Penr his other name, when he entic'd 
 
 Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, 
 
 To do him wanton rites, wiiich 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 bordering 
 
 Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts [flood 
 
 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names
 
 S2 PARADISE LOST. Book 1. 
 
 Of Baalim and Ashtaroth ; those male, 
 
 These feminine: for Spirits, when they please. 
 
 Can either sex assume, or both; so soft 
 
 And uncompoimded is their essence pure; 
 
 Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, 
 
 Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, 
 
 Like cumbrous flesh ; but, inwhatshape they choose, 
 
 Dilated or condens'd, bright or obscure, 
 
 Can execute their aery purposes. 
 
 And works of love or enmity fu.l(il. 
 
 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 battle, sunk before the spear 
 
 Of despicable foes. With these in troop 
 
 Came Astoreth, whom the Phcenicians call'd 
 
 Astarte, queen of Heaven, with crescent horns; 
 
 To whose bright image nightly by the moon 
 
 Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs ; 
 
 In Sion also not unsung, where stood 
 
 Her temple on the' 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 ditties all a summer's day ; 
 
 While smooth Adonis from his native rock 
 
 Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood 
 
 Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale 
 
 Infected Sicn's daughters with like heat; 
 
 Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch 
 
 Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led,
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 33 
 
 His eye snrvey'd the dark idolatries 
 Of alienated Judah, Next came one 
 Who niournd in earnest, when tlie captive ark 
 Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off 
 In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, 
 VFhere he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers : 
 Dagon his name, sea-monster, upward man 
 And downward fish : yet had his temple high 
 Rear'd in 4zotus, dreaded through ilie coast 
 Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, 
 And Accarou and Gaza's frontier-bounds. 
 Him follow'd Rimnion, whose delightful seat 
 Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks 
 Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. 
 He also' against the house of God was bold : 
 A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king ; 
 Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew 
 Gods altar to disparage, and displace. 
 For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn 
 His odious offerings, and adore the gods 
 Whom he had vauquish'd. 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 priest^, to seek 
 Their wandering gods disguis'd in brutish forms 
 Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape 
 The' infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd 
 The calf in Oreb ; and the rebel-king 
 Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 
 Likening his Maker to the grazed ox; 
 Jehovah, who in one night, when he pass'd 
 From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke 
 Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. 
 BeUal came last, than whom a Spirit more lewd
 
 34 PARADISE i.oy-:T. Book 1. 
 
 Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 
 
 Vice for itself: to him no temple stood 
 
 Or altar smok'd; yet who more oft than he 
 
 In temples and at altars, when the priest 
 
 Turns atheist, as did Elis 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 noise 
 
 Of riot' ascends above their loftiest towers, 
 
 And injury and outraj^e : and when night 
 
 Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons 
 
 Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. 
 
 Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night 
 
 In Gibeah, when the hospitable door 
 
 Expos'd a matron, to avoid worse rape. 
 
 These were the prime in order and in might ; 
 
 The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd, 
 
 The' Ionian Gods, of Javan's issue; held 
 
 Gods, yet confess'd later than Heaven and Earth, 
 
 Their boasted parents : Titan, Heaven's first-born, 
 
 With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'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 Crete 
 
 And Ida known, thence on the snowy top 
 
 Of cold Olympus, rul'd the middle air. 
 
 Their highest Heaven ; 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 the' Hesperian fields. 
 
 And o'er 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 some glimpse of joy, to' have found their 
 Chief
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 55 
 
 Not in despair, to' have toiinH themselves not lost 
 
 In loss itself; which on his countenance 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 fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. 
 
 Then straight commands, that at the warlike sound 
 
 Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd 
 
 His migtity standard : that proud honour claim'd 
 
 Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall ; 
 
 Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 
 
 The' imperial ensign; which, full high advanc'd. 
 
 Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, 
 
 With gems and golden lustre rich imblaz'd, 
 
 Seraphic arras and trophies; all the while 
 
 Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds : 
 
 At which the universal host up-sent 
 
 A shout, that tore Hell's 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 forest huge of spears ; and thronging helms 
 
 Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array 
 
 Of depth immeasurable : anon they move 
 
 In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood 
 
 Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais'd 
 
 To heighth of noblest temper heroes old 
 
 Arming to battle ; and instead of rage 
 
 Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd 
 
 With dread of death to flight or foul retreat j 
 
 Nor wanting power to mitigate and 'swage 
 
 With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase 
 
 Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorrow', and pain, 
 
 From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they,
 
 56 PARADISE LOST. Bookl. 
 
 Breathing united force, with fixed thought, 
 Mov'd on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd 
 Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil : and now 
 Advanc'd in view they stand : a horrid front 
 Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise 
 Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield ; 
 Awaiting what command their mighty Chief 
 Had to impose: — he through the armed files 
 Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse 
 The whole battalion views ; their order due ; 
 Their visages and stature as of Gods ; 
 Their number last he sums. And now his heart 
 Distends with pride, and hardening in his strength 
 Glories : for never since created man, 
 Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these 
 Could merit more than that small infantiy 
 Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant-brood 
 Of Phlegra with the' heroic race were join'd 
 That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side 
 Mix'd with auxiliar Gods ; and what resounds 
 In fable or romance, of Uther's son 
 Begirt with British and Armoric knights; 
 And all who since, baptiz'd or infidel. 
 Jousted in Aspraraont, 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 
 Their dread Commander : he, above the rest 
 In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 
 Stood like a tower : his form had yet not lost 
 All her' original brightness; nor appeai^'d 
 Less than Arch-angel ruin'd, and the' excess 
 Of giory' obscur'd : as when the sun, new risen,
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. .^7 
 
 Looks through the horizontal misty air 
 Shorn of his beams : or from behind the moon, 
 In dim eclipse, disastrous twihgbt sheds 
 On half the nations, and with fear of cliange 
 Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd so, yet shone 
 Above them all the' Arch-angel: but his face 
 Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd ; and care 
 Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows 
 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 ; 
 Milhons of Spirits for his fault amerc'd 
 Of Heaven, and from eternal splendors flung 
 For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood. 
 Their glory wither'd : as when Heaven's fire 
 Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines. 
 With singed top their stately growth, thougli bare, 
 Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd 
 To speak ; whereat, their doubled ranks they bend 
 From wing to wing, and half enclose him round 
 With all his peers: attention held them mute. 
 Thrice he assay'd, and thrice, in spite of scorn, 
 Tears, such as angels weep, burst foith : at last 
 Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way. 
 
 " O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers 
 Matchless, but w ith the' Almighty ; and that strife 
 Was not inglorious, though the' 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
 
 38 PARADISE LOST. Book 1. 
 
 As stood like these, could ever know repulse ? 
 For who can yet believe, though after loss, 
 That all these puissant legions, whose exile 
 Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend 
 Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat? 
 For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, 
 If counsels different, or danger shunn'd 
 By me, have lost our hopes. But he, who reigns 
 jMonarch in Heaven, till then as one secure 
 Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, 
 Consent or custom ; and his regal state 
 Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd, 
 Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. 
 Henceforth his might we know, and know our own ; 
 So as not either to provoke, or dread 
 New war, provok'd : 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 
 Tliere went a fame in Heaven 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 pry, shall be perhaps 
 Our first eruption; thither or elsewhere : 
 For this infernal pit shall never hold 
 Celestial spirits in bondage, nor the' abyss 
 Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts 
 Full counsel must mature : Peace is despair'd ; 
 For who can think submission? War then, War, 
 Open or understood, must be resolv'd." 
 
 He spake : and to confirm his words, out-flew 
 Millions of flaming swords, drawn from tlie thighs
 
 Booki. PARADISE LOST. o'J 
 
 Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 
 Far round illumin'd Hell : hiijhiy they rag'd 
 Against tlie Highest, and fierce with jrrasped arms 
 Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war, 
 Hurling defiance tov, ard the vault of Heaven. 
 There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 
 Belch'd fire and rolling smoke ; the rest entire 
 Shone with a glossy scurf; undoubted sign 
 That in his womb was hid metallic ore, 
 The work of sulphur. Thither, wing'd with speed, 
 A numerous brigade hasten'd : as when bands 
 Of pioneers, with spade and pickax 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 Heaven ; for ev'n in Heaven his looks and 
 
 thoughts 
 "Were always downward bent, admiring more 
 Tiie riches of Heaven's pavement, trodden gold, 
 Than aught, divine or holy, else enjoy'd 
 In vision beatific : by him first 
 Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 
 Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands 
 Rifled tlie bowels of their mother Earth 
 For treasures, better hid. Soon had his crew 
 Open'd into the l:ill a spacious wound. 
 And digg'd out libs of gold. Let none admire 
 That riches grow in Hell ; that soil may best 
 Deserve the precious bane. And here let those, 
 Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell 
 Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings. 
 Learn how their greatest monuments of fame. 
 And strengttj and art, are easily out-done 
 By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour 
 What in an age they with incessant toil
 
 40 PARADISK LOST. Book 1. 
 
 And hands innumerable scarce perform. 
 
 Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepar'd, 
 
 That underneath had veins of liquid fire 
 
 Sluic'd from the lake, a second multitude 
 
 With wondrous art founded the massy ore, 
 
 Severing each kind, and scumm'd the bullion dross : 
 
 A third as soon had forni'd within the ground 
 
 A various mould, and from the boiling 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 breathes. 
 
 Anon, out of the earth, a fabric huge 
 
 Rose like an exhalation, with the sound 
 
 Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet. 
 
 Built like a temple, where pilasters round 
 
 Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid 
 
 With golden architrave ; nor did there want 
 
 Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven : 
 
 The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon, 
 
 Nor great Alcairo, such magnificence 
 
 Equall'd in all their glories, to enshrine 
 
 Belus or S^Tapis their Gods, or seat 
 
 Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove 
 
 In wealth and luxury. The' ascending pile 
 
 Stood fix'd her stately heighth : and straight the 
 
 Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide [doors, 
 
 Within, her ample spaces, o'er the smooth 
 
 And level pavement: from the arched roof 
 
 Pendant by subtle magic many a row 
 
 Of stari-y lamps and blazing cressets, fed 
 
 With naphtha and asphaltus, yielded light 
 
 As from a sky. The hasty multitude 
 
 Admiring enter'd; and the work pome praise. 
 
 And some the architect : his hand was known 
 
 In Heaven by many a tovvcr'd structure high,
 
 Book 1. PARADISE LOST. 41 
 
 Where scepter'd angels held their residence, 
 
 And sat as princes; whom the Supreme King 
 
 Exalted to such power, and i^ave to rule, 
 
 Each in his hierarchy, the orders bright. 
 
 Nor was liis name unheard, or unador'd, 
 
 In ancient Greece ; and in Ausonian land 
 
 Men call'd him Mulciber ; and how lie fell 
 
 From Heaven, they fabled, thrown by angry Jove 
 
 Sheer o'er the crystal battlements : from morn 
 
 To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, 
 
 A summer's day; and with the setting sun 
 
 DrGpt from the zenith like a falling star, 
 
 On Lemnos the' ^Egean isle : thus they relate, 
 
 Erring; for he with this rebellious rout 
 
 Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now 
 
 To' have built in Heaven high towers ; nor did he 
 
 By all his engines, but was headlong sent ['scape 
 
 With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. 
 
 Mean while the winged heralds, by command 
 Of sov'ran power, with awful ceremony 
 And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim 
 A solemn council, forthwith to be held 
 At Pandemonium ; the high capital 
 Of Satan and his peers : their summons call'd 
 From every band and squared regiment 
 By place or choi<^e tlie v. orthiest ; they anon. 
 With hundreds and with tlionsands, trooping came, 
 Attended: all access was tlirong'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 Soldan's chair 
 Defied the best of Panim chivalry 
 To mortal combat, or career with lance,) 
 Thick swarm' d, both on the ground and in t!ie air 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 42 PARADISE LOST. Book 1. 
 
 Brush'd with the hiss of rusling wings. As bees 
 
 In spring-time, when the sun with Taurus rides, 
 
 Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 
 
 In chisters ; they among fresh dews and flowers 
 
 Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, 
 
 The suburb of their straw-built citadel, 
 
 New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer 
 
 Their state-affairs. So thick the aery crowd 
 
 Swarm'd and were straiten'd ; till, the signal given, 
 
 Behold a wonder ! They but now who seem'd 
 
 In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, 
 
 Now less than smallest dvearfs, in narrow room 
 
 Throng numberless, like that pygmean race 
 
 Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves. 
 
 Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side 
 
 Or fountain, some belated peasant sees. 
 
 Or dreams he sees, while over-head the moon 
 
 Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth 
 
 Wheels her pale course ; they on their mirth and 
 
 dance 
 Intent, with jocund music charm his ear ; 
 At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. 
 Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms 
 Reduc'd their shapes immense, and were at large, 
 Though without number still, amidst the hall 
 Of that infernal court. But far within. 
 And in their own dimensions, like themselves, 
 The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim 
 In close recess and secret conclave sat; 
 A thousand Demi-gods on golden seats. 
 Frequent and full. After short silence then, 
 And summons read, the great consult began. 
 
 END OF BOOK I.
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle 
 be to be ha/arded for the recovery of Heaven : some advise 
 it, others dissuade: a third proposal is preferred, mentioned 
 before by Satan, to search the truth of that prophecy or 
 tradiiion in Heaven concerning another world, and another 
 kind of creature equal, or not much inferior to themselves, 
 about this time to be created : their doubt, who shall be sent 
 on this difficult search ; Satan, their chief, undertakes alone 
 the voyage, is honoured and applauded. The couucil thus 
 ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several 
 employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain 
 the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to Hell- 
 gates; finds them shut, and who sat (here to guard them ; by 
 whom at length they are opened, 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.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 High on a throne of royal state, which far 
 
 Outshone the wealth of Oinius and of Ind, 
 
 Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 
 
 Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, 
 
 Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd 
 
 To that bad eminence : and, from despair 
 
 Tlujs high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 
 
 Beyond thus high; insatiate to pursue 
 
 Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, 
 
 His proud imaginations thus displayd. 
 
 " Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven j 
 For since no deep within her gulf can hold 
 Immortal vigour, though oppress'd and fall'n, 
 I give not Heaven for lost. From this descent 
 Celestial virtues rising, will appear 
 More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 
 And trust themselves to fear no second fate. 
 Me though just right, and thefix'd laws of Heaven, 
 Did first create your leader ; next, free choice, 
 With what besides, in counsel or in fight. 
 Hath been achiev'd of merit ; yet this loss,
 
 46 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Thus far at least recover'd, hath rauch more 
 Establish'd in a safe unenvied throne, 
 Yielded with ftill consent. The happier state 
 In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw 
 Envy from each inferior ; but who here 
 Will envy whom the highest place exposes 
 Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim, 
 Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share 
 Of endless pain ? Where there is then no good 
 For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 
 From faction; for none sure will claim in Hell 
 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 than can be in Heaven, we now return 
 To claim our just inheritance of old, 
 Surer to prosper than prosperity 
 Could have assur'd us ; and, by what best way, 
 Whether of open war, or covert guile, 
 We now debate : who can advise, may speak." 
 
 He ceas'd; and next him Moloch, scepter'd king, 
 Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit 
 That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair : 
 His trust was with the' Eternal to be deem'd 
 Equal in strength ; and rather than be less 
 Car'd not to be at all ; with that care lost 
 Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse. 
 He reck'd not; and these words thereafter spake. 
 
 " My sentence is for open war : 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, 
 MiUions that stand in arms, and longing wait
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 47 
 
 The sigual to ascend, sit lingering here, 
 Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place 
 Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, 
 The prison of his tyranny who reigns 
 By our delay ? No, let us rather choose, 
 Arm'd w ith Hell-flames and fury, all at once, 
 O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, 
 Turning our tortures into horrid arms 
 Against the Torturer; when to meet tlie noise 
 Of his almighty-engine he shall hear 
 Infernal thunder ; and, for lightning, see 
 Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 
 Among his Angels; and his throne itself 
 Mix'd with Tartarean sulphur, and strange fire, 
 His own invented torments. But perhaps 
 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 benumb 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 broken rear 
 Insulting, and pursued us through the deep. 
 With what compulsion and laborious flight 
 We sunk thus low? The' ascent is ea^y then ; 
 The' 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 
 Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, coudemn'd 
 In this abhorred deep to utter woe ; 
 Where pain of unextinguishable fire 
 Must exercise us, without hope of end,
 
 48 PARADISE LOST. Sook 2. 
 
 Tlie vassals of his anger, when the scourge 
 Inexorably, and the torturing hour, 
 Calls us to penance? More destroy'd than thus, 
 We should be quite abolish'd, and expire. 
 What tear we then ? what doubt we to incense 
 His utmost ire? which, to the lieighth enrag'd, 
 Will either quite consume us, and reduce 
 To nothing this essential ; happier far 
 Than miserable to have eternal being: 
 Or, if our substance be indeed divine, 
 And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 
 On this side notljing ; and by proof we feel 
 Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, 
 And with perpetual inroads to alarm, 
 Thoui^ii inaccessible, his fatal throne : 
 Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 
 
 He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd 
 Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous 
 To less than Gods. On the other side up-rose 
 Belial, in act more graceful and humane : 
 A fairer person lost not Heaven ; he seeni'd 
 For dignity compos'd. and high exploit: 
 But all was false and liollow ; though his tongue 
 Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear 
 The better reason, to perplex and dash 
 Matures! counsels : for his thoughts were low ; 
 To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds 
 Timorous and siotliful : yet he pleas'd the ear, 
 And with pei-suasive accent thus began : 
 
 " I sl'ould be much for open war, O Peers, 
 As not bcliind in hate; if what was urg'd 
 Main reason to persuade immediate war, 
 Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast 
 Ominous conjecture on the whole success j
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 49 
 
 When he, who most excels in fact of amis, 
 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, whcitrevenge? The towers of Heaven arefiU'd 
 With armed watch, tlint render all access 
 Impregnable : olt on the bordering deep 
 Encamp their legions ; or, with obscnre wing, 
 Scout far and wide into the realm of night, 
 Scorning surprise. Or could we break our way 
 By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise 
 AFith blackest insurrection, to confound 
 Heaven's purest light; yet our great enemy, 
 All incorruptible, would on his throne 
 Sit unpolluted ; and the' ethereal mould, 
 Incapable of stain, would soon expel 
 Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire^ 
 Victorious, Thus repuls'd, our final hope 
 Is flat despair. We must exasperate 
 The' Alniighty 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 lose, 
 Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 
 Those thoughts that wander through eternity, 
 To perish rather, swallow'd up and lost 
 In the wide womb of uncreated night, 
 Devoid of sense and motion ? And who knows. 
 Let this be good, whether oar 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 their wish, aad end
 
 50 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Them in his anger, whom his anger saves 
 To punish endless? Wherefore cease we then? 
 Say they who counsel war; we are decreed, 
 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, pursued, and struck 
 With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought 
 The deep to shelter us ? this Hell then seem'd 
 A refuge from those wounds : or when we lay 
 Chqin'd on the burning lake? that sure was worse. 
 What if the breath, that kindled those grim fires, 
 Awak'd, should blow them into seven-fold rage, 
 And plunge us in the flames ? or, from above, 
 Should intermitted vengeance arm again 
 His red right hand to plague us? What if all 
 Her stores were open'd, and this firmament 
 Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, 
 Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall 
 One day upon our heads ; while we perhaps, 
 Designing or exhorting glorious war. 
 Caught in a fiery tempest shall be hurl'd 
 Each on his rock transfix'd, the sport and prey 
 Of wracking whirlwinds; or for ever sunk 
 Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains ; 
 There to converse with everlasting groans, 
 Unrespited, unpitied, unrepriev'd. 
 Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. 
 War therefore, open or conceald, alike 
 My voice dissuades ; for what can force or guile 
 With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 
 Views all things at one view ? He from Heaven's 
 heighth
 
 Book t'. PARADISE LOST. 51 
 
 All these our motions vain sees, and derides j 
 
 Not more almighty to resist our might 
 
 Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 
 
 Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heaven 
 
 Thus trampled, thus expell'd to suffer here 
 
 Chains and these torments ? better these than worse, 
 
 By my advice ; since fate inevitable 
 
 Subdues us, and omnipotent decree. 
 
 The victor's will. To suffer, as to do. 
 
 Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust 
 
 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 venturous, 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 their conqueror: this is now 
 
 Our doom ; which if we can sustain and bear, 
 
 Our supreme foe in time may much remit 
 
 His anger ; and perhaps, thus far remov'd, 
 
 Not mind us not offending, satisfied 
 
 With what is punish'd ; whence these raging fires 
 
 Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. 
 
 Our purer essence then will overcome 
 
 Their noxious vapour; or, inur'd, not feel; 
 
 Or, chang'd at length, and to the place conform'd 
 
 In temper and in nature, will receive 
 
 Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 
 
 This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; 
 
 Besides what hope the never-ending flight 
 
 Of future days may bring, what chance, what change 
 
 Worth waiting; since our present lot appears 
 
 For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 
 
 If we procure not to ourselves more woe."
 
 62 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Thus Belial, with words cloth'd in reason's garb, 
 Counsell'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, 
 Not peace : and after him thus Mammon spake : — 
 
 " Either to discnthrone the King of Heaven 
 We war, if war be best, or to regain 
 Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then 
 May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield 
 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 Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord 
 
 Supreme 
 We overpower? Suppose he should relent, 
 And publish grace to all, on promise made 
 Of new subjection ; with what eyes could we 
 Stand in his presence humble, and receive 
 Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne 
 AV^ith warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing 
 Forc'd Halleluiahs; while he lordly sits 
 Our envied Sov'ran, and his altar breathes 
 Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, 
 Our servile offerings ? This must be our task 
 In Heaven, this our delight ; how wearisome 
 Eternity so spent, in worship paid 
 To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue 
 By force impossible, by leave obtain'd 
 Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state 
 Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek 
 Our own good from ourselves, and from our own 
 Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess. 
 Free, and to none accountable, preferring 
 Hard liberty before the easy yoke 
 Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear 
 Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, 
 Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adveriie
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 53 
 
 We can create; and in ^vllat place so e'er 
 Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain, 
 Tlirough labour and endurance. This deep world 
 Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst 
 Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire 
 Choose to reside, his glory unobscur'd, 
 And with the majesty of darkness round 
 Covers his throne; friif^i whence deep thunders roar 
 Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell? 
 As he our darkness, cannot we his light 
 Imitate when we please ? This desart soil 
 Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold ; 
 Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise 
 Magnificence ; and what can Heaven show 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 settled state 
 Of order, how in safety best we may 
 Compose our present evils, with regard 
 Of what we are, and where; dismissing quite 
 All thought!* of war: — ye have what I advise." 
 
 He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd 
 The' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 
 The sound of blustering winds, which all night long 
 Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 
 Sea-faring men o'er-watch'd, whose bark by chance 
 Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay 
 After the tempest. Such applause was heard 
 As Mammon ended; and his sentence pleas'd, 
 Advising peace : for such another field 
 They dreaded worse than Hell : so much the fear
 
 54 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Of thunder and the sword of Michael 
 Wrought still within them; and no less desire 
 To found this nether empire, which might rise 
 By policy, and long process of time, 
 In emulation opposite to Heaven. 
 Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom 
 Satan except, none higher sat, with grave 
 Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd 
 A pillar' of state ; deep on his front engraven 
 Deliberation sat, and public care; 
 And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 
 Majestic, though in ruin : sage he stood 
 With Atlant^an shoulders fit to bear 
 The weight of m.ightiest monarchies : his look 
 Drew audience and attention, still as night 
 Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake : — 
 " Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of 
 Ethereal Virtues ; or these titles now [Heaven, 
 Must we renounce, and, changing style, 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 Heaven hath doora'd 
 This place our dungeon ; not our safe retreat 
 Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt 
 From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 
 Banded against his throne, but to remain 
 In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd 
 Under the' inevitable curb, reserv'd 
 His captive multitude. For he, be sure, 
 In heighth or depth, still first and last will reign 
 Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part 
 By our revolt ; but over Hell extend 
 His empire, and with iron scepter rule
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 55 
 
 Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. 
 
 What sit we then projecting peace and war? 
 
 War hath determiu'd us, and foil'd with loss 
 
 Irreparable; terms of peace yet none 
 
 Vouchsafed or sought ; for what peace will be given 
 
 To us enslav'd, but custody severe, 
 
 And stripes, and arbitraiy 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 Conqueror least 
 
 May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 
 
 In doing what we most in suffering feel ? 
 
 Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 
 
 With dangerous expedition to invade 
 
 Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, 
 
 Or ambush from the deep. What if we find 
 
 Some easier enterprise? There is a place, 
 
 (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven 
 
 Err not,) another world, the happy seat 
 
 Of some new race call'd Man, about this time 
 
 To be created like to us, though less 
 
 In power and excellence, but favour'd more 
 
 Of Him who rules above ; so was his will 
 
 Proiiounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath, 
 
 That shook Heaven's whole circumference, con- 
 
 firm'd. 
 Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 
 What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 
 Or substance, how endued, and what their power, 
 And where their weakness ; how attempted best, 
 By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut. 
 And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure 
 In his own strength, this place may iie expos'd,
 
 56 PARADISE LOST. Boolc 'J. 
 
 The utmost l>order of his kingdom, left 
 To their defence who hold it : here perhaps 
 Some advant;:geous act may be achiev'd 
 By sudden onset ; either with Hcil-fire 
 To waste his whole creation, or possess 
 All as our own, and drive, as we were driven. 
 The puny habitants; or, if not drive, 
 Seduce them to our party, that their God 
 May prove llieir foe, and with repenting hand 
 Abolish his own works. This would surpass 
 Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 
 In our confusion, and our joy upraise 
 In his disturbance ; when his darling sons, 
 Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse 
 Their frail original, 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, 
 But from the autlior 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 Creator? But their spite still serves 
 His glory to augment. The bold design 
 Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy - 
 Sparkled in all their eyes ; with full assent 
 They vote : whereat his speecli he thus renews. 
 
 " Well have yejudg'd, v. ell ended long debate, 
 Synod of Gods, and, Uke to what ye are, 
 Great things resolv'd, which, from the lowest deep, 
 Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, 
 Nearer our ancient seat ; perhaps in view
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 67 
 
 Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbour- 
 ing arms 
 And opportune excursion, we may chance 
 Re-enter Heaven ; or else in some mild zone 
 Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, 
 Secure ; and at the brightening orient beam 
 Purge off this gloom : the soft delicious air, 
 To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, [send 
 Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we 
 In search of this new world? whom shall we find 
 Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet 
 The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss. 
 And through the palpable obscure find out 
 His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight 
 Upborne with indefatigable wings 
 Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 
 The happy isle? What strength, what art can then 
 Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe 
 Through the strict senteries and stations thick 
 Of Angels watching round ? Here he had need 
 All circumspection, and we now no less 
 Choice in our suffrage; for, on whom we send, 
 The weight of all and our last hope relies." 
 
 This said, he sat; and expectation held 
 His look suspense, awaiting who appeai^'d 
 To second, or oppose, or undertake 
 The perilous attempt : but all sat mute, 
 Pondering the danger with deep thoughts ; and each 
 In other's countenance read his own dismay, 
 Astonish'd : none among the choice and prime 
 Of those Heaven-waning champions could be found 
 So hardy, as to proffer or accept. 
 Alone, the dreadftil voyage ; till at last 
 Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd 
 VOL. J, F
 
 58 PARADISE LOST. Buok 2. 
 
 Above liis fellows, with monarchal pride, 
 Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake: 
 
 " O Progeny of Heaven, empyreal Thrones, 
 Witli reason hatli deep silence and demur 
 Seizd us, though undismay'd : 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 passd, if any pass, the void profound 
 Of unessential Night receives him next 
 Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being 
 Threatens him, pluug'd in that abortive gulf. 
 If thence he 'scape into whatever world, 
 Or unknown region, what remains hira less 
 Than unknown dangers, and as iiard escape? 
 But I should ill become this Tluone, O Peers, 
 And this imperial sovereignty adorn'd [pos'd 
 
 With splendour, arm'd with power, if aught pro- 
 And judg'd of public moment, in the shape 
 Of difficulty or danger, coidd deter 
 Me frou) attempting. Wuerefore do I assume 
 These royalties, and not refuse to reign. 
 Refusing to accept as great a share 
 Of hazard as of honour, due alike 
 To him who reigns, and so much to him due 
 Of hazard more, as he above the rest 
 High honour'd sits ? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, 
 Terror of Heaven, tliough fall'n ; intend at home, 
 While here shall be our home, what best may ease 
 The present misery, and render Hell 
 More tolerable; if there be cure or charm 
 To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain
 
 Book a. PARADISE LOST. 59 
 
 Of this ill raansion : intermit no watcii 
 Against a wakeful ioe, while 1 abroail 
 Through all the coasts of dark destruction .«eek 
 Deliverance for us all : — this enterprise 
 None shall partake with me.' Thus sayin«; rose 
 The Monarcii, and prevented all reply ; 
 Prudent, lest from his resolution rais'd, 
 Others among tiie chief might offer now 
 ( Certain to be refus'd) what erst they fear'd ; 
 And, so refusal, might in opinion stand 
 His rivals ; winning ciieap the liigh repute, 
 Which he through hazard huge must earn. But tiiey 
 Dreaded not more tlie' adventure, tl<an his voice 
 Forbidding ; and at once with hiai they rose : 
 Their rising all at once, was as the sound 
 Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 
 Witli awful reverence prone ; and as a God 
 Extol hiiu equal to the Highest in Heaven ! 
 Nor fail'd tliey to express how much they prais'd, 
 That for the general safety he despis'd 
 His own : for neither do the Spirits damnd 
 Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast 
 Their specious deeds on earth, wi-icli glory' excites, 
 Or close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal. 
 Thus tiiey their doubtful consultations dark 
 Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: 
 As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds 
 Ascending, while the north-wind sleeps, o'erspread 
 Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element 
 Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip snow, or shower ; 
 If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet 
 Extend his evening-beam, the lields revive. 
 The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds 
 Attest their joy, that bill and valley rings.
 
 CO PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 O shame to men ! Devil witli Devil damn'd 
 
 Firm concord holds, men only disagree 
 
 Of creatures rational, though under hope 
 
 Of heavenly grace : and (God proclaiming peace) 
 
 Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, 
 
 Among themselves, and levy cruel wars. 
 
 Wasting the earth, each other to destroy : 
 
 As if (which might induce us to accord) 
 
 Man had not hellish foes enow besides, 
 
 That, day and night, for his destruction wait. 
 
 The Stygian council thus dissolv'd ; and forth 
 In order came the grand infernal peers: 
 IMidst came their mighty paramount, and seem'd 
 Alone the' antagonist of Heaven, nor less 
 Than Hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme, 
 And god-like imitated state : him round 
 A globe of fiery seraphim enclos'd 
 With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. 
 Then of their session ended ihey bid cry 
 With trumpets regal sound the great result. 
 Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 
 Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, 
 By herald's voice explain'd ; the hollow' abyss 
 Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell 
 With deafening shout return'd them loud acclaim. 
 Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat 
 
 rais'd 
 By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers 
 Disband, and, wandering, each his several way 
 Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 
 Leads him perplex'd, 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,
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 61 
 
 Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, 
 As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields; 
 Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal 
 With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form. 
 As when, to warn proud cities, war appears 
 Wag'd in the troubled sky, and armies rush 
 To battle in the clouds, Ijefore each van 
 Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears 
 Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms 
 From either end of Heaven the welkin bums. 
 Others, with vast Typhcean rage more fell. 
 Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air 
 In whirlwind ; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. 
 As when Alcides, fi-om (Echalia 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 (Eta threw 
 Into the' Euboic sea. Others more mild, 
 Retreated in a silent valley, sing 
 With notes angelical to many a harp 
 Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall 
 By doom of battle ; and complain that fate 
 Free virtue should enthral to force or chance. 
 Their 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, 
 Fix'd fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 
 And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. 
 Of good and evil much they argued then,
 
 62 PARADISE LOST. Book ^. 
 
 Of happiness and final misery, 
 
 Passion and apathy, and glory' and shame, 
 
 Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy : 
 
 Yet, with a pleasing sorceiy, could charra 
 
 Pain for a while or anguish, and excite 
 
 Fallacions hope, or arm the' obdured breast 
 
 With stubborn patience, as with triple steel. 
 
 Another part, in squadrons and gross bands^ 
 
 On bold adventure to discover wide 
 
 That dismal world, if any clime perhaps 
 
 Might yield them easier habitation, bend 
 
 Four ways their flying march, along the banks 
 
 Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge 
 
 Into tiie burning lake their baleful streams ; 
 
 Abhorred Styx, tlie flood of deadly hate; 
 
 Sad Acheron, of sorrow, black and deep ; 
 
 Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud 
 
 Heard on the rueful stream ; fierce Phlegethon, 
 
 Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 
 
 Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, 
 
 Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls 
 
 Her watery 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 wild, beat with perpetual storms 
 
 Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land 
 
 Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 
 
 Of ancient pile; or else deep snow and ice, 
 
 A gulf profound, as that Serbonian bog 
 
 Betwixt Daniiati and Mount Casius old, 
 
 Where armies whole have sunk : the parching air 
 
 Bums frore, and cold performs the' effect of fire. 
 
 Thither by harpy-footed furies hal'd,
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 63 
 
 At certain revolutions, all the damn'd 
 
 Are brought ; and feel by tunis the bitter cliange 
 
 Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, 
 
 From beds of raging fire, to starve iu ice 
 
 Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine 
 
 Immoveable, infix'd, and frozen round, 
 
 Periods cf time, thence hurried back to fire. 
 
 Tiiey ferry over this Lethean sound 
 
 Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, 
 
 And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 
 
 The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose 
 
 In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe. 
 
 All in one moment, and so near the brink ; 
 
 But Fate withstands, and to oppose the' attempt 
 
 Me-Aisa with Gorgoniau terror guards 
 
 The ford, and of itself the water flies 
 
 All taste of living wight, as once it fled 
 
 The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on 
 
 In confus'd march foiiorn, the' adventurous bands 
 
 With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, 
 
 View'd first their lamentable lot, and found 
 
 No rest : through many a dark and dreary vale 
 
 They pass'd, and many a region dolorous. 
 
 O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp, 
 
 Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of 
 
 death ; 
 A universe of death ! which God by curse 
 Created evil, for evil only good, 
 V/here all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, 
 Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 
 Abominable, inutterable, and worse 
 Than fables yet have feigxi'd, or fear conceiv'd, 
 Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. 
 jMean while, the Adversary of God and jMan,
 
 64 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Satau, with thoughts inflam'd of highest design, 
 
 Puts on swift wings, and towards the gates of Hell 
 
 Explores his solitary flight: sometimes 
 
 He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; 
 
 Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars 
 
 Up to the fiery concave towering high. 
 
 As when far off at sea, a fleet descried 
 
 Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds 
 
 Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles 
 
 Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring 
 
 Their spicy drugs ; they, on the trading flood, 
 
 Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, 
 
 Ply stemming nighly toward the pole : so seem'd 
 
 Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear 
 
 Hell bounds, high reacliing to the horrid roof, 
 
 And thiice three-fold the gates ; three folds were 
 
 Three iron, three of adamantine rock [brass, 
 
 Impenetrable, impal'd with circling fire. 
 
 Yet nnconsum'd. Before the gates there sat 
 
 On either side a formidable shape ; 
 
 The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fair j 
 
 But ended foul in many a scaly fold 
 
 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 their noise, into her womb, 
 
 And kennel there ; yet there still bark'd and howl'd, 
 
 Within unseen. Far less abhorr'd than these 
 
 Vex'd Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts 
 
 Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore : 
 
 Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, call'd 
 
 In secret, riding through the air she cooaes,
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. C5 
 
 Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance 
 "With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon 
 Eclipses at their charms. The other shape, 
 If shape it might be call'd, that shape had none 
 Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb ; 
 Or substance might be calld, that shadow seem'd, 
 For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, 
 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 
 AVith horrid strides ; Hell trembled as he strode. 
 The' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd, 
 Admird, not fear'd ; God and his Son except. 
 Created thing nought valued he, nor shunn'd; 
 And with disdainful look thus first began : 
 
 '' Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, 
 Thatdars't, 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 asked 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 wrath replied : 
 *' Art thou that traitor-Angel, art thou He, 
 Who first broke peace iu Heaven ; and faith, till 
 Unbroken; and in proud rebellious aims [then 
 Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons 
 Conjur'd against the Highest ; for w hich both thou 
 And they, outcast from God, are here conderan'd 
 To waste eternal days in woe and pain ? 
 And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heavep,
 
 66 PARADISE LOST. BooJc *2. 
 
 Hell-doom'd, and brenth'st defiance liere 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, 
 Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue 
 Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart 
 Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." 
 
 So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, 
 So speaking and so threatening, grew ten-fold 
 More dieadfisl and deform. On the other side, 
 Incens'd with indignation, Satan stood 
 Unterrilicd, and like a comet burn'd, 
 That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge 
 In the' arctic sky, and fi'oni his horrid hair 
 Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head 
 Levell'd his deadly aim ; their fatal hands 
 No second stroke intend ; and such a frown 
 Each cast at the' other, as when two black clouds. 
 With Heaven's artillery fraught, come rattling on 
 Over the Caspian, then stand front to front, 
 Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow- 
 To join their dark encounter in mid air : 
 So frown'd the mighty combatants, that Hell 
 Grew darker at their frown ; so match'd they stood; 
 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 snaky 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 cried, 
 Against thy only Son ? What fury, O Son, 
 Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart
 
 Book 2. PARVDISE LOST. 67 
 
 Against thy Fatlier's head? and know'st for whom ; 
 For him who sits above and laughs tiie while 
 At tiiee ordain'd his drudge, to execute 
 Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids ; 
 His wrath, which one day will destroy ye botli." 
 
 She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest 
 Forbore ; then these to her Satan return'd : 
 " So strange t!iy 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, 
 What thing thou art, thus double-form'd ; and why, 
 In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st 
 Me Father, and that phantasm call'st my Son : 
 I know thee not, nor ever saw^ till now 
 Sight more detestable than him and thee." 
 
 To' wiiom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied : 
 " Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem 
 Now in thine eye so foul ? once deem'd so fair 
 In Heaven, when at the' assembly, and in sight 
 Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd 
 In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, 
 All on a sudden miserable pain 
 Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum 
 In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast, 
 Threw forth ; till, on the left side opening wide, 
 Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, 
 Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess arm'd, 
 Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seiz'd 
 All the' host of Heaven ; back they recoil'd afraid 
 At first, and call'd me Sin, and for a sign 
 Portentous held me ; but, familiar grown, 
 I pleas'd, and with attractive graces w on 
 The most averse, thee chiefly, wbo full oft
 
 68 PARADISE LOST. Book '2. 
 
 Thyself 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 war arose, 
 And fields were fought in Heaven; wherein remain'd 
 (For what conld else ?) to our Almighty Foe 
 Clear victory ; to our part loss and rout, 
 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 given, with charge to keep 
 These gates for ever shut, which none can pass 
 Without my opening. Pensive here I sat 
 Alone; but long I sat not, til! my womb, 
 Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, 
 Prodigious motion felt, and rueful throes. 
 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 enemy 
 Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart 
 Made to destroy ! I fled, and cried out Death ! 
 Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd 
 From all her caves, and back resounded Death ! 
 I fled , but he pursued, (though more, it seems, 
 Inflam'd with lust than rage,) and, swifter far. 
 Me overtook, his mother, all dismay'd, 
 And in embraces forcible and foul 
 Ingendering with me, of that rape begot 
 These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 
 Surround me, as thou saw'st, hourly conceiv'd 
 And hourly bom, with sorrow infinite
 
 Bonk J. PARADISE LOST. 69 
 
 To me ; for, when tlicy list, into the womb 
 That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw 
 My bowels, their repast ; then bursting forth 
 Afresh with conscious terrors 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 involv'd ; and knows that I 
 Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, 
 Whenever that shall be; so Fate pronounced. 
 But thou, O Fatiier, I forewarn thee, shun 
 His deadly arrow ; neither vainly hope 
 To be invulnerable in those briuht arms, 
 Though temper'd heavenly ; for, that mortal dint, 
 Save he who reigns above, none can resist." 
 
 She finish'd; and the subtle Fiend his Iorf>. 
 Soon Iearn'd,now milder, and thus answer'd smooth : 
 " Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy sire, 
 And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge 
 Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys 
 Then sweet,now sad to mention , through dire change 
 Befall'n us, unforeseen, unthought of; know, 
 I come no enemy, but to set free 
 From out this dark and dismal house of pain 
 Botii him and thee, and all the heavenly host 
 Of Spirits, that, in our just pretences arm'd, 
 Fell with us from on high : from them I go 
 This uncoutli errand sole ; and one for all 
 Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread 
 The' unfounded deep, and through the void immense 
 To search with wandering que>t a place tbretold 
 Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now
 
 70 PARADISE LOST. Bvok 2. 
 
 Created vast and round, a place of blisr, 
 
 In the purlieus of Heaven, and therei;i plac'd 
 
 A race of upstart creatures, to supply 
 
 Perhaps our vacant room ; thouj^h jncrc rcmov'd, 
 
 Lest Heaven, surcharg'd with potent multitude. 
 
 Might hap to move new broils. Be tins or aught 
 
 Than this more secret now designd. I haste 
 
 To know ; and, this once known, sliali anon return, 
 
 And bring ye to the place where Tiioii and Death 
 
 Shall dwell at ease, and up and down ii^r-een 
 
 Wing silently the buxom air, imbalm'd 
 
 With odours ; there ye shall be fed and fiil'd 
 
 Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey." 
 
 He ceas'd, for both seem'd highly pleas'd, and 
 Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear [Death 
 His fan;ine should be fill'd ; and blest his maw, 
 Destin'd to that good hour : no less rejoic'd 
 His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire. 
 
 " The key of this infernal pit by due. 
 And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King 
 I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 
 Tlicse adamantine gates; against all force 
 Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 
 Fearless to be o'ermatch'd by living nught. 
 But what owe I to his commands above 
 Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 
 Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, 
 To sit in hateful otfice here confin'd. 
 Inhabitant of Heaven, and heavenly-born. 
 Here in perpetual agony and pain, 
 With terrors and with clamors compa'ss'd round 
 Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? 
 Thou art my father, thou my author, thou 
 My being gav'st me j whom should I obey
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 71 
 
 But thee ? whom follow? tiiou wilt bring me soon 
 To that new world of light and biiss, among 
 The Gods who live at ease, where I shall reign 
 At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 
 Thy daughter and thy darlir.g, without end." 
 
 Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, 
 Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; 
 And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, 
 Forthwith the huge portcullis hiy.h up drew, 
 AVhich but herself, not all the Stygii'.n Powers 
 Could once have mov'd ; tijen in the key-hole turns 
 The' intricate w ards, and every bolt and bar 
 Of massy iron or solid rock with ease 
 Unfastens: on a sudden open fly 
 With impetuous recoil and jarring sound 
 The' infernal doors, and on their hir,gci< grate 
 Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom >hook 
 Of Erebus. She open'd, but to s'uit 
 Excell'd her power; th.e gates wide open stood, 
 That with extended wings a banner'd host. 
 Under spread ensigns marching, might p^iss through 
 With horse and c'lariots rank'd in loose array ; 
 go wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth 
 Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 
 Before their eyes in sudden view appear 
 The secrets of the hoary deep ; a dark 
 Illimitable ocean, v.ilriout bound, [heighth, 
 
 Without dimension, wiiere length, breadth, and 
 An ! time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night 
 And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold 
 Eternal anarchy, amidst tlie noise 
 Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. 
 For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce, 
 Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring
 
 72 PARADISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Their embryon atoms ; they around the flag 
 
 Of each his faction, in their several clans, 
 
 Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow, 
 
 Swarm populous, un-number'd as the sands 
 
 Of Barca or Cyreue's torrid soil, 
 
 Levied to side with warring winds, and poise 
 
 Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, 
 
 He rules a moment : Chaos umpire sits. 
 
 And by decision more embroils the fray, 
 
 By which he reigns : next him, high arbiter, 
 
 Chance governs all. Into this wild abyss 
 
 The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, 
 
 Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, 
 
 But all these in their pregnant causes mix'd 
 
 Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight, 
 
 Unless the' Almighty Maker them ordain 
 
 His dark materials to create more worlds ; 
 
 Into this wild abyss the wary 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 ear less peal'd 
 
 With noises loud and ruinous, (to compare 
 
 Great things with small) than when Bellona storms, 
 
 With all her battering engines bent to rase 
 
 Some capital city; or less than if this frame 
 
 Of Heaven were falling, and these elements 
 
 In mutiny had from her axle torn 
 
 The stedfast earth. At last his sail-broad vans 
 
 He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke 
 
 Uplifted spurns the ground ; thence many a league, 
 
 As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides 
 
 Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets 
 
 A vast vacuity. AH unawares 
 
 Fluttering his pennons vain, plump down he drops
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 73 
 
 Ten thousand fathom deep ; and to this hour 
 
 Down had been falling, had not by ill chance 
 
 The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud. 
 
 Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him 
 
 As many miles aloft : that fury staid, 
 
 Quench'd in a boggy syrtis, neither sea, 
 
 Nor good dry land : nigh founder'd on he fares, 
 
 Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 
 
 Half flying ; behoves him now both oar and sail. 
 
 As when a gryphon, through the wilderness 
 
 With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, 
 
 Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth 
 
 Had from his wakeful custody purloin'd 
 
 The guarded gold : so eagerly the Fiend [rare, 
 
 O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or 
 
 With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, 
 
 And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies : 
 
 At length a universal hubbub wild 
 
 Of stunning sounds, and voices all confus'd. 
 
 Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear 
 
 With loudest vehemence : thither he plies. 
 
 Undaunted to meet there whatever Power 
 
 Or Spirit of the nethermost abyss 
 
 Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 
 
 Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies 
 
 Bordering on light ; when straight behold the throne 
 
 Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread 
 
 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; Rumour next and Chance, 
 
 And Tumult and Confusion all embroil'd. 
 
 And Discord with a thousand various moutlis. 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 74 PARADISE LOST. liook 2. 
 
 To' whom Satan turning boldly, thus : " Ye Powers 
 And Spirits of this nethermost abyss, 
 Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy, 
 With purpose to explore or to disturb 
 The secrets of your realm ; but, by constraint 
 Wandering 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 gloomy bounds 
 Confine with Heaven ; or if some other place, 
 From your dominion won, the' ethereal King 
 Possesses lately, tliither to arrive 
 I travel this profound ; direct my course ; 
 Directed, no mean recompense 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 standard there of ancient Night : 
 Yours be the' advantage all, mine the revenge." 
 
 Thus Satan ; and him tluis the Anarch old. 
 With faltering speech and visage incompos'd, 
 Answer'd: " I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 
 Tiiat mighty leading Angel, who of late 
 Made head against Heaven's King, though over- 
 I.saw and heard; for such a numerous host [thrown. 
 Fled not in silence through the frighted deep, 
 With ruin upon ruin, ront on rout. 
 Confusion worse confounded ; and Heaven-gates 
 Pour'd out by millions her victorious bands 
 Pursuing. I upon my frontiers Ivere 
 Keep residence ; if all I can will serve 
 That little which is left so to defend, 
 Encroach'd on still through your intestine broils
 
 Book 2. PARADISE LOST. 7.5 
 
 Weakening the sceptre of old Night : first Hell, 
 Your dungeon, str^^^ching far and wide beneath; 
 Now lately Heaven, and Earth, another world, 
 Hung o'er my realm, link'd in a golden chain 
 To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell : 
 If that way be your walk, you have not far ; 
 .So much the nearer danger : go, and speed ; 
 Havoc, and spoil, and ruin are my gain." 
 
 He ceas'd ; and Satan staid not to reply, 
 But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, 
 With fresh alacrity, and force renew'd, 
 Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, 
 Into the wild expanse ; and, through the shock 
 Of fighting elements, on all sides round 
 Environ'd, wins his way; harder beset 
 And more endangered, than when Argo pass'd 
 Through Bosporus, betwixt the justling rocks: 
 Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunn'd 
 Charybdis, and by the' other whirlpool steer'd. 
 So he with difl^culty and labour hard 
 Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour he ; 
 But, he once past, soon after, when man fell, 
 Strange alteration ! Sin and Death amain 
 Follovfing his track, such was the will of Heaven, 
 Pav'd after him a broad and beaten way 
 Over the dark abyss, whose boiling gulf 
 Tamely endur'd a bridge of wondrous length 
 From Hell continued reaching the' utmost orb 
 Of this frail world ; by which the Spirits perverse 
 Witii easy intercourse pass to and fro 
 To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 
 God and good angols guard by special grace. 
 But now at last the sacred influence 
 Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven
 
 76 PARA.DISE LOST. Book 2. 
 
 Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night 
 A glimmering dawn. Here Natme first begins 
 Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire 
 As from her outmost works, a broken foe 
 With tumult less, and with less hostile din, 
 That Satan with less toil, and now with ease 
 Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, 
 And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds 
 Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle tom ; 
 Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, 
 Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold 
 Far off the' empyreal Heaven, extended wide 
 In circuit, undetermin d square or round. 
 With opal towers and battlements adorn'd 
 Of living sapphire, once his native seat ; 
 And fast by, hanging in a golden chain. 
 This pendant world, in bigness as a star 
 Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. 
 Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, 
 Accurs'd, and in a cursed hour, he hies. 
 
 END OF COOK II.
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD BOOK 
 
 OP 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 God, sitling on his Throne, sees Satan flying lowards Ihia 
 \sorld, then newly created; shows him to the Son, who sat 
 at his right liand ; foretels the success of Satan in pervert- 
 ing mankind ; cieartt his own justice and wisdom from all 
 imputation, having created Man tree, and able enough to 
 ha\'e withstood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of 
 grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own ma- 
 lice, as did Satan, but by him seduced. The Son of God 
 renders praises to his Father for the manifestation of his 
 gracious purpose towards Man : but God again declares, 
 that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the 
 satisfaction of divine justice} Man hath oli'ended the ma- 
 jesty of God by aspiring to Godhead, and, therefore, with 
 all his piogeny, devoted to death, mast die, unless some 
 one can be found sufficient to answer for his ofifence, and 
 undergo his punishment. The Son of God freely ofifers 
 himself a ransom for Man: the Father accepts him, ur- 
 dains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltaiion above ail 
 names in Heaven and Earth; commands all the Angels to 
 adore him: they obey, and, hymning to their harps in full 
 quire, celebrate the Father and the Son. Mean while Sa- 
 tan alights upon the bare convex of this world's outermost 
 orb ; where wandering, be first finds a place, since called 
 the Limbo of Vanity : what persons and things fly up thi- 
 ther : thence comes to the gate of Heaven, described as- 
 cending 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 reget.t of that orb, but first changes 
 himself into the shape of a meaner Angel; and, pretend- 
 ing a zealous desire to behold the new creation, and Man 
 whom God had placed here, inquires of him the place of 
 his habitation^ and is directed: alights first on Mount 
 Ijiphates.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Hail, holy Light! oflfspringof Heaven first-born, 
 Or of the' Eternal coetcrnal beam 
 May I express thee' unblam'd? since God is light, 
 And never but in unapproached light 
 Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, 
 Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 
 Or hear'st tliou rather pure ethereal stream, 
 Wliose fountain who shall tell ? Before the sun, 
 Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice 
 Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest 
 The rising world of waters dark and deep, 
 Won from the void and formless infinite. 
 Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, 
 Escap'd 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 than to the' Orphean lyre, 
 I sung of Chaos and eternal Night ; 
 Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down 
 The dark descent, and up to re-ascend 
 Though hard and rare ; thee I revisit safe^
 
 80 PARADISE LOST. Book S. 
 
 And feel thy sov'ran vital lamp ; but thou 
 Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain 
 To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn ; 
 .So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, 
 Or dim suffusion veil'd. Yet not the more 
 Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt 
 Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, 
 Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief 
 Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, 
 That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, 
 Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget 
 Those other two equall'd with me in fate, 
 So were I equall'd with them in renown. 
 Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, 
 And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old : 
 Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move 
 Harmonious numbers ; as the wakeful bird 
 Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid 
 Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year 
 Seasons return ; but not to me returns 
 Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, 
 Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, 
 Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; 
 But cloud instead, and ever-during dark 
 Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men 
 Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair 
 Presented with a universal blank 
 Of Nature's works, to me expung'd and ras'd. 
 And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. 
 So much the rather thou, celestial Light, 
 Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers 
 Irradiate ; there plant eyes, all mist from thence 
 Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 
 Of things invisible to mortal sight.
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOST. 81 
 
 Now had the' Almighty Father from above, 
 From the pure empyrean where he sits 
 High thron'd above all heighth, bent down his eye, 
 His own works and their works at once to view : 
 About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 
 Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd 
 Beatitude past utterance ; on his right 
 The radiant image of his glory sat, 
 His only Son; on earth he first beheld 
 Our two first parents, yet the only two 
 Of mankind, in the happy garden plac'd, 
 Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, 
 Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, 
 In blissful solitude ; he then survey'd 
 Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there 
 Coasting the wall of Heaven 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 imbosora'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 only Son foreseeing spake : 
 
 " Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage 
 Transports our Adversary ? whom no bounds 
 Prescrib'd, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains 
 Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss 
 Wide interrupt, can hold ; so bent he seems 
 On desperate revenge, that shall redound 
 Upon his own rebellious head. And now. 
 Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way 
 Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, 
 Directly towards the new created world,
 
 82 PARADISE LOST. Bwk S. 
 
 And Mail there plac'd, witli purpose to assay 
 If bim by force he can destroy, or, worse, 
 By some false guile pervert ; and shall pervert j 
 For Man will hearken to his glozing lies, 
 And easily transgress the sole command, 
 Sole pledge of his obedience : so will fall 
 He and his faithless progeny: — whose fault? 
 Whose but his own ? Ingrate, he had of me 
 All he could have ; I made him just and right, 
 Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 
 Such I created all the' ethereal Powers [fail'd ; 
 And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who 
 Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 
 Not free, what proof could they have given sincere 
 Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, 
 Where only what they needs must do appear'd, 
 Not what they would ? what praise could they re- 
 What pleasure I from such obedience paid, [ceive ? 
 When will and reason (reason also' is choice) 
 Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd. 
 Made passive both, had serv'd necessity. 
 Not me? They therefore, as to right belong'd, 
 So were created, nor can justly 'accuse 
 Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, 
 As if predestination over-ruld 
 Their will, dtspos'd by absolute decree 
 Or high foreknowledge ; tliey themselves decreed 
 Their own revolt, not I ; if I foreknew. 
 Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault. 
 Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown. 
 So without least impulse or shadow of fate, 
 Or aught by me immutably foreseen. 
 They trespass, authors to themselves in all 
 Both wh^t tliey judge, and what they choose; for so
 
 Book S. PARADISE LOST. 83 
 
 I form'd them free : and free they must remain, 
 Till they enthral themselves ; I else must change 
 Their nature, and revoke the high decree 
 Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd 
 Their freedom ; they themselves ordain'd tlieir fall. 
 The first sort by their own suggestion fell. 
 Self-tempted, self-deprav'd : Man falls, deceiv'd 
 By the' other first: Man therefore shall find grace, 
 The other none: in mercy and justice both, 
 Through Heavenand Earth, so shall my glory' excel; 
 But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.' 
 
 Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fiU'd 
 All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect 
 Sense of new joy ineffable ditfus'd. 
 Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 
 Most glorious ; in him all his Father shone 
 Substantially express'd ; and in his face 
 Divine compassion visibly appear'd. 
 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 Heaven and Earth shall high extol 
 Thy praises, with the' innumerable sound 
 Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith tliy throne 
 Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 
 For should man finally be lost, should Man, 
 Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, 
 Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joiu'd 
 With his own folly ? That be from thee far. 
 That far be from thee, Father, who art Judge 
 Of all things made, and judgest only right. 
 Or shall the Adversary thus obtain 
 His end, and frustrate thine ? shall he fulfil
 
 84 PAUADISE LOST. Book S. 
 
 His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, 
 Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, 
 Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell 
 Draw after him the whole race of mankind, 
 By him corrupted ? or wilt thou thyself 
 Abolish thy creation, and unmake 
 For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? 
 So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 
 Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence." 
 
 To whom the great Creator thus replied : 
 *' O Son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, 
 Son of my bosom, Son who art alone 
 My word, my wisdom, and eflfectual might. 
 All hast thou spoken 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 vouchsafd ; once more I will renew 
 His lapsed powers, though forfeit, and enthrall'd 
 By sin to foul exorbitant desires; 
 Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 
 On even ground against his mortal foe ; 
 By me upheld, that he may know how frail 
 His fall'n condition is, and to me owe 
 All his dehverance, and to none but me. 
 Some I have chosen of peculiar gracje, 
 Elect above the rest; so is my will : 
 The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd 
 Their smful state, and to appease betimes 
 The' incensed Deity, while offer'd grace 
 Invites ; for I will clear their senses dark, 
 What may suffice, and soften stony hearts 
 To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 
 To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOST. 85 
 
 Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, 
 
 Mine ear 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 harden'd, blind be blinded more, 
 
 That they may stumble on, and deeper fallj 
 
 And none but such from mercy I exclude. 
 
 But yet all is not done ; Man disobeying, 
 
 Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins 
 
 Against the high supremacy of Heaven, 
 
 Affecting God-head, and, so losing all. 
 
 To expiate his treason hath nought left, 
 
 But to destruction sacred and devote, 
 
 He, with his whole posterity, must die; 
 
 Die he, or justice must ; unless for hira 
 
 Some other able, and as willing, pay 
 
 The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 
 
 Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love ? 
 
 Which of ye will be mortal, to redeem 
 
 Man's mortal crime, and just the' unjust to save? 
 
 Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear?" 
 
 He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, 
 And silence was in Heaven : on Man's behalf 
 Patron or intercessor none appear'd, 
 Much less tliat durst upon his own head draw 
 The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set 
 And now without redemption all mankind 
 Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell 
 By doom severe, had not the Son of Gou,
 
 86 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 3. 
 
 In whom the fulness dwells of love divine^ 
 His dearest m€diation thus renew'd. 
 
 " Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace ; 
 And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, 
 The speediest of thy winged messengers, 
 To visit all thy creatures, and to all 
 Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought? 
 Happy for Man, so coming ; he her aid 
 Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; 
 Atonement for himself, or offering meet, 
 Indebted and undone, hath none to bring : 
 Behold me then ; me for him, life for life 
 I offer ; on me let thine anger fall •, 
 Account me Man ; I for his sake will leave 
 Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee 
 Freely put off, and for him lastly die 
 AV^ell pleas'd ; on me let Death wreak all his rage; 
 Under his gloomy power I shall not long 
 Lie vanquish'd ; thou hast given me to possess 
 Life in myself for ever ; by thee I live. 
 Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, 
 All that of me can die; yet, that debt paid. 
 Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave 
 His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul 
 For ever with corruption there to dwell ; 
 But I shall rise victorious, and subdue 
 My vanquisher, spoil'd of his vaunted spoil ; 
 Death his death'swound shall then receive, and stoop 
 Inglorious, of his mortal 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.
 
 Book 3. PARADISB LOST. 87 
 
 While, by thee raisd, I ruin all my foes, 
 Death last, and with his carcass glut the grave ; 
 Then, with the multitude of my redeera'd, 
 Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, 
 Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 
 Of anger shall remain, but peace assur'd 
 And reconcilement ; wrath 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 shone 
 Filial obedience : as a sacrifice 
 Glad to be ofFer'd, he attends the will 
 Of his great Father. Admiration seiz'd 
 All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend 
 Wondering; but soon the' Almighty thus replied : 
 
 " O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace 
 Found out for mankind under wrath ! 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 losing thee awhile, the whole race lost. 
 Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, 
 Their nature also to thy nature join; 
 And be thyself Man among men on earth. 
 Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, 
 Ey wondrous birth: be thou in Adam's room 
 The head of all mankind, though Adam's 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, witiiout thee none. 
 His crime makes guilty all his sons ; thy merit, 
 Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce
 
 R8 PARADISE LOST. JBook 5, 
 
 Their own both rigliteous and unrighteous deeds, 
 And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 
 Receive new life. So Man, as is most just. 
 Shall satisfy for Man, be judg'd and die, 
 And dying rise, and rising with him raise 
 His brethren, ransom'd with his own dear life. 
 So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate. 
 Giving to death, and dying to redeem, 
 So dearly to redeem what hellish hate 
 So easily destroy'd, and still destroys 
 In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 
 Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume 
 Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. 
 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 than birthright Son of God, 
 Found worthiest to be so by being good. 
 Far more than great or hi^h ; because in thee 
 Love hath abounded more than glory' abounds, 
 Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt 
 With thee thy manhood also to this throne ; 
 Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign 
 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 supreme, [dnce: 
 Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I re- 
 All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 
 In Heaven or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. 
 When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, 
 Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send 
 The «umraoning Arch-angels to proclaim
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOSf. 8J) 
 
 Thy dread tribunal ; forthwith from all winds, 
 The living, and forthwith the cited dead 
 Of all past ages, to the general doom 
 Shall hasten ; such a peal shall rouse their sleep* 
 Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge 
 Bad men and Angels; they arraign'd, 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 Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, 
 And, after all their tribulations long. 
 See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 
 With joy and love triumphing, and fair truth. 
 Then thou thy regal sceptre shalt lay by, 
 For regal sceptre then no more shall need, 
 God shall be all in all. But, all ye gods, 
 Adore him, who to compass all this dies; 
 Adore the Sou, and honour him as Me." 
 
 No sooner had the' Almighty ceas'd, but aR 
 The mnltitude of Angels, with a shout 
 Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 
 As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung 
 With jubilee, and loud Hosannas fiU'd 
 The' eternal regions: lowly reverent 
 Towards either throne they bow, an(f to the ground 
 With solemn adoration down they cast 
 Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; 
 Immortal amarant! a flower which once 
 In Paradise, fast by the tree of life. 
 Began to bloom; but soob for man's offence 
 To Heaven remov'd,where first it grew, there grows, 
 And flowers aloft shading the foont of life. 
 And where the river of bliss through midst of HeavcQ 
 RoUa o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream ; 
 
 VOL. I, H '
 
 90 PARADISE LOST. Book 3, 
 
 With these that Eever fade the Spirits elect 
 Bind their resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams ; 
 Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 
 Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 
 Impurpled with celestial roses smil'd. 
 Then, crown'd again, their golden harps they took, 
 Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side 
 Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet 
 Of charming symphony they introduce 
 Their sacred song, and waken raptures high ; 
 No voice exempt, no voice but well could join 
 Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. 
 
 " Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent! 
 Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 
 Eternal King; thee. Author of all being, 
 Fountain of light, thyself invisible 
 Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sitst 
 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 appear, I 
 Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim 
 Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes, 
 Thee next they sang of all creation first, 
 Begotten Son, Divine Simihtude, 
 In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud 
 Made visible, the' Almighty Father shines, 
 Whom else no creature can behold ; on thee 
 Impress'd the' effiilgence of his glory abides, 
 Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests. 
 He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein 
 By thee created : and by thee threw down 
 The' aspking Dominations : thou that day 
 Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare,
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOST. 91 
 
 Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook 
 Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks 
 Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarray'd. 
 Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim 
 Thee only* extoU'd, Son of thy Father's might, 
 To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, 
 Not so on Man : Him through their malice fall'n, 
 Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom 
 So strictly, but much more to pity' incline : 
 No sooner did thy dear and only Son 
 Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man 
 So strictly, but much more to pity' inclin'd, 
 He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife 
 Of mercy and justice in thy face discern'd, 
 Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat 
 Second to thee, ofFer'd himself to die 
 For Man's offence. O miexampled Love ! 
 Love no where to be found less than 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 Father's praise disjoin.' 
 
 Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere 
 Their happy hours in joy and hj-mning spent. 
 Mean while, upon the firm opacous globe 
 Of this round world, whose first convex divides 
 The luminous inferior orbs, enclos'd 
 From Chaos, and the' inroad of Darkness old, 
 Satan alighted walks : a globe far off 
 It seem'd, now seems a boundless continent 
 Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night 
 Starless expos'd, and ever-threatening storms 
 Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky ; 
 Save on that side which fi'ora the wall of Heaven.
 
 9'2 PARADISE LOST. Book 3. 
 
 Though distant far, some small reflection gains 
 
 Of glimmering air, less vex'd with tempest loud i 
 
 Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious fields 
 
 As when a vulture on Imaus bred, 
 
 Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, 
 
 Dislodging from a region scarce of prey, 
 
 To gorge the flesh of Imnbs 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 tlie barren plains 
 Of Sericana, where Chineses drive 
 With sails and wind their cany waggons light: 
 So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend 
 Walk'd up and down alone, bent on his prey ; 
 Alone, for other creature in this place. 
 Living or lifeless, to be found was none ; 
 None yet, but store hereafter from the earth 
 Up hither like aerial vapours flew 
 Of all things transitory' and vain, when sia 
 With vanity had fiU'd the works of men ; 
 Both all things vain, and all who in vain things 
 Built their fond hopes of glory' or lasting fame, 
 Or happiness in this or the' other life ; 
 All who have their reward on earth, the fruits 
 Of painful superstition and blind zeal. 
 Nought seeking but the praise of men, here tinti 
 Fit retribution, empty as their deeds ; 
 All the' unaccomplish'd works of Nature's hand, 
 Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mix'd, 
 Dissolv'd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 
 Till final dissolution, wander here ; [dream'd ; 
 Not in the neighbouring moon, as some have 
 Those argent fields more likely habitants,
 
 Book S. PARADISE LOST. 93 
 
 Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold 
 
 Betwixt the' angelical and human kind. 
 
 Hither of ill-join'd sons and daughters born 
 
 First from the ancient world those giants came 
 
 With many a vain exploit, though then renown'd : 
 
 The builders next of Babel on the plain 
 
 Of Sennaar, and still with vain design. 
 
 New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build : 
 
 Others came single ; he, who to be deem'd 
 
 A God, leap'd fondly into ^Etna flames, 
 
 Empedocles ; and he, who, to enjoy 
 
 Plato's Elysium, leap'd into the sea, 
 
 Cleombrotus ; and many more too long, 
 
 Embryos and idiots, eremites and friars 
 
 White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. 
 
 Here pilgrims roam, that stray'd so far to seek 
 
 In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; 
 
 And they, who to be sure of Paradise, 
 
 Dying, put on the weeds of Dominic, 
 
 Or in Franciscan think to pass disguis'd ; 
 
 They pass the planets seven, and pass the fix'd. 
 
 And that crystalline sphere whose balance weighs 
 
 The trepidation talk'd, and that first mov'd ; 
 
 And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems 
 
 To wait them with his keys, and now at foot 
 
 Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo ! 
 
 A violent cross wind from either coast 
 
 Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry 
 
 Into the devious air ; then might ye see 
 
 Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost 
 
 And flutter'd into rags; then reliques, beads, 
 
 Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls. 
 
 The sport of winds : all these, upwhirl'd aloft, 
 
 Fly o'er the back side of the world faj- oflf
 
 94 PARADISE LOST. Book 3. 
 
 Into a Limbo large and broad, since call'd 
 
 Tlie Paradise of Fools ; to few unknown 
 
 Long after, now unpeopled, and untrod. 
 
 All this dark globe the Fiend found as he pass'd, 
 
 And long he wander'd, till at last a gleam 
 
 Of dawning light turn'd thither-ward in haste 
 
 His travell'd steps : far distant he descries 
 
 Ascending by degrees magnificent 
 
 Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high ; 
 
 At top whereof, but far more rich, appear'd 
 
 The work as of a kingly palace-gate, 
 
 With frontispiece of diamond and gold 
 
 Embellish'd ; thick with sparkling orient gems 
 
 The portal shone, inimitable on earth 
 
 By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. 
 
 The stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 
 
 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 sky. 
 
 And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven/ 
 
 Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 
 
 There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes 
 
 Viewless ; and underneath a bright sea flow'd 
 
 Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon 
 
 Who after came from earth, sailing arriv'd 
 
 Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake 
 
 Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. 
 
 The stairs were then let down, whether to dare 
 
 The Fiend by easy' ascent, or aggravate 
 
 His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss ; 
 
 Direct against which open'd from beneath, 
 
 Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, 
 
 A passage down to the' Earth, a passage wide,
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOST. 9z 
 
 Wider by far than that of after-times 
 
 Over Mount Sion, and, though that were large, 
 
 Over the Promis'd Land to God so dearj 
 
 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 Jordan's flood, 
 
 To Beersaba, where the Holy Land 
 
 Borders on Egypt and the' Arabian shore j 
 
 So wide the opening seem'd, where bounds were set 
 
 To darkness, such as bound the ocean-wave. 
 
 Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, 
 
 That scald by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, 
 
 Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 
 
 Of all this world at once. As when a scout. 
 
 Through dark and desart ways with peril gone 
 
 All night, at last by break of cheerful dawn 
 
 Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, 
 
 Which to his eye discovers unaware 
 
 The goodly prospect of some foreign land 
 
 First seen, or some renown'd metropolis 
 
 With glistering spires and pinnacles adorn'd, 
 
 Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams : 
 
 Such wonder seiz'd (though after Heaven seen) 
 
 Tlie Spirit mahgn, but much more envy seiz'd, 
 
 At sight of all this world beheld so fair. 
 
 Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood 
 
 So high above the circling canopy 
 
 Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point 
 
 Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears 
 
 Andromeda far off Atlantic seas 
 
 Beyond the' horizon ; then from pole to pole 
 
 He views in breadth, and without longer pause 
 
 Down right into the world's first region throws
 
 90 PARADISE LOST. liook 3, 
 
 His flight precipitant, and winds with ease 
 Through tlie pure marble air his oblique way 
 Amongst innumerable stars, that shone 
 Stars distant, but nigh hand seem'd other worlds j 
 Or other worlds they seem'd, or happy isles. 
 Like those Hesperian gardens fam'd of old, 
 Fortunate fields and groves, and flowery vales, 
 Thrice happy isles ! but who dwelt happy there 
 He staid not to inquire : above them all 
 The golden Sun, in splendour likest Heaven, 
 Allur'd his eye; thither his course he bends 
 Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, 
 liy centre or eccentric, hard to tell, 
 Or longitude,) where the great luminary 
 Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, 
 That from his lordly eye keep distance due, 
 Dispenses light from far; they, as they move 
 Their starry dance in numbers that compute 
 Diiys, months, and years, towards his all-cheering 
 Turn swift their various motions, or are turn'd [lamp 
 By his magnetic beam, that gently warms 
 The universe, and to each inward part 
 With gentle penetiation, though unseen, 
 Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep j 
 So wondrously was set his station bright. 
 There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 
 Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb 
 Through his glaz'd optic tube yet never saw. 
 The place he found beyond expression bright, 
 Compar'd with aught on earth, metal or stone ; 
 Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd 
 With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; 
 If metal, part seem'd gold, part silver clearj 
 Jf §tone, carbuncle most or chrysolite,
 
 Booko. PARADISE LOST. 97 
 
 Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone 
 In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides 
 Imagin'd rather oft than elsewhere seen, 
 That stone, or like to that wliich here below 
 Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 
 In vain, though by their powerful art they bind 
 Volatile Hermes, ajid call up unbound 
 In various shapes old Proteus from tlie sea, 
 Drain'd through a linjbec to his native form. 
 What wonder then if fields and regions here 
 Breathe forth elixir pure, and rivers run 
 Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch 
 The' arch-cheroic Sun, so far from us remote, 
 Produces, with terrestrial humour mix'd, 
 Here in the dark so many precious things 
 Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? 
 Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 
 Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; 
 For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade. 
 But all Sunshine, as when his beams at noon 
 Culminate from the' equator, as they now 
 Shot upward still direct, whence no way ronnd 
 Shadow from body' opaque can fall ; and the' air, 
 No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray 
 To objects distant far, whereby he soon 
 Saw within ken a glorious angel stand, 
 The same whom John saw also in the Sun : 
 His back was tum'd, but not hir. brightness hid ; 
 Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar 
 Circled his bead, nor less his locks behind 
 Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings 
 Lay waving round ; on some great charge employ'd 
 He seem'd, or fix'd in cogitation deep. 
 Olad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope
 
 98 PARADISE LOST. Book 3. 
 
 To find who might direct his wandering flight 
 
 To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, 
 
 His journey's 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-cherub he appears. 
 
 Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 
 
 Youth smird celestial, and to every limb 
 
 Suitable grace diffus'd, so well he feign'd : 
 
 Under a coronet his flowing hair 
 
 In curls on either cheek play'd ; wings he wore 
 
 Of many a colour'd plume, sprinkled with goJd ; 
 
 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 lurn'd, 
 
 Admonish'd by his ear, and straight was known 
 
 The arch-angel Uriel, one of the seven 
 
 Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, 
 
 Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 
 
 That run through all the Heavens, or down to tl>e* 
 
 Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, [Earth 
 
 O'er sea and land : him Satan thus accosts : 
 
 " Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand 
 In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 
 The first art wont his great authentic will 
 Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, 
 Where all his sons thy embassy attend ; 
 And here art likeliest by supreme decree 
 Like honour to obtain, and as his eye 
 To visit oft this new Creation round ; 
 Unspeakable desire to see, and know 
 All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, 
 His chief delight and favour, him for whom
 
 Books. PARADISE LOST. 99 
 
 All these bis works so wondrous he ordain'd, 
 
 Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim 
 
 Aloue thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell 
 
 In which of all these shining orbs bath Man 
 
 His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 
 
 But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; 
 
 That I may find him, and with secret gaze 
 
 Or open admiration him behold, 
 
 On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd 
 
 Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd ; 
 
 That both in him and all things, as is meet, 
 
 The universal Maker we may praise ; 
 
 Who justly bath driven out his rebel foes 
 
 To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, 
 
 Created this new happy race of Men 
 
 To serve him better ; wise are all his ways !" 
 
 So spake the false dissembler unperceiv'd j 
 For neither Man nor Angel can discern 
 Hypocrisy ; the only evil that walks 
 Invisible, except to God alone. 
 By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth : 
 And oft, though Wisdom wake, Suspicion sleeps 
 At Wisdom's gate, and to Simplicity 
 Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill 
 Where no ill seems : which now for once beguird 
 Uriel, though regent of the Sun, and held 
 The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; 
 Who to the frandulent impostor foul. 
 In his uprightness, answer thus return' d : 
 
 " Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know 
 The works of God, thereby to glorify 
 The great Work-Master, leads to no excess 
 That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
 
 100 PAKAUISE LOST. Book 3. 
 
 The more it seems access, that led thee hither 
 From th}' empyreal mansion thus alone, 
 To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, 
 Contented with report, hear only' in Heaven : 
 For wonderful indeed are all his works, 
 Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 
 Had in remembrance always with delight ; 
 But what created mind can comprehend 
 Their number, or the Wisdom infinite 
 That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? 
 I saw when at his word the formless mass. 
 This world's material mould, came to a heap : 
 Confusion heard his voice, and wild Uproar 
 Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'dj 
 Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, 
 Light shone, and order from disorder sprung : 
 Swift to their several quarters hasted then 
 The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire ; 
 And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven 
 Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 
 That roU'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars 
 Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move ; 
 Each had his place appointed, each his course ; 
 The rest in circuit Avails this universe, 
 lyook downward on that globe, whose hither side 
 With lightfrom hence, though, but reflected, shines ; 
 That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light 
 His day, which else, as the' other hemisphere. 
 Night would invade ; but there the neighbouring 
 (So call that opposite fair star) her aid [Moon 
 
 Timely interposes, and her monthly round 
 Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, 
 With borrqw'd light her countenance triforn)
 
 Book .J. PARADISE LOST. 101 
 
 Hence fills and empties to enlighten tlie' Earth, 
 And in her pale dominion checks the night. 
 That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, 
 Adam's abode ; those lofty shades, his bovver. 
 Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.'^ 
 
 Thus said, he turn'd; 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 the' echptic, sped with hop'd success. 
 Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel ; 
 Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. 
 
 EM) OF BOOR llf.
 
 THE 
 
 FOURTH BOOK 
 
 OP 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 tHE ARGUMENT, 
 
 Satan, now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the plare where 
 he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he under- 
 took alone against God and Man, fails into many doubts 
 with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair} 
 but at length confirms himself in evil; journeys on to 
 Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is de- 
 scribed; overleaps the bounds; sits in the shape of a cor- 
 morant on the tree of lite, as highest in the garden, to 
 look about him. The garden described; Satan's first 
 sigiit of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent 
 form and happy state, but with resolution to work their 
 fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the 
 tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under 
 penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temp- 
 tation by seducing them to transgress: then leaves them 
 a while to know further of their state by some other 
 means. Meanwhile Uriel descending on a sunbeam warns- 
 Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that, some 
 evil Spirit had escaped the deep, and psssed 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 h'm ere morning. Night coming 
 on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their 
 bower described ; their evening-worship. Gabriel, drawing 
 forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Para- 
 dise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the 
 evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or 
 Eve sleeping ; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempt- 
 ing her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to 
 Gabriel: by whom questioned, he scornfully answers ; pre- 
 pares resistance; but, hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies 
 out of Paradise.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK IV, 
 
 O, FOR that warning voice, whicli he who saw 
 The' Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, 
 Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 
 Came furious down to l)e reveug'd on men, 
 Woe to the^ inhabitants on earth ! that now, 
 While time was, our first parents had been waru'd 
 The cominji of their 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 the' accuser of mankind, 
 To wreak on innocent frail man his loss 
 Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell : 
 Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though hoid 
 Far otf and fearless, nor witii cause to boast, 
 Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth 
 Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, 
 And like a devilish engine back recoils 
 Upon himself; horror and doubt distract 
 His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 
 The Hell within him; for witiiin him Hell 
 He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 lOd PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 One stfp, no more than from liimself, can fiy 
 By change of place : now conscience wakes despair, 
 That shimber'd ; wakes the bitter memory 
 Of what l)e w^as, what is, and what must be 
 Worse ; of worse deeds worse suiFeringsmust ensue. 
 Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view 
 Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes sad : 
 Sometimes towards Heaven,and the full-blazing Sun, 
 Which now sat high in his meridian tower: 
 Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. 
 
 *' O thou, that, with surpassing glory crown'd, 
 Look'st from thy sole dominion like the God 
 Of this new world ; at whose sight all the stars 
 Hide their diminish'd heads; to thee I call, 
 But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 
 
 Sun ! to tell thee how T hate thy beams. 
 That bring to my remembrance from what state 
 
 1 fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; 
 Till pride and worse ambition threw me down, 
 WarringinHeavenagainstHeaven's matchless King: 
 Ah, wherefore ! he deserv'd no such return 
 From me, whom he created what I was 
 
 Tn that bright eminence, and with his good 
 Upbraided none ; nor was his service hard. 
 What could be less than to afford him praise, 
 The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks, 
 How due ! yet all his good prov'd ill in me. 
 And wrought but malice; lifted up so high 
 1 'sdain'd subjection, and thought one step higher 
 Would get me higiiest, and in a moment quit 
 The debt immense of endless gratitude, 
 So burdensouie still paying, still to owe, 
 J'orgetful what from him 1 still receiv'd, 
 jAad understood not that a grateful mind
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 107 
 
 By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 
 
 Indebted and discharg'd : what burden then ? 
 
 O had his powerful destiny ordain'd 
 
 Me some inferior Angel, I had stood 
 
 Then happy : no unbounded hope had rais'd 
 
 Ambition. Yet why not? some other Power 
 
 As great might have aspird, and me, though mean, 
 
 Drawn to his part 5 but other Powers as great 
 
 Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within 
 
 Or from without, to all temptations armd, 
 
 Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand ? 
 
 Thou hadst : whom hast thou then or what to' accuse, 
 
 But Heaven's fiee love, dealt equally to all? 
 
 Be then his love accurs'd, since love or hate, 
 
 To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 
 
 Nay, cnrs'd be thou •, since against his thy will 
 
 Chose freely what it now so justly rues. 
 
 Me miserable ! which way shall I fly 
 
 Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? 
 
 Which way I fly is Hell ; myself am Hell ; 
 
 And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep 
 
 Still threatening to devour me opens wide. 
 
 To wliich the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. 
 
 O, then, at last relent: is tiiere no place 
 
 Left for repentance, none for pardon i^ft? 
 
 None left, but by submission; and that word 
 
 Disdain forbids me, and my dread of s'lame 
 
 Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduc'd 
 
 With other promises and other vaunts 
 
 Than to submit, boasting I could subdue 
 
 The' Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know 
 
 How dearly I abide that boast so vain, 
 
 Under what torments inwardly I groan, 
 
 While they adore roe on the throne of Hell.
 
 108 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 With diadem and sceptre liigii advanc'd, 
 The lower still 1 fall, only supreme 
 In misery : such joy ambition finds ! 
 But say I could repent, and could obtain, 
 Ry act of grace, my former state ; how soon 
 Would heighth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 
 Whatfeign'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 havepierc'd so deep : 
 Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 
 And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear 
 Short intermission bought with double smart. 
 This knows my punisher ; therefore as far 
 From granting he, 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 farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear. 
 Farewell remorse : all good to me is lost : 
 Evil be thou my good ; by thee at least 
 Divided empire v\'ith Heaven's King I hold, 
 By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign : 
 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, envy, and despair j 
 Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd 
 Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld : 
 For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 
 Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware. 
 Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm, 
 Artificer of fraud ; and was the first 
 That practis'd falsehood under saintly show, 
 Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge :
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 109 
 
 Yet not enough had practis'd to deceive 
 
 Uriel once warn'd ; wiiose eye pursued him down 
 
 The way he went, and on the' Assyrian mount 
 
 Saw him disfigur'd, more than could befall 
 
 Spirit of happy sort : his gestures fierce 
 
 He mark'd and mad demeanour, then alone, 
 
 As he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen. 
 
 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 hairy sides 
 
 With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild, 
 
 Access denied ; and over-head up grew 
 
 Insuperable heighth of loftiest shade, 
 
 Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, 
 
 A sylvan scene ; and, as the ranks ascend 
 
 Shade above shade, a woody theatre 
 
 Of statehest view. Yet higher than their tops 
 
 The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung ; 
 
 Which to our general sire gave prospect large 
 
 Into his uetlier empire neighbouring round : 
 
 And higher than that wall a circling row 
 
 Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, 
 
 Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, 
 
 Appear'd, with gay enamell'd colours mix'd ; 
 
 On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams 
 
 Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 
 
 When God hath shower'd the earth ; so lovely seem'd 
 
 That landskip : and of pure now purer air 
 
 Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 
 
 Vernal deUght and joy, able to drive 
 
 All sadness but despair : now gentle gales, 
 
 Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense
 
 110 PARADISE LOST. Book 4, 
 
 Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 
 Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail 
 Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 
 Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow 
 Sabean odours from the spicy shore 
 Of Araby the blest ; with such delay [league 
 Well pleas'd they slack their course, and many a 
 Cheer'd with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles : 
 So entertain'd those odorous sweets the Fiend, 
 Who came their bane; though with them better 
 Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume [pleas'd 
 
 That drove him, though enamour'd,from the spouse 
 Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent 
 From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. 
 Now to the' ascent of that steep savage hill 
 Satan had journey'd on, pensive and slow; 
 But further way found none, so thick entwin'd, 
 As one continued brake, the undergrowth 
 Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd 
 All path of man or beast that pass'd that way. 
 One gate there only was, and that look'd east 
 On the' other side : which when the' arch-felon saw, 
 Due entrance he disdain'd; and, in contempt. 
 At one slight bound high over-leap'd all bound 
 Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within 
 Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, 
 Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, 
 Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 
 In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, 
 Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold ; 
 Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash 
 Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doorsy 
 Cross-barr'd and bolted fast, fear no assault, 
 In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles ;
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. Ill 
 
 So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold ; 
 
 So since into his church lewd hirehngs climb. 
 
 Thence up he tlew, aud on the tree of life, 
 
 The middle tree and highest tliere that grew. 
 
 Sat like a cormorant ; yet not true life 
 
 Thereby regain'd, but sat devising death 
 
 To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought 
 
 Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd 
 
 For prospect, what well us'd had been the pledge 
 
 Of immortality. So little knows 
 
 Any, but God alone, to value right 
 
 The good before him, but perverts best things 
 
 To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. 
 
 Beneath him with new wonder now he views, 
 
 To all delight of human sense expos'd. 
 
 In narrow room, Nature's 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 stretch'd her line 
 
 From Auran eastward to the royal towers 
 
 Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings. 
 
 Or where the sons of Eden long before 
 
 Dwelt in Telassar : in this pleasant soil 
 
 His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd ; 
 
 Out of the fertile 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. 
 
 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 cbang'd his course, but through the shaggy hill
 
 112 PARADISE LOST. Eook 4. 
 
 Pass'd underneath ingulf d ; for God had thrown 
 That mountain as his garden-mould high raisM 
 Upon the rapid current, which, tlirough veins 
 Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, 
 Kose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill 
 Water'd the garden ; thence united fell 
 Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, 
 Which from his darksome passage now appears, 
 And now, divided into four main streams, 
 Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm 
 And country, whereof liere needs no account ; 
 But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, 
 How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, 
 Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 
 With mazy error under pendant shades 
 Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 
 Flowers worthy' of Paradise, which not nice Art 
 In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon 
 Pour'd fortii profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, 
 Both wheie the morning sun first warmly smote 
 The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade 
 Imbrown'd the noontide bowers : thus was this place 
 A happy rural seat of various view ; [balm, 
 
 Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and 
 Others whose fruit, burnish'd with golden rind, 
 Hung amiable, Hesperian fables tiiie, 
 If true, here only, and of delicious taste : 
 Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 
 Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd. 
 Or palmy hillock ; or the flowery lap 
 Of some irriguous valley spread herstore,- 
 Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose : 
 Another side, umbrageous grots and caves
 
 Book 'h. PARADISE LOST. Il3 
 
 Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine 
 
 Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 
 
 Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall 
 
 Down the slope hills, dispers'd, or in a lake, 
 
 That to the fringed bank v^ ith myrtle crown'd 
 
 Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. 
 
 The birds their quire apply ; airs, vernal airs, 
 
 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 the' eternal Spring. Not that fair field 
 
 Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers. 
 
 Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis 
 
 Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain 
 
 To seek her through the world ; nor that sweet grove 
 
 Of Daphne by Orontes, and the' inspird 
 
 Castalian spring, might with this Paradise 
 
 Of Eden strive ; nor that Nyseian isle 
 
 Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, 
 
 Whom Gentiles Amnion call and Lybian Jove, 
 
 Hid Amalthea, and her florid son 
 
 Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye j 
 
 Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, 
 
 Mount Amara, though this by some suppos'd 
 
 True Paradise under the Ethiop line 
 
 By Nilus' head, enclos'd with shining rock, 
 
 A whole day's 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 majesty seem'd lords of all : 
 
 And worthy seem'd ; for in their looks divine
 
 Hi PARADISE. LOST. Book 4. 
 
 The image of their glorious Maker shone, 
 Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, 
 (Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd,) 
 Whence true authority in men ; though both 
 Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd ; 
 For contemplation he and valour form'd. 
 For softness she and sweet attractive grace; 
 He for God only, she for God in him : 
 His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd 
 Absolute rule ; and hyacinthine locks 
 Round from his parted forelock manly hung 
 Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad : 
 She, as a veil, down to the slender waist 
 Her unadorned golden tresses wore 
 Dishevell'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd 
 As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied 
 Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway. 
 And by her yielded, by him best recsiv'd ; 
 Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, 
 And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. 
 Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd ; 
 Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame 
 Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, 
 Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind 
 With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure. 
 And banish'd from man's life his happiest life. 
 Simplicity and spotless innocence ! 
 So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight 
 Of God or Angel ; for they thought no ill : 
 So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair 
 That ever since in love's embraces met : 
 Adam the goodliest man of men since born 
 His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve, 
 Under a tuft of shade that on a gieen
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 113 
 
 Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fouutain-side 
 They sat them down ; and, after no more toil 
 Of their sweet gardening labour, than suffic'd 
 To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease 
 More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 
 More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell; 
 Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs 
 Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline 
 On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers : 
 The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 
 Still as tiiey thirsted, scoop the brimming stream ; 
 Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 
 Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems 
 Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, 
 Alone as they. About them frisking play'd 
 All beasts of the' earth, since wild, and of all chase 
 In wood or wilderness, forest or den ; 
 Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw 
 Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 
 GamboU'd before them ; the unwieldy elephant. 
 To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd 
 His lithe proboscis ; close the serpent sly. 
 Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 
 His braided train, and of his fatal guile 
 Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 
 Couch'd, and now fill'd witli pasture gazing sat, 
 Or bedward ruminating ; for the Sun, 
 Declin'd, was hasting now with prone career 
 To th' ocean isles, and in the' ascending scale 
 Of Heaven, the stars that usher Evening rose : 
 When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, 
 Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd sad. 
 
 " O Hell ! what do mine eyes with grief behold ! 
 Into our room of bibs thus high advanc'd
 
 116 PARADISE LOST. Book 4, 
 
 Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 
 Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright 
 Little inferior J wjjora ruy thoughts pursue 
 With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 
 In them divine resemblance, and such grace 
 The hand that form'd them on their shape hath 
 Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh [pour'd. 
 Your change approaches, when all these delights 
 Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe ; 
 More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; 
 Happy, but for so happy ill secur'd 
 Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven, 
 111 fenc'd for Heaven, to keep out such a foe 
 As now is entered ; yet no purpos'd foe 
 To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, 
 Though I unpitied : league with you I seek, 
 And mutual amity, so strait, 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 mc, 
 Which I as freely give : Hell shall unfold. 
 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 offspring ; if no better place, 
 Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge 
 On you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd. 
 And should I at your harmless innocence 
 Melt, as I do, yet public reason just, 
 Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd, 
 By conquering this new world, compels me now 
 To do what else, though damn'd, I should abhor." 
 So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 117 
 
 The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds. 
 Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 
 Down he alights among the sportful herd 
 Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, 
 Now other, as their shape servd best his end 
 Nearer to view his prey, and, nnespied. 
 To mark what of their state he more might learn. 
 By word or action mark'd : about them round 
 A lion now he stalks with fiery glare ; 
 Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 
 In some purliew two gentle fawns at play, 
 Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft 
 His couchant watch, as one who cliose his ground, 
 Whence rushing he might surest seize them both, 
 Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men, 
 To first of women. Eve, thus moving speech, 
 Turn'd him, all ear to hear new utterance flow : 
 
 " Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, 
 Dearer thyself than all ; needs must the Power 
 That made ns, and for us this ample world, 
 Be infinitely good, and of his good 
 As liberal and free as infinite ; 
 That rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here 
 In all this happiness, who at his hand 
 Have nothing merited, nor can perform 
 Aught whereof he hath need ; he w ho requires 
 From us no other service than to keep 
 This one, this easy charge, of all the trees 
 In Paradise, that bear delicious fruit 
 So various, not to taste that only tree 
 Of knowledge, planted by tiie tree of life ; 
 So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 
 Some dreadful thing no doubt ; for well thou know'st 
 God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree.
 
 118 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 The only sign of our obedience left, 
 Among so many signs of power and rule 
 Confen'd upon us, and dominion given 
 Over all other creatures that possess 
 Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard 
 One easy prohibition, who enjoy 
 Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 
 Unlimited of manifold delights : 
 But let us ever praise Him, and extol 
 His bounty, following our delightful task, [flowers. 
 To prune these growing plants, and lend these 
 Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet." 
 To whom thus Eve replied: " O thou for whom 
 And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh. 
 And without whom am to no end, my guide 
 And head ! what thou hast said is just and right. 
 For we to Him indeed all praises owe, 
 And daily thanks ; I chiefly, who enjoy 
 So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 
 Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou 
 Like consort to thyself canst no where find : 
 That day I oft remember, when from sleep 
 I firi?t awak'd, and found myself repos'd 
 Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where 
 And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 
 Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound 
 Of waters issued from a cave, and spread 
 Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd 
 Pure as the' expanse of Heaven ; I thither went 
 With unexperiencd thought, and laid me down 
 On the green bank, to look into the clear 
 Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky. 
 As I bent down to look, just opposite 
 A shape within the watery gleam appear'd,
 
 Book i. PAR\DISK LOST. 119 
 
 Bending to look on me : 1 started back, 
 It started back ; but pleas'd I soon return'd, 
 Pleas'd it return'd as soon with answering looks 
 Of sympathy and love : there I had tix'd 
 Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire. 
 Had notavoicethuswarn'dme, * What thou seest, 
 What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself j 
 AVith thee it came and goes : but follow me, 
 And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 
 Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he 
 Whose image thou art ; hira thou shalt enjoy 
 Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 
 Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd 
 Mother of human race.' — What could I do, 
 But follow straight, invisibly thus led? 
 Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, 
 Under a platane; yet methought less fair. 
 Less winning soft, less amiably mild. 
 Than that smooth watery image : back I turn'd ; 
 Thou following cry'dst aloud, * Return fair Eve, 
 Whomfly'st thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art. 
 His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent 
 Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, 
 Substantial life, to have thee by my side 
 Henceforth an indivif^ual solace dear ; 
 Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim 
 ]\Iy other half:' — With that thy gentle hand 
 Seiz'd mine ; I yielded ; and from that time see 
 How beauty is excell'd by manly grace. 
 And wisdom, which alone is truly fair." 
 
 So spake our general mother, and with eyes 
 Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, 
 And meek surrender, half-embracing lean'd 
 On our first father ; lialf her swelling breast
 
 120 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 Naked met his, under the fiowinoj jro!d 
 
 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 
 
 That shed May-flowers,) and press'd her matron lip 
 
 With kisses pure: aside the Devil turn'd 
 
 For envy ; yet writh jealous leer malign 
 
 Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plain'd. 
 
 " Sight hateful, sight tormenting ! thus these two, 
 Imparadis'd in one another's arms. 
 The happier Eden, shall enjoy their 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, 
 Still unfulfiU'd with pain of longing pines. 
 Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd 
 From their own mouths : all is not theirs, it seems 
 One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge call'd. 
 Forbidden them to taste : Knowledge forbidden ? 
 Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord 
 Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? 
 Can it be death? And do they only stand 
 By ignorance ? Is that their happy state. 
 The proof of their obedience and their faith? 
 O fair foundation laid whereon to build 
 Their ruin ! hence I will excite their minds 
 With more desire to know and to reject 
 Envious commands, invented with design 
 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 unspied ;
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 121 
 
 A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 
 Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain-side, 
 Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw 
 What further would be learn'd. Live while ye may, 
 Yet happy 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 [roam. 
 Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his 
 Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven 
 With earth and ocean meets, the setting Sun 
 Slowly descended, and with right aspect 
 Against the eastern gate of Paradise 
 Levell'd his evening rays : it was a rock 
 Of alabaster, pil'd up to the clouds. 
 Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent 
 Accessible from earth, one entrance high ; 
 The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung 
 Still as it rose, impossible to climb. 
 Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, 
 Chief of the' angelic guards, awaiting night ; 
 S bout him exercis'd heroic games 
 The' unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand 
 Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears, 
 Hiing high, with diamond flaming, and witli gold. 
 Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 
 Ou a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star 
 In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fii-'d 
 Impress the air, and shows the mariner 
 From what point of his compass to bewaie 
 Impetuous winds : he thus began in haste. 
 
 " Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot bath given 
 Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 
 No evil thing approach or enter in. 
 
 \ OL. I. K
 
 1S2 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 This day at height of noon came to my sphere 
 A Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know 
 More of the' Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, 
 God's latest image : I describ'd his way 
 Bent all on speed, and mark'd his aery gait; 
 But in the mount that lies from Eden north. 
 Where he first lighted, soon discern'd his looks 
 Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscur'd : 
 Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 
 Lost sight of him : one of the banivsh'd crew, 
 I fear, hath ventur'd from tiie deep, to raise 
 New troubles ; him thy care must be to find." 
 To whom the winged warrior tluis return'd : 
 *' Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, 
 Amid the sun's bright circle where tliou sit'st. 
 See far and wide : in at this gate none pass 
 The vigilance here plac'd, but such as come 
 Well known from Heaven ; and since meridian hour 
 No creature thence : if Spirit of other sort, 
 So minded, have o'er-leap'd these earthy bounds 
 On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude 
 Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. 
 But if within the circuit of these walks, 
 In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 
 Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know." 
 
 So promised he ; and Uriel to his charge 
 Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now 
 
 rais'd 
 Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fail'u 
 Beneath the' Azores ; whether the prime orb. 
 Incredible how swift, had thither roli'd 
 Diurnal, or this less volubil earth. 
 By shorter flight to the' east, had left him there 
 Arraying with reflected purple' and gold
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 123 
 
 The clouds that on his western throne attend. 
 Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray 
 Had in her sober livery all things clad ; 
 Silence accompanied ; for beast and bird, 
 They to their grassy couch, these to their nests 
 Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale j 
 She all night long her amorous descant sung ; 
 Silence was pleas'd : now glow'd the firmament 
 With living sapphires : Hesperus, that led 
 The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 
 Rising in clouded majesty, at length 
 Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light. 
 And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. 
 
 When Adam thus to Eve : " Fair Consort, the* 
 Of night, and all things now retii-'d to rest, [hour 
 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, unemploy'd, and less need rest ; 
 Man hath his daily work of body' or mind 
 Appointed, which declares his dignity, 
 And the regard of Heaven on all his ways j 
 While other animals unactive range, 
 And of their doings God takes no account. 
 To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east 
 With first approach of light, we must be risen, 
 And at our pleasant labour, to reform , 
 Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, 
 Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown. 
 That mock our scant manuring, and require 
 More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth :
 
 124 PARADISE LOST. Eook 4. 
 
 Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 
 That lie bestrewn, unsightly and unsmooth, 
 Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with easej 
 Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest." 
 
 To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty' adorn'd ; 
 " My Author and Disposer, what thou bid'st 
 Unargued I obey : so God ordains ; 
 God is thy law, thou mine : to know no more 
 Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. 
 With thee conversing I forget all time ; 
 All seasons, and their change, all please alike. 
 Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet. 
 With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, 
 When first on this delightful land he spreads 
 His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, 
 Glistering with dew ; fragrant the fertile earth 
 After soft showers; and sweet the coming on 
 Of grateful Evening mild ; then silent Night, 
 With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, 
 And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train : 
 But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends 
 With charm of earliest birds ; nor rising sun 
 On this delightful land ; nor herb, fruit, flower, 
 Glistering with dew ; nor fragrance after showers j 
 Nor grateful Evening mild ; nor silent Night, 
 With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, 
 Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. 
 But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom 
 This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes ?" 
 
 To whom our general ancestor replied : 
 " Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve, 
 These have their course to finish round the earth, 
 By morrow-evening, aud from land to land
 
 Book 'i. PARADISE LOST. 1^5 
 
 In order, though to nations yet unborn, 
 Ministering light prepar'd, they set and rise ; 
 Lest total Darkness should by night regain 
 Her old possession, and extinguish life 
 In Nature and all things ; which these soft fires 
 Not only' enlighten, but with kindly heat 
 Of various influence foment and warm, 
 Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 
 Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow 
 On earth, made hereby apter to receive 
 Perfection from the Sun's more potent ray. 
 These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 
 Shine not in vain ; nor think, though men were 
 none, [praise : 
 
 That Heaven would want spectators, God want 
 MiUions of spiritual creatures walk the earth 
 Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep : 
 All these with ceaseless praise his works behold 
 Both day and night : how often from the steep 
 Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard 
 Celestial voices to the midnight air. 
 Sole, or responsive each to others note, 
 Singing their great Creator ! oft in bands 
 While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 
 Witli heavenly touch of instrumental sounds 
 In full harmonic number join'd, their songs 
 Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven." 
 
 Thus talking, hand in hand alone they pass'd 
 On to their blissful bower : it was a place 
 Chos'u by the sov'ran Planter, when he fram'd 
 All tilings to man's delightful use; the roof 
 Of thickest covert was inwoven shade 
 Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 
 Of firm and fragrant leaf: on either side
 
 126 PARADISE LOST. Book 'L 
 
 Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrnb, 
 Fenc'd up the verdant w all ; each beauteous flower, 
 Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine, 
 Eear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and 
 Mosaic ; underfoot the violet, [wrought 
 
 Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay 
 Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone 
 Of costliest emblenj : other creature here, 
 Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, 
 Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower 
 More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd, 
 Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph 
 Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess. 
 With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, 
 Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed ; 
 And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, 
 "What day the genial Angel to our sire 
 Brought her, in naked beauty more adorn'd, 
 More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods 
 Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like 
 In sad event, when to the" unwiser son 
 Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd 
 Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd 
 On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. 
 
 Thus, at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, 
 Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd 
 The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, 
 Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, 
 And starry pole : " Thou also mad'st the night, 
 Maker Omnipotent ! and thou the day, 
 Which we, in our appointed work employed. 
 Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help 
 And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss 
 Ordain'd by Thee ; and this delicious place
 
 Soolc 4. PARADISE LOST. V2? 
 
 For us too large, where thy abundance wants 
 Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 
 But thou hast promis'd from us two a race 
 To fill the eai-th, who shall with us extol 
 Thy goodness infinite, both wlien 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 their inmost bower 
 Handed they went; and. eas'd the putting-olF 
 These troublesome disguises which we wear, 
 Straight side by side were laid ; nor turn'd, I ween, 
 Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve tlie rites 
 Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: 
 Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 
 Of purity, and place, and innocence, 
 Defaming as impure what God declares 
 Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. 
 Our Maker bids encrease ; wlio bids abstain 
 But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? 
 Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source 
 Of human offspring, sole propriety 
 In Paradise of all things common else. 
 By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men 
 Among the bestial herds to range ; by thee 
 Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, 
 Relations dear, and all the charities 
 Of father, son, and brother, first were known. 
 Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame. 
 Or think thee unbefitting holiest place. 
 Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets, 
 Whose bed is undefii'd and cliaste pronounc'd, 
 Present or past, as saints and patriarchs us'd. 
 Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
 
 128 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 4. 
 
 His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings; 
 Reigns here and revels ; not in the bought smile 
 Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd. 
 Casual fruition ; nor in court-amours, 
 Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, 
 Or serenate, which the starv'd lover sings 
 To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 
 These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept. 
 And on their naked limbs the flowery roof 
 Shower'd 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 shadowy cone 
 Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, 
 And from their ivory port the Cherubim, 
 Forth issuing at the' accustom'd hour, stood arm'd 
 To their night-watches in warlike parade; 
 When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake : 
 
 " Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south 
 With strictest watch ; these other wheel the north; 
 Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, 
 Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 
 From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he call'd 
 That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge : 
 
 " Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed 
 Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no 
 
 nook; 
 But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 
 Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. 
 This evening from the Sun's decline arriv'd. 
 Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen 
 Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd 
 The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt ; 
 Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring."
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 129 
 
 So saying, on be led bis radiant files, 
 Dazzling the moon ; these to the bower direct 
 In search of whom they sought. Him there they 
 Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, [found 
 Assaying by his devilish art to reach 
 The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 
 Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; 
 Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 
 The' annual spirits, that from pure blood arise 
 Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 
 At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, 
 Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires. 
 Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. 
 Him, thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear 
 Touch'd lightly ; for no falsehood can endure 
 Touch of celestial temper, but returns 
 Of force to its own likeness : up he starts 
 Discovei-'d and surpris'd. As when a spark 
 Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 
 Fit for the sun some magazine to store 
 Against a rumour'd war, the smutty grain, 
 With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air : 
 So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 
 Back stept those two fair Angels, half amaz'd 
 So sudden to behold the grisly king; 
 Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him soon : 
 
 " Which of those rebel Spirits adjudg'd to Hell 
 Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison ? and, transform'd, 
 Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, 
 Here watching at tlie head of these that sleep ?" 
 
 " Know ye not then, (said Satan, fill'd with scorn,) 
 Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate 
 For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar : 
 Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.
 
 130 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 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 undiminish'd brightness to be known. 
 As when thou stood'st in Heaven upright and pure; 
 That glory then, when thou no more wast good, 
 Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now 
 Thy sin and place of doom, obscure and foul. 
 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 Cherub ; and his grave rebuke, 
 Severe in youthful beauty, added grace 
 Invincible : abash'd the Devil stood, 
 And felt how awful goodness is^ and saw 
 Virtue in her shape how lovely ; saw, and pin'd 
 His loss ; but chiefly to find here observ'd 
 His lustre visibly impair'd ; yet seem'd 
 Undaunted. " If I must contend, (said he) 
 Best with the best, the Sender, not the sent, 
 Or all at once ; more glory will be won, 
 Or less be lost." — " Thy fear (said Zephon bold) 
 Will save us trial what the least can do 
 Single against thee wicked, and thence weak." 
 
 The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; 
 But, like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on, 
 Champing his iron curb : to strive or fly 
 He held it vain ; awe from above had quell'd 
 His heart, not else dismay'd. Now drew they nigh 
 The western point, where those half-rounding guards 
 Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd,
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 15l 
 
 Awaiting next command. To whom their chief, 
 Gabriel, from the front thus call'd aloud : 
 " O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet 
 Hasting this way ; and now by glimpse discern 
 Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade ; 
 And with them comes a third of regal port, 
 But faded splendour wan ; who by his gait 
 And tierce demeanor 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 approach'd. 
 And brief related whom they brought, where found, 
 How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. 
 
 To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : 
 ** Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd 
 To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge 
 Of others, who approve not to transgress 
 By thy example, but have power and right 
 To question thy bold entrance on this place ; 
 Employ'd, it seems, to violate sleep, and those 
 Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss ?" 
 
 To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow : 
 " Grabriel I thou hadst in Heaven the' esteem of wise. 
 And such I held thee; but this question askd 
 Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ? 
 Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, 
 Though thither doom'd ? 1 iiou wouldst thyself, no 
 And boldly venture to whatever place [doubt, 
 Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to 
 
 change 
 Torment with ease, and soonest recompense 
 Dole with delight, which in this place 1 sought j 
 To thee no reason, who know'st only good, 
 But evil hast not tried : and wilt object
 
 132 PARADISE LOST. Book 4. 
 
 His will who bounds us ? Let him surer bar 
 His iron gates, if he intends our stay 
 In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd. 
 The rest is true, they found me where they say ; 
 But that implies not violence or harm." 
 
 Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, 
 Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied : 
 " O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise 
 Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew. 
 And now returns him from his prison 'scap'd, 
 Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 
 Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 
 Unlicens'd from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd ; 
 So wise he judges it to fly from pain 
 However, and to 'scape his punishment ! 
 So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, 
 Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight 
 Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 
 Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 
 €an equal anger infinite provok'd. 
 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 than they 
 Less hardy to endure i Courageous Chief! 
 The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alledg'd 
 To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 
 Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive." 
 
 To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern : 
 " Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 
 Insulting Angel ! well thou know'st I stood 
 Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid 
 The blasting voUied thunder made all speed. 
 And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. 
 But still thy words at random, as before,
 
 Book 4. PARADISE LOST. 133 
 
 Argue thy inexperience what behoves 
 From hard assays and ill successes past 
 A faithful leader, not to hazard all 
 Through ways of danger by himself untried : 
 1, therefore, I alone first undertook 
 To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 
 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 raid air ; 
 Though for possession put to try once more 
 AVhat thou and thy gay legions dare against ; 
 Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 
 High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, 
 And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight." 
 To whom the warrior-Angel soon replied : 
 " To say and straight unsay, pretending first 
 Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 
 Argues no leader but a liar trae'd, 
 Satan, and couldstthou * faithful' add? O name, 
 O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd ! 
 Faithful to whom .? to thy rebellious crew ? 
 Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. 
 Was this your discipline and faith engag'd, 
 Your military' obedience, to dissolve 
 Allegiance to the' acknowledg'd Power Supreme ? 
 And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 
 Patron of liberty, who more than thou 
 Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilely ador'd 
 Heaven's awful Monarch ? wherefore, but in hope 
 To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? 
 But mark what I areed thee now, Avant; 
 Fly thither whence thou fled'st ! If from this hour 
 Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
 
 134 PARADISE l.OST. BooJi 4. 
 
 Back to the' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd, 
 And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn 
 The facile gates of Hell, too slightly barr'd." 
 
 So threaten'd he ; but Satan to no threats 
 Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied : 
 
 *' Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains, 
 Proud limitary Cherub ! but ere then 
 Far heavier load thyself expect to feel 
 From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 
 Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, 
 Us'd to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels 
 In progress through the road of Heaven, star-pav'd." 
 
 While thus he spake, the' angelic squadron bright 
 Turn'd fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns 
 Their phalanx, and began to hem him round 
 With ported spears, as thick as when a field 
 Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends 
 Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 
 Sways them ; the careful plowman doubting stands, 
 Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves 
 Prove chaff. On the' other side, Satan, alarm'd, 
 Collecting all his might, dilated stood, 
 Like TenerifF or Atlas, unremov'd : 
 His stature reach'd the sky, and on his crest 
 Sat Horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grasp 
 What seem'd both spear and shield. Now dreadful 
 Might have ensued, nor only Paradise [deeds 
 
 In this commotion, but the starry cope 
 Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements 
 At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn 
 With violence of this conflict, had not soon 
 The' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, 
 Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen 
 Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,
 
 Book 4. PARADlSt; LOST. 135 
 
 Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, 
 The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air 
 In counterpoise, now ponders all events., 
 Battles and realms : in these he put two weights, 
 The sequel each of parting and of fight: 
 The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam; 
 Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 
 " Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st 
 
 mine ; 
 Neither our own, but given : what folly then 
 To boast what arms can do ? since thine no more 
 Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled 
 
 now 
 To tram.ple thee as mire : for proof look up, 
 And read thy lot in yon celestial sign ; 
 Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how 
 
 weak, 
 If thou resist." The Fiend look'd up, and knew 
 His mounted scale aloft : nor more; but fled 
 Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. 
 
 END OF BOOK IV.
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 VOL. T.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Morning approached. Eve relates to A^Iam her troublesome 
 dream ; he likes it not, yet comforts her : they come forth to 
 their 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 conies 
 down 10 Paradise; his appearance described; his coming 
 diiccrned by Adam afar otr", silting at the door of his bower; 
 he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains 
 liim with the cluicest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve ; 
 their discourse at table: Raphael performs his message, minds 
 Adam of his state and of bis enemy ; relates, at Adam's re- 
 quest, who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, begin- 
 ning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion thereof ; 
 how he drew his legions after him to tlie parts of the north, 
 and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but 
 only Abdiel a Seraph, who in argument dissaa<les and opposes 
 him, then forsakes him.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK r. 
 
 Now Mom, her rosy steps in the' eastern clime 
 Advancing, sovv'd the earth with orient pearl, 
 AV'hen Adam wak'd, so custom'd ; for his sleep 
 Was aery-light, from pnre digestion bred, 
 And temperate vapours bland, which the' 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 unwaken'd Eve 
 With tresses discompos'd, and glowing cheek, 
 As through unquiet rest : he, on his side 
 Leaning half rais'd with looks of cordial love 
 Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld 
 Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep. 
 Shot forth peculiar graces ; then with voice 
 Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes. 
 Her hand soft touching, whisper'd thus : " Awake, 
 My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found, 
 Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight ! 
 Awake: the morning shines, and the fresli field 
 Calls us ; we lose the prime, to mark how spring
 
 140 PARADISE LOST. Book 5. 
 
 Our tender plants, bow blows the citron-grove, 
 What drops tlie myrrh, and what the bahr.y reed, 
 How Nature paints her colours, how the bee 
 Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet." 
 
 Such whispering wak'd her, but with startled eye 
 On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake : 
 
 " O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 
 My glory, my perfection ! glad I see 
 Thy face, and morn return'd ; for I this night 
 (Such night till this I never pass'd) have dreani'd, 
 (If drcani'd) not, as I oft am wont, of thee. 
 Works of day past, or morrow's next design, 
 But of offence and trouble, which my mind 
 Knew never till this irksome night : metliought, 
 Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk 
 With gentle voice ; I thought it thine : it said, 
 ' Why sleep'st thou. Eve ! now is the pleasant time, 
 The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 
 To the niglit-warbling bird, that now awake 
 Tunes sweetest his love-labour'd song ; now reigns 
 FuU-orb'd the moon, and with more pleasing light 
 Shadowy sets off the face of things ; in vain. 
 If none regard ; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, 
 Whom to behold but thee. Nature's desire ? 
 In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment 
 Attracted by thy beauty, still to gaze.' 
 I rose as at thy call, but found thee not : 
 To find thee I directed then my walk ; 
 And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways 
 That brought me on a sudden to the tree 
 Of interdicted knowledge : fair it seemd, 
 Mucli fairer to my fancy than by day : 
 And, as I wondering look'd, beside it stood 
 One shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heaven
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 141 
 
 By us oft seen ; his dewy locks distill'd 
 
 Ambrosia ; on that tree lie also gaz'd ; 
 
 And ' O fair plant, (said he) with fruit surcharg'd, 
 
 Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet ; 
 
 Nor God, nor man? Is knowledge so despis'd ? 
 
 Or envy' or what reserve forbids to taste? 
 
 Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 
 
 Longer thy offer'd good ; why else set here ?' 
 
 This said ; he paus'd not, but with venturous arm 
 
 He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chilfd, 
 
 At such bold words vouch'd with a deed so bold : 
 
 But he thus, overjoy'd ; ' O fruit divine ! 
 
 Sweet of tliyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, 
 
 Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 
 
 For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men : 
 
 And why not Gods of Men ; since good, the more 
 
 Communicated, moro abundant grows. 
 
 The author not impair'd, but honour'd more ? 
 
 Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve ! 
 
 Partake thou also ; happy though thou art. 
 
 Happier thou may'st be, worthier canst not be : 
 
 Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods 
 
 Tliyself a Goddess, not to earth confin'd. 
 
 But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes 
 
 Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see 
 
 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 pluck"d ; the pleasant savoury smell 
 
 So quicken'd appetite, that I methought, 
 
 Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds 
 
 With him I flew, and underneath beheld 
 
 The earth outstretchd immense, a prospect wide 
 
 And various. Wondering at my flight and change
 
 112 PARADISIC LOST. Book 5. 
 
 To this high exaltation ; suddenly 
 
 My guide was gone, and I,methought, sunkdovvu, 
 
 And fell asleep ; but O, how glad I wak'd 
 
 To find this but a dream !" Thus Kve her night 
 
 Related, and thus Adam answer'd sad : 
 
 " Best image of myself, and dearer half, 
 
 The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep 
 
 Atfects me equally ; nor can I like 
 
 This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, T fear ; 
 
 Yet evil whence ? in thee can harbour none, 
 
 Created pure. But know, that in the soul 
 
 Are many lesser faculties, that serve 
 
 Reason as chief; among these Fancy next 
 
 Her office holds ; of all external things, 
 
 Whicli the five watchful senses represent, 
 
 She forms imaginations, aery shapes. 
 
 Which reason, joining or disjoining, 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 fancy wakes 
 
 To imitate her ; but, misjoining shapes, 
 
 Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams ; 
 
 111 matching words and deeds long past or late. 
 
 Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 
 
 Of our last evening's 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 abhor to dream, 
 
 Waking thou never wilt consent to do. 
 
 Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks, 
 
 That wont to be more cheerful and serene,
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 115 
 
 That when fair morning first smiles on the world j 
 And let us to our fresh employments rise 
 Among the groves, the fountains, and the flow^ers 
 That open now their choicest bosom'd smells, 
 Reserv'd from night, and kept for thee in store."' 
 
 vSo cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she w as cheer'd ; 
 But silently a gentle tear let fall 
 From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair ; 
 Two other precious drops that ready stood, 
 Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell 
 Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 
 And pious awe, that feard to have offended. 
 
 So all was clear'd, and to the field they haste. 
 But first, from under shady arborous roof 
 Soon as they forth were come to open sight 
 Of day-spring, and the Sun, who, scarce up-risen, 
 With wheels yet hovering o'er the oceau-brim. 
 Shot parallel to tlie' earth his dewy ray, 
 Discovering in wide landskip all the east 
 Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains. 
 Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began 
 Their orisons, each morning duly paid 
 In various style; for neither various style 
 Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 
 Their Maker, in fit strains pronounc'd or sung 
 Unmeditated ; such prompt eloquence 
 Plovv'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, 
 More tuneable tlian needed lute or harp 
 To add more sweetness ; and they thus began : 
 " These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 
 Almighty ! Thine this universal frame, 
 Tims wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then; 
 Unspeakable, who sit'st above these heavens 
 To us invisible, or dimly seen
 
 144 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare 
 Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 
 Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, 
 Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs 
 And choral symphonies, day w ithout night, 
 Circle his throne rejoicing ; ye in Heaven. 
 On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol 
 Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. 
 Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, 
 If better thou belong not to the dawn, 
 Sure pledge of day, that crov/n'st the smiling morn 
 With thy l)right circlet, praise him in thy sphere, 
 While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. 
 Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul, 
 Acknowledge him thy greater ; sound his praise 
 In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st. 
 And when high noon hast gain' d, and when thou 
 
 fairst. 
 Moon, that now uiect'st the orient Sun, nov.- fly'st, 
 With the fix'd Stars, fix'd in their orb that flies ; 
 And ye five other wandering Fires, that move 
 In mystic dance not without song, resound 
 His praise, who out of darkness call'd up light. 
 Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 
 Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run 
 Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix 
 And nourish all things ; let your ceaseless change 
 Vary to our great Maker still new praise. 
 Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise 
 From hill or streaming lake, dusky or gray, 
 Till the Sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, 
 In honour to the world's great Author rise ; 
 Whether to deck with clouds the' uncoloui-'d sky, 
 Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers,
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 14.5 
 
 Rising or falling, still advance his praise. 
 
 His praise, ye Winds, that fi om four quarters blow, 
 
 Breathe soft or ioud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, 
 
 With every plant, in sign of worship wave. 
 
 Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow. 
 
 Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. 
 
 Join voices, all ye living Souls : ye Birds, 
 
 That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, 
 
 Bear ^n your wings and in your notes his praise. 
 
 Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk 
 
 The earth, and stately tread or lowly creep ; 
 
 Witness if I be silent, morn or even. 
 
 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 only good ; and if the night 
 
 Have gathered aught of evil or conceal'd. 
 
 Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark !' 
 
 So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts 
 Firm peace recover'd soon, and wonted calm. 
 On to their morning's rural work they haste. 
 Among sweet dews and flowers ; where any row 
 Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd loo far 
 Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check 
 Fruitless embraces : or they led the vine 
 To wed her elm ; she, spous'd, about him twines 
 Her marriageable arms, and with her brings 
 Her dower, the' adopted clusters, to adorn 
 His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld 
 With pity Heaven's high King, and to him call'd 
 Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd 
 To travel with Tobias, and secur'd 
 His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. 
 
 " Raphael, (said he) thou bear's! what stir on 
 Earth
 
 116 PARADISE LOST. Book b. 
 
 Satan, from Hell 'scap'd throngli the darksome gulf, 
 Hath rais'd in Paradise ; and how disturb'd 
 Tiiis night the human pair ; how he designs 
 In them at once to ruin all mankind. 
 Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend 
 Converse with Adam, in what bovver or shade 
 Thou findst him from the heat of noon retir'd, 
 To respite his day-labour with repast. 
 Or with repose ; and such discourse bring on, 
 As may advise him of his happy state, 
 Happiness in his power left free to will, 
 Left to his own free will ; his will though free. 
 Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware 
 He swerve not, too secure : tell him withal 
 His danger, and from whom ; what enemy, 
 Late fall'n himself from Heaven, is plotting now 
 Tiie 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, 
 Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 
 Surprisal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd," 
 
 So spake the' Eternal Father, and fulfill'd 
 All justice : nor delay'd the winged Saint 
 After his charge rcceiv'd ; but from among 
 Thousand celestial Ardors, where he stood 
 Veil'd with his gorgeous wings, up springing light. 
 Flew through the midst of Heaven ; the' angelic 
 
 quires, 
 On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 
 Through all the' empyreal road ; till, at the gate 
 Of Heaven arriv'd, the gate self-open'd 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, 
 Star interpos'd, however small he sees
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 117 
 
 Not uncouform to other shining globes, 
 
 Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crovfn'd 
 
 Above all hills. As when by night the glass 
 
 Of Galileo, less assur'd, observes 
 
 Imagin'd lauds and regions in the moon ; 
 
 Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades 
 
 Delos or Samos first appealing, kens 
 
 A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight 
 
 He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky 
 
 Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing 
 
 Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan 
 
 Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar 
 
 Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems 
 
 A phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole bird, 
 
 When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's 
 
 Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. 
 
 At once on the' eastern cliff of Paradise 
 
 He lights, and to his proper shape returns 
 
 A seraph wing'd : six wings he wore, to shade 
 
 His lineametits divine ; the pair that clad 
 
 Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast 
 
 With regal omament; the middle pair 
 
 Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 
 
 Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold 
 
 And colours dipt in Heaven ; the third his feet 
 
 Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail, 
 
 Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like IVIaia's son he stood. 
 
 And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance fill'd 
 
 The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands 
 
 Of Angels under watch ; and to his state, 
 
 And to his message high, in honour rise ; 
 
 For on some message high they guess'd him bound. 
 
 Their glittering tents he pass'd, and now is come 
 
 Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
 
 148 PARADISE LOST. Book 5- 
 
 And flowering odours, cassia, Dard, and balm; 
 A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here 
 Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will 
 Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, 
 Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. 
 Him through the spicy forest onward come 
 Adam discem'd as in the door he ^at 
 Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun 
 Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm 
 Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam 
 And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd [needs: 
 For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please 
 True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 
 Ofnectarous draughts between, from milky stream, 
 Berry or grape : to whom thus Adam calld : 
 
 " Haste hither. Eve, and worth thy sight behold 
 Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 
 Comes this way moving ; seems another morn 
 Ris'n on mid-noon ; some great behest from Heaven 
 To us perhaps be brings, and will vourhsafe 
 This day to be our guest. But go with speed. 
 And, what thy stores contain, bringforth; and pour 
 Abundance, tit to honour and receive 
 Our heavenly stranger : well may we afford 
 Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow 
 From large bestow'd, where Nature multiplies 
 Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows 
 More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare." 
 
 To whom thus Eve : '• A.dam, earth's hallo w'd 
 mould. 
 Of God inspir'd! small store will sei've, where store, 
 All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk ; 
 Save what by frugal storing firmness gains 
 To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes :
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 149 
 
 But I will haste, and from each boiigli and brake, 
 Each plant andjuiciest gourd, will pluck such choice 
 To entertain our Angel-guest, as he 
 Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth 
 God hath dispens'd his bounties as in Heaven." 
 
 So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste 
 She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent 
 What choice to choose for delicacy best, 
 What order, so contrived as not to mix 
 Tastes, not well join'd inelegant, but bring 
 Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; 
 Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk 
 Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields 
 In India East or West, or middle shore 
 In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where 
 Alcino«s reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat 
 Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell. 
 She gathers, tribute large, and on the board 
 Heaps with unsparing hand: for drink the grape 
 She cruslies, inoffensive must, and meaths 
 From many a berry, and from sweet kernels press'd 
 She tempers dulcet creams ; nor these to hold 
 Wants her lit vessels pure ; then strows the ground 
 With rose and odours from the shrub unfunvd. 
 
 Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet 
 His god-like guest, walks forth, without more train 
 Accompanied than with his own complete 
 Perfections; in himself was all his state, 
 More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits 
 On princes, when their rich retinue long, 
 Of horses led and grooms besmear'd with gold, 
 Dazzles the crowd, and sets tliem all agape. 
 Nearer his presence Adam, though not aw'd, 
 Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
 
 IjO PARADISE LOST. BooJc 5. 
 
 As to' a superior nature bowing low, 
 Thus said : " Native of Heaven, for other place 
 None can than Heaven such glorious sliape contain ; 
 Since, by descending from tlie thrones above, 
 Those happy places thou hast deign'd a while 
 To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us 
 Two only, who yet by sov'ran gift possess 
 This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower 
 To rest ; and what the garden choicest bears 
 To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 
 Be over, and the sun more cool decline." 
 
 VV^hom thus the' angelic Virtue answer'd mild : 
 " Adam, I therefore came ; nor art thou such 
 Created, or such place iiast here to dwell, 
 As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, 
 To visit thee : lead on then where thy bower 
 O'ershades ; for these raid-hours, till evening rise, 
 I have at will." — So to the sylvan lodge 
 They came, that like Pomona's arbour smil'd, 
 Withfloweretsdeck'd, and fragrant smells; but Eve, 
 Undeck'd save with herself, more lovely fair 
 Than VVood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd 
 Of three that in mount Ida naked strove. 
 Stood to' entertain her guest from Heaven ; no veil 
 She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm 
 Alter'd her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail 
 Bestow'd, the holy salutation us'd 
 Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. 
 
 " Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful wonib 
 Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons. 
 Than with these various fruits the trees of God 
 Have heap'd this table." Rais'd of grassy turf 
 Their table was, and mossy seats had round, 
 And on her ample square from side to side
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 151 
 
 All autumn pil'd, though spring and autumn here 
 Daiicd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold ; 
 No fear lest dinner cool ; when thus began 
 Our author : " Heavenly stranger, please to taste 
 These bounties, which our Nourisher, from \vho:u 
 All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, 
 To us for food and for delight hatli caus'd 
 The earth to yield ; unsavoury 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 fouud 
 No' ingrateful food : and food alike those pure 
 Intelligential substances require. 
 As doth your rational; and both contain 
 Within them every lower faculty 
 Of sense, w hereby they hear, see, smell, toucli, taste, 
 Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate. 
 And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 
 For know, whatever was created, needs 
 To be sustain'd 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 turn'd. 
 Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale 
 From her moist continent to higher orbs. 
 The Sun, that fight imparts to all, receives 
 From all his alimental recompense 
 In humid exhalations, and at even 
 Sups w ith the Ocean. Though in Heaven the trees 
 Of life ambrosial fniitage bear, and vines
 
 152 PARADISE LOST. Book 5. 
 
 Yield nectar ; tliough from off the boughs each morn 
 
 We brush meUifluous dews, and find the ground 
 
 Cover'd with pearly grain : yet God hath here 
 
 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 their viands fell ; nor seemingly 
 
 The Angel, nor in mist, (the common gloss 
 
 Of theologians) but witii keen dispatch 
 
 Of real hunger, and concoctive heat 
 
 To transubstantiate : what redounds, transpires 
 
 Through Spirits with ease ; nor wonder ; if by fire 
 
 Of sooty coal the' empiric alchemist 
 
 Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, 
 
 Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, 
 
 As from the mine. Mean while, at table Eve 
 
 Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups 
 
 With pleasant liquors crown'd : O innocence 
 
 Deserving Paradise ! if ever, then, 
 
 Then had the sons of God excuse to' have been 
 
 Enamour'd at that sight ; but in those hearts 
 
 Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousy 
 
 Was understood, the injur'd lover's hell. 
 
 Thus when with meats and drinks they had suf- 
 Not burden'd nature, sudden mind arose [fic'd, 
 In Adam, not to let the' occasion pass 
 Given him by this great conference to know 
 Of things above his world, and of their being 
 Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw 
 Transcend his own so far ; whose radiant forms, 
 Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far 
 Exceeded human ; and his waiy speech 
 Thus to the' empyreal minister he fram'd : 
 
 " Inhabitant with God, now know I well
 
 Book 5. PARADiiE Lost. 153 
 
 Thy favour, in this honour done to Man ; 
 Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsaPti 
 To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste. 
 Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 
 As that more willingly tiiou couldst not seem 
 At Heaven's higli feasts to' have fed : yet what cnni- 
 To whom the winged Hierarch replied: [pare:" 
 " O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom 
 All thiuL'S proceed, and up to him return, 
 If not deprav'd from good, created all 
 Such to perfection, one first matter all, 
 Endued with various forms, various degrees 
 Of substance, and, in thinss tliat live, of life j 
 ' But more retin'd, more spirituous, and pure, 
 As nearer to him plac'd, or nearer tending 
 Each in their several active spheres assign'd. 
 Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 
 Proportioned to each kind. So from the root 
 I Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 
 i More aery, last the bright consummate flower 
 I Spirits odorous breati\es : flowers and their fruir^ 
 ' Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd, 
 To vital spirits aspire, to animal, 
 To intellectual; give both life and sense, 
 Fancy and understanding; whence the soul 
 Reason receives, and reason is her being, 
 iDiscursive or intuitive; discourse 
 Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, 
 DilFering but in degree, of kind the same. 
 (Wonder not then, what God for you saw good 
 If I refuse not, but convert, as you, 
 To proper substance. Time may come, when mcu 
 iWith Angels may participate, and find 
 jN'o inconvenient diet, nor too light fere } 
 1 >0L. I, 3J
 
 154 PARADISE LOST. Book 5. 
 
 And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 
 Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, 
 Improv'd by tract of time, and, wing'd, ascend 
 Ethereal, as we ; or may, at choice, 
 Here or in lieavenly Paradises dwell ; 
 If ye be found obedient, and retain 
 Unalterably firm His love entire. 
 Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy 
 Your fill what happiness this happy state 
 Can comprehend, incapable of more." 
 
 To whom the patriarch of mankind replied : 
 *' O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, 
 Well hast thou taught the way tiiat might direct 
 Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set 
 From centre to circumference; whereon. 
 In contemplation of created things, 
 By steps we may ascend to God. But say, 
 AVhat n;!carit that caution join'd. If ye be found 
 
 Obedient] Can we want obedience then 
 
 To him, or possibly his love desert, 
 
 Who form'd 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 Heaven and Earth, 
 
 Attend : That thou art happy, owe to God j 
 
 That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, 
 
 That is, to thy obedience ; therein stand. 
 
 This was tliat caution given thee ; be advis'd. 
 
 God made thee perfect, not immutable ; 
 
 And good he made thee, but to persevere 
 
 He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy wiil 
 
 By nature free, not over-rui'd by fate 
 
 Inextricable, or strict necessity ; 
 
 Our voluntary service he requires,
 
 Books. PARADISE LOST. 355 
 
 Not our necessitated ; such with him 
 Finds no acceptance, nor can find ; for how 
 Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve 
 A\^iliing or no, who will but what they must 
 By destiny, and can no other choose ? 
 Myself, and all the' angelic host, that stand 
 In sight of God, enthron'd, our happy state 
 Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds ; 
 On other surety none: freely we serve, 
 Because we freely love, as in our will 
 To love or not; in this we stand or fall : 
 And some are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, 
 And so from Heaven 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 ear, 
 Divine instructor, I have heard, than when 
 { Cherubic songs by night from neighbouring hills 
 Aereal music send ; nor knew I not 
 To be both will and deed created free; 
 Yet that we never shall forget to love 
 Our Maker, and obey him whose command 
 Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts 
 Assur'd me' and still assure : thougli what thou tell'st 
 Hath pass'd in Heaven, some 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 finiih'd half his journey, and scarce begins 
 His other half in the great zone of Heaven.'' 
 
 Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, 
 After short pause assenting, thus began : 
 
 " High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men,
 
 156 PARADISE LOST. Book 5. 
 
 Sad task and hard : for liow shall I relate 
 
 To human sense the' mvisible exploits 
 
 Of warring Spirits ? how, without remorse, 
 
 The ruin of so many glorious once 
 
 And perfect while they stood ? how last unfold 
 
 The secrets of another world, perhaps 
 
 Not lawful to reveal ? yet for thy good 
 
 Tliis is dispens'd ; and what surmounts the reach 
 
 Of human sense, I shall delineate so, 
 
 By likening spiritual to corporal forms. 
 
 As may express them best ; though what if Earth 
 
 Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein 
 
 Each to other like, more than on earth is thought ? 
 
 " As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild 
 Reign'd where these Heavens now roll, where Earth 
 Upon her centre pois'd ; when on a day [now rests 
 (For time, though in eternity, applied 
 To motion, measures all things durable 
 By present, past, and future,) on such day 
 As Heaven's great year brings forth the' empyreal 
 Of Angels by imperial summons call'd, [host 
 
 Innumerable before the' Almighty's throne 
 Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven appear'd 
 Under their Hierarchs in orders bright : 
 Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanc'd, 
 Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear 
 Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 
 Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; 
 Or in their ghttering tissues bear imblaz'd 
 Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love 
 Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs 
 Of circuit inexpressible they stood. 
 Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, 
 By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 157 
 
 Amidst as tVom a ilauiing mount, \vhose top 
 Biiglituess had made invisible, thus spake. — 
 
 ' Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, 
 Thrones,Dominations,Princedoms,Virtues,Po\vers, 
 Hear ray decree, which unrevok'd shall stand. 
 This day I have begot whom I declare 
 My only Son, and on this holy hill 
 Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 
 At my right hand : your head I him appoint : 
 And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow 
 All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord ; 
 Under his great vice-gerent reign abide 
 United, as one individual .soul, 
 For ever happy : him who disobeys . 
 Me disobeys, breaks union ; and that day. 
 Cast out from God, and blessed vision, falls 
 Into' utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place 
 Ordain'd without redemption, without end.' 
 
 ^'So spake the' Omnipotent, and with his words 
 All seem'd well pleas'd : all seem'd, but were not all. 
 That day, as other solemn days, they spent 
 In song and dance about the sacred hill; 
 Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere 
 Of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels 
 Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 
 Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regiUar 
 Then most, when most irregular they seem; 
 And in their motions harmony divine 
 So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear 
 Listens delighted. Evening now approach'd, 
 (For we have also our evening and our morn. 
 We ours for change delectable, not need ;) 
 Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 
 Desirous j all in circles as they stood,
 
 lo8 PARADiSI£ LOST. Book 5. 
 
 Tables are set, aud on a sudden pil'd 
 With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows 
 In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, 
 Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 
 On flowers repos'd,and with fresh flowerets crown'd, 
 They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 
 Quatf immortality and joy, secure 
 Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 
 Excess,before the' all-bounteousKing,who shower'd 
 With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 
 Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhal'd 
 From that high mount of God, whence light and 
 shade [chang'd 
 
 Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had 
 To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there 
 In darker veil) and roseat dews dispos'd 
 All but the' unsleeping eyes of God to rest : 
 Wide over all the plain, and wider far 
 Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, 
 (Such are the courts of God) the' angelic throne, 
 Dispers'd in bauds and flies, their camp extend 
 By living streams among the trees of life. 
 Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd. 
 Celestial tabernacles, where they slept [course, 
 Faun'd with cool winds ; save those, who, in their 
 Melodious hymns about the sov'ran throne 
 Alternate all night long. But not so wak'd 
 Satan ; so call him now, his former name 
 Is heard no more in Heaven ; he of the first. 
 If not the first xArch-angel, great in power. 
 In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught 
 With envy' against the Son of God, that day 
 Houour'd by his great Father, and proclaim'U 
 Messiah King anointed, could not bear
 
 Book 5. PARADISE LOST. 159 
 
 Through pride that sight, and thought Iiimself 
 
 imp air' d. 
 Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 
 Soon as mid night brought on the dusky hour 
 Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd 
 With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 
 Unworshipt, unobey'd, the throne supreme, 
 Contemptuous; and his next subordinate 
 Awakening, thus to him in secret spake : [close 
 ' Sleep'st thou, Companion dear ? What sleep can 
 Thy eye-lids? and remeraber'st what decree 
 Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips 
 Of Heaven's Almighty. 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 
 In us who serve, new counsels, to debate [raise 
 What doubtful may ensue : more in this place 
 To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 
 Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; 
 Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night 
 Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, 
 And all who imder me their banners wave, 
 Homeward, with flying march, where we possess 
 The quartei-s of the north ; there to prepare 
 Fit entertainment to receive our King, 
 The great IMessiah, and his new commands, 
 Who speedily through all the hierarchies 
 Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.' 
 
 " So spake the false Arch-angel, and infus'd 
 Bad influence into the' unwary breast 
 Of his associate : he together calls.
 
 160 PARADISE LOST. Uook 5. 
 
 Or scver.il one by one, the regent Powers, 
 iJuder him regent; tells, as he was taught, 
 That the Most High commanding, now ere night, 
 Now ere dim night had disincumber'd Heaven, 
 The great hierarchal standard was to move ; 
 Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 
 Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 
 Or taint integrity : but all obcy'd 
 The wonted .*ignal, and superior voice 
 Of their great Potentate ; tor great indeed 
 His name, and high was his degree in Heaven ; 
 His countenance, as the morning-star that guides 
 The starry fiock, allur'd them, and with lies 
 Drew after him tlie third part of Heaven's host. 
 Mean while the' Eternal eye, whose sight discerns 
 Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount^ 
 And from within the golden lamps that burn 
 Nightly before him, saw without their light 
 Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread 
 Among the sous of morn, Avhat multitudes 
 Were banded to oppose his high decree; 
 And, smiling, to his only Son thus said : 
 
 * Son, thou in whom my glory I behold 
 In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, 
 Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 
 Of our Omnipotence, and with w'p.at arms 
 VYe mean to hold what anciently we claim 
 Of deity 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 try 
 In battle, v;hat our power is, or our i igUt. 
 Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
 
 i>V>A; 5. PARADISE LOST. 161 
 
 With speed what force is left, and all employ 
 In our defence ; lest unawares we lose 
 This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' 
 
 " To wlioui the Son with cahn aspect and clear, 
 Lightning divine, iucflable, serene, 
 Made answer : ' JNIighty Father, thou thy foes 
 Justly hast in derision, and, secure, 
 Laugb'st at their vain designs and tumults vain, 
 Matter to me of glory, whom their hate 
 Illustrates, when they see all regal power 
 Given me to quell their pride, and in event 
 Know whether I be dextrous to subdue 
 Thy rebels, or be found tlie worst iu heaven.' 
 
 " So spake the Son ; but Satan, with his Powers, 
 Far w as advanc'd on winged speed ; an host 
 Innumerable as the stais of night, 
 Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun 
 Impearls on every leaf and every flower. 
 Regions they pass'd, the miglity regencies 
 Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, 
 In their triple degrees ; regions to w liich 
 All t!jy dominion, Adam, is no more 
 Than what this garden is to all the earth, 
 And all the sea, from one entire globose 
 Stretch'd into longitude ; w hich having pass'd. 
 At length into the limits of the nortli 
 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 towers 
 From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold j 
 The palace of great Lucifer, (so call 
 That structure in the dialect of men 
 Interpreted) which not long after, lie» 
 Affecting all equality with God,
 
 162 PARADISE LOST. Book ,'), 
 
 In imitation of that mount whereon 
 Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heaven, 
 Tlie Mountain of the Congregation call'd? 
 For thither he assembled all his train, 
 Pretending so commanded to consult 
 About the great reception of tiieir King, 
 Thither to come, and with calumnious art 
 Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears : 
 
 * Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, 
 If these magnific titles yet remain [Powers ; 
 
 Not merely titular, since by decree 
 Another now hath to himself ingross'd 
 All power, and us eclips'd under tlie name 
 Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 
 Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, 
 This only 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 endiir'd ; 
 To One, and to his Image now proclaini'd ? 
 But what if better counsels might erect 
 Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke ? 
 Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend 
 The supple knee ? Ye will not, if I trust 
 To know ye right ; or, if ye know yourselves 
 Natives and sons of Heaven, possess'd before 
 By none ; and if not equal all, yet free. 
 Equally free ; for orders and degrees 
 Jar not with hberty, but well consist. 
 Who can in reason then or right, assume 
 Monarchy over such as live by right 
 His equals, if in power and splendour less, 
 In freedom equal ? or can introduce
 
 Booh b. PARADISE LOST. 163 
 
 Law and edict on us, who without law 
 Err not ? much less for this to be our Lord, 
 And look for adoration, to the' abuse 
 Of those imperial titles, which assert 
 Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.' 
 
 " Thus far his bold discourse without controul 
 Had audience ; when among the Seraphim 
 Abdiel, than whom none with more zea! ador'd 
 The Deity, and divine commands obey'd, 
 Stood up, and in a fiame of zeal severe 
 The current of his fury thus oppos'd : 
 
 ' O argument blasphemous, false and proud ! 
 Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 
 Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate, 
 In place thyself so high above thy peers. 
 Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn 
 The just decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn, 
 That to his only Son by right endued 
 "With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven 
 Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due 
 Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou say'st, 
 Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, 
 And equal over equals to let reign, 
 One over all with unsucceeded power. 
 Shalt thou give law to God ? shalt thou dispute 
 With him the points of liberty, who made 
 Thee what thou art,and form'd the Powers of Heaven 
 Such as he pleas'd, and circumscrib'd their being ? 
 Yet, by experience taught, we knoM' how good, 
 And of our good and of our dignity 
 How provident he is ; how far from thought 
 To make us less, bent rather to exalt 
 Our happy state, under one head more near 
 United. But to grant it thee unjust,
 
 164 PARADISE LOST. Book 5. 
 
 That equal over equals monarch reign : 
 
 Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, 
 
 Or all angelic nature join'd in one, 
 
 Equal to him begotten-Son ? by whom, 
 
 As by his Word, the Mighty Father made 
 
 All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven 
 
 By him created in their bright degrees, 
 
 Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory nam'd 
 
 Thrones,Dominations,Princedoms,Virtues,Powers, 
 
 Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscur'd, 
 
 But more illustrious made ; since he, the head. 
 
 One of our number thus reduc'd becomes; 
 
 His laws our laws ; all honour to him done 
 
 Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, 
 
 And tempt not these ; but hasten to appease 
 
 The' incensed Father, and the' incensed Son, 
 
 While pardon may be found in time besought.' 
 
 " So spake the fervent Angel ; but his zeal 
 None seconded, as out of season judg'd, 
 Or singular and rash : whereat rejoic'd 
 The' Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied ; 
 ' That we were form'd then, say'st thou ? and the 
 Of secondary hands, by task transferr'd [work 
 From Father to his Son ? strange point and new ! 
 Doctrine which we would know whence learn'd : 
 
 who saw 
 When this creation w as ? remembers't thou 
 Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being r 
 We know no time when we were not as now ; 
 Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd 
 By our own quickening power, when fatal course 
 Had circled his full orb, the birth mature 
 Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. 
 Qar puissance is our own 3 our own right hand
 
 Book r,. PARADISE LOST. 165 
 
 Shall teach us liighest deeds, by proof to try 
 Who is our equal : then thou shalt behold 
 Whether by supplication we intend 
 Address, and to begirt the' almighty throne 
 Beseeching or besieging. This report, 
 These tidings cany to the' anointed King ; 
 And fly, ere evil intercept tl)y flight.' 
 
 '' He said ; and, as the sound of waters deep, 
 Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause 
 Through the' infinite host ; nor less fo« that 
 The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone 
 Eucompass'd round with foes, thus answer'd bold: 
 
 ' O alienate from God, O Spirit accurs'd, 
 Forsaken of all good ! I see thy fall 
 Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd 
 In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread 
 Both of thy crime and punish.ment : henceforth 
 No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 
 Of God's ^lessiah ; those indulgent laws 
 Will not be now vouchsafd; other decrees 
 Asainst thee are gone forth, without recall ; 
 That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject, 
 Is now an iron rod to bruise and break 
 Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise j 
 Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly 
 These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 
 Impendent, raging into sudden flame. 
 Distinguish not : for soon expect to feel 
 His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 
 Then who created thee lamenting learn, 
 When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.' 
 
 " So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found 
 Among the faithless, faithful only he ; 
 Among innumerable false, immov'd,
 
 166 PARADISE LOST. BooJi 5. 
 
 Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified, 
 
 His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ; 
 
 Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 
 
 To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, 
 
 Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, 
 
 Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd 
 
 Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught ; 
 
 And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd 
 
 On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd." 
 
 END OF BOOK V.
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Raphael continues to relate how IVlichael and Gabriel were sent 
 forth to battle against Salan and his Angels. The first tight 
 described ; Satan aiid his Powers retire under niglit: he calls 
 a council; invents devilish engines, which, in the Si'cond day's 
 fight, put Michael and his Angels to some disorder ; but they 
 at length, pulling np mountains, overwhelmed boih the force 
 and machines of Satan : yet, the tmnult not so ending, God, 
 on the third dsiy, sends Messiah his Son, for viliom he had 
 reser^^'d the glory of that victory : He, in the power of his 
 Father, corning to the place, and causing all his le<:;ions 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 contusion into the place of punishment pre- 
 pared for them in the deep; Messiah returns with triiiiapU 
 to his Father.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 *' All Dight the dreadless Angel, unpursued, 
 Through Heaven's wide champain held his way j 
 
 till Morn, 
 Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rosy 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 
 Grateful vicissitude, like day and night : [Heaven 
 Light issues forth, and at the other door 
 Obsequious Darkness enters, till her honr [well 
 To veil the Heaven, though, darkness there might 
 Seem twilight here : and now went forth the Morn 
 Such as in highest Heaven array'd in gold 
 Empyreal ; from before her vanish'd Night, 
 Shot through with orient beams ; when all the plain 
 Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright, 
 Chariots, and flaming arras, and fiery steeds. 
 Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view : 
 War he perceiv'd, war in product ; and found 
 Already known, what he for news had thought 
 To have reported : gladly then he niix'd 
 
 ¥0L. I. N
 
 170 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 Among those friendly Powers, who him receiv'd 
 With joy and acclamations loud, that one, 
 That of so many myriads fdll'n, yet one 
 Retiun'd, not lost. On to the sacred hill 
 They led him high applauded, and present 
 Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, 
 From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard : 
 * Servant of God, well done ; well imst thou fought 
 The better fight, who single hast maintain'd 
 Against revolted multitudes the cause 
 Of truth, in word mightier than they in armsj 
 And for the testimony' of truth hast borne 
 Univeisal reproach, far worse to bear 
 Than violence ; for this was all thy care 
 To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds 
 Judg'd thee perverse : the easier conquest nov*' 
 Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, 
 Back on thy foes more glorious to return. 
 Than scorn'd thou didst depart ; and to subdue 
 By force, who reason for their law refuse, 
 Right reason for their law, and for their King 
 Messiah, w ho by right of merit reigns. 
 Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, 
 And thou, in military jj^row ess next, 
 Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons 
 Invinsible; lead forth my armed Saints, 
 By thousands and by millions, raog'd for fight, 
 Equal in number to that godless crew 
 Rebellious : them with fire and hostile arms 
 Fearless assault ; and, to the brow of Heaven 
 Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss. 
 Into their place of punishment, the gulf 
 Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide 
 His fiery Chaos to receive their fall.'
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 171 
 
 " So spake the Sov'ran Voice, and clouds began 
 To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll 
 In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign 
 Of wrath awak'd; nor with less dread the loud 
 Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow : 
 At which command the Powers militant. 
 That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate join'd 
 Of union irresistible, mov'd on 
 In silence their bright legions, to the sound 
 Of instrumental harmony, that breath'd 
 Heroic ardour to adventurous deeds 
 Under their godlike leaders, in the cause 
 Of God and his Messiah. On they move 
 Indissolubly firm ; nor obvious hill, 
 Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 
 Their perfect ranks ; for high above the ground 
 Their march was, and the passive air upbore 
 Their nimble tread : as when the total kind 
 Of birds, in orderly array on wing, 
 Came summon'd over Eden to receive 
 Their names of thee ; so over many a tract 
 Of Heaven they march'd, and many a province wide, 
 Tenfold the length of this terrene : at last, 
 Far in the' horizon to the north appear'd 
 From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd 
 In battailous aspect, and nearer view 
 Bristled with upright beams innumerable 
 Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields 
 Various, with boastful argument portray'd, 
 The banded Powers of Satan hasting on 
 With furious expedition , for they ween'd 
 That self-same day, by fight, or by surprise, 
 To win the mount of God, and on bis throne 
 To set the Envier of his state, the proud
 
 172 PARA.DISE LOST. Book 6* 
 
 Aspirer ; but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain 
 In the mid way : though strange to us it seem'd 
 At first, that Angel should with Angel war, 
 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 the' Eternal Father : but the shout 
 Of battle now began, and rushing sound 
 Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 
 High in the midst, exalted as a God, 
 The' Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, 
 Idol of majesty 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 cloudy van, 
 On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd, 
 Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanc'd, 
 Came towering, arm'd in adamant and gold; 
 Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood 
 Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 
 And thus his own undaunted heart explores : 
 
 * O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest 
 Should yet remain, where faith and reality [might 
 Remain not : wherefore should not strength and 
 There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 
 Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable ? 
 His puissance, trusting in the' Almighty's aid, 
 I mean to try, whose reason I have tried 
 Unsound and false ; nor is it aught but just. 
 That he, who in debate of truth hath won, 
 Should win in urms, in both disputes alike
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 173 
 
 Victor ; though brutish that contest and foul, 
 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'd, and thus securely him defied; 
 
 ' Proud! art thou met? thy hope was to have 
 The heighth of thy aspiring unoppos'd, [reach'd 
 The throne of God unguarded, and his side 
 Abandon'd, at the terror of thy power 
 Or potent tongue : fool ! not to think how vain 
 Against the' Omnipotent to ri^e in arms ; 
 Who out of smallest things could, without end, 
 Have rais'd incessant armies to defeat 
 Thy folly ; or with solitary hand 
 Reaching beyond all simit, at one blow, 
 Unaided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd 
 Thy legions under darkness : but thou seest 
 All are not of thy train ; there be, who faith 
 Prefer and piety to God, though then 
 To thee not visible, when I alone 
 Seeni'd in thy world erroneous to dissent 
 From all ; my sect thou seest ; now learn too late 
 How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.' 
 
 " Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, 
 Thus answered : * 111 for thee, but in wish'd hour 
 Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st 
 From flight, seditious Angel! to receive 
 Thy merited reward, the first assay 
 Of this right hand provok'd, since first that tongue, 
 Inspir'd with contradiction, durst oppose 
 A third part of the Gods, in synod met 
 Their deities to assert ; who, while they feel
 
 174- PARADISE LOST. Book C), 
 
 Vigour divine with them, can allow 
 Omnipotence to none. Bnt well thou com'st 
 Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 
 From me some plume, that thy success may show 
 Destruction to the rest : this pause between, 
 (Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, 
 At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven 
 To heavenly souls had been all one ; but now 
 I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 
 Ministring Spirits, train'd up in feast and song ! 
 Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of Heaven, 
 Servility with freedom to contend, 
 As both their deeds compar'd this day shall prove.' 
 
 " To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied : 
 ' Apostate ! still thou err'st, 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 excels 
 Them whom he governs. This is servitude. 
 To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rcbell'd 
 Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 
 Thyself not free, but to thyself enthrall'd ; 
 Yet lewdly dar'st our ministering upbraid. 
 Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom ; let me serve 
 In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine 
 Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd ; 
 Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect : meanwhile 
 From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flight, 
 This greeting on thy impious crest receive.' 
 
 " So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high. 
 Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 
 On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 1 75 
 
 Nor motion of swift thought, less could bis shield, 
 Sncli ruin intercept : ten paces huge 
 He back recoil'd ; tlie tenth on bended knee 
 His massy spear upstaid ; as if on earth 
 Winds under ground, or waters forcing way. 
 Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat, 
 Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seiz'd 
 The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see 
 Thusfoil'd their mightiest; ours joy till'd, and shout. 
 Presage of victory, and fierce desire 
 Of battle : wliereat Michael bid sound [Heaven 
 The' Arch-angel trumpet ; through the vast of 
 It sounded, and the faithful armies rung 
 Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze 
 The adverse legions, nor less hideous join'd 
 The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose. 
 And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now 
 Was never : arms on armour clashing bray'd 
 Horrible discord, and the madding wheels 
 Of brazen chariots rag'd ; dire was the noise 
 Of conflict ; over head the dismal hiss 
 Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, 
 And flying vaulted either host with fire. 
 So under fiery cope together rush'd 
 Both battles main, with ruinous assault 
 And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven 
 Resounded ; and had Earth been then, all Earth 
 Had to her centre shook. What wonder ? when 
 Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought 
 On either side, the least of whom could wield 
 These elements, and arm him with the force 
 Of all their regions: how much more of power 
 Army' against array numberless to raise 
 Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
 
 176 PARADISE LOST. Book 6, 
 
 Though not destroy, their happy native seat ; 
 
 Had not the' Eternal King Omnipotent, 
 
 From liis strong hold of Heaven, high over-rul'd 
 
 And limited their might ; though number'd such 
 
 As each divided legion might have seem'd 
 
 A numerous host ; in strength each armed hand 
 
 A legion ; led in fight, yet leader seem'd 
 
 Each warrior single as in chief, expert 
 
 "When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway 
 
 Of battle ; open when, and when to close 
 
 The ridges of grim war : no thought of flight, 
 
 None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 
 
 That argued fear ; each on himself relied, 
 
 As only in his arm the moment lay 
 
 Of victory : deeds of eternal fame 
 
 Were done, but infinite ; for wide was spread 
 
 That war, and various ; sometimes on firm ground 
 
 A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing. 
 
 Tormented all the air ; all air seem'd then 
 
 Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale 
 
 The battle hung; till Satan, who that day 
 
 Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms 
 
 !No equal, ranging through the dire attack 
 
 Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length 
 
 Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felld 
 
 Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway 
 
 Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down 
 
 Wide-wasting ; su^h destruction to withstand 
 
 He hasted, and oppos'd the rocky orb 
 
 Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 
 
 A vast circumference. At his approach 
 
 The great Arch-angel from his warlike toil 
 
 Surceas'd, and glad, as hoping here to end 
 
 Intestine war in Heaven, the' arch-foe subdued
 
 Book 6. PARADISE I OST. 177 
 
 Or captive dragg'd in chains, with hostile frown 
 And visage all inflam'd, first tiius began : 
 
 * Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, 
 Unnam'd in Heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest 
 These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all. 
 Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, 
 And thy adherents : how hast thou disturbed 
 Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought 
 Misery, uncreated till the crime 
 Of thy rebellion ! how hast thou instill'd 
 Thy malice into thousands, once upright 
 And faithful, now provd false ! but think not here 
 To trouble holy rest ; Heaven casts thee out 
 From all her confines : Heaven, tlie scat of bliss. 
 Brooks not the works of violence and war. 
 Hence then, and evil go with thee along. 
 Thy offspring, to the place of evil Hell; 
 Thou and thy wicked crew ! there mingle broils, 
 Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom. 
 Or some more sudden vengeance, wing'd from God, 
 Precipitate thee with augmented pain.' 
 
 " So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus 
 The Adversary : ' Nor think thou with wind 
 Of airy tlireats to awe, whom yet with deeds 
 Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these 
 To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 
 Unvanquish'd, easier to transact with me 
 That thou shouldst hope ,imperious, and with threats 
 To chase me hence ? err not, that so shall end 
 The snife which thou callst evil, but we style 
 The strife of glory ; which we mean to win, 
 Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell 
 Thoufablest; here however to dwell free, 
 If not to reign : meanwhile thy utmost force,
 
 178 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 And join Him nam'd Alr.iigiity to thy aid, 
 I fly not, but have sought tlsee far and nigh.' 
 
 "• They ended paiie, and both address'd for fi^ht 
 Unspeakable ; foi who, thouirh with the tongue 
 Of Angels, can relate, or to what things 
 Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift 
 Human imagination to such heighth 
 Of godlike power? for iikest Gods they seera'd, 
 Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms, 
 Fit to decide the empire of creat Heaven. 
 Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air 
 Made horrid circles ; two broa^i suns their shields 
 Blaz'd opposite, while Expectation stood 
 In horror : from each hand with speed retir'd, 
 Where erst was thickest fight, the' angelic throng. 
 And left large field, unsafe within the wind 
 Of such commotion ; such as (to set forth 
 Great things by small) if, nature's concord broke, 
 Among the constellations war were sprung, 
 Two planets, rushing from aspect malign 
 Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky 
 Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 
 Together both with next to' almighty arm 
 Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimd 
 That might determine, and not need repeat, 
 As not of power at once ; nor odds appear'd 
 In might oi- swift prevention : but the sword 
 Of Michael from the armoury of God 
 A\^as given him temper'd so, that neither keen 
 Nor solid njight resist that edge: it met 
 The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite 
 Descending, and in half cut sheer ; nor staid. 
 But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shar'd 
 All his right side : then Satan first knew pain,
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 179 
 
 And writii'd him to and fro convolv'd ; so sore 
 The griding sword with discontinuous wound 
 Pass'd through him : but the' ethereal substance 
 Not long divisible ; and from the gash [clos'd 
 
 A stream of nectarous humour issuing flow'd 
 Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, 
 And all his armour stain'd, erewhile so bright. 
 Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 
 By Angels many' and strong, who iuteipos'd 
 Defence, while others bore him on their shields 
 Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd 
 From otf the files of war : there they him laid 
 Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, 
 To find himself not matchless, and his pride 
 Humbled by such rebuke, so far 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 entrails, heart or head, liver or reins, 
 Cannot but by annihilating die ; 
 Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 
 Receive, no more than can the fluid air : 
 All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 
 All intellect, all sense 3 and, as they please, 
 They huib themselves, and colour, shape, or size 
 Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. 
 
 " Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserv'd 
 Memorial, where the m.ight of Gabriel fought, 
 And with fierce ensigns pierc'd the deep array 
 Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied. 
 And at hi? cbariot wiieels to drag hun bound 
 Threaten'd, nor from the Holy-One of Heaven 
 Refrain'd his tongue blasphemous ; but anon 
 Down cloven to the waist, with shatterd arms
 
 180 PARADISE LOST. Boolc ti. 
 
 And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing 
 Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, 
 Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm'd, 
 Vanquish'd Adramelech, and Asmadai, 
 Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods 
 Dis.dain'd,but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight, 
 Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and 
 Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy [mail. 
 
 The atheist-crew, but with redoubled blow 
 Ariel and Arioch, and the violence 
 Of Kamiel scorch'd and blasted, overthrew. 
 I niight relate of thousands, and their names 
 Eternize here on earth ; but those elect 
 Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 
 Seek not the praise of men: the other sort, 
 In migiit though wondrous and in acts of war, 
 Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom 
 Cancell'd from Heaven and sacred memory, 
 Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 
 For strength from truth divided, and from just, 
 Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise 
 And ignominy ; yet to glory' aspires 
 Vain-glorious, and through infaujy seeks fame : 
 Therefore, eternal silence be their doom.fswerv'd, 
 " And now, their mightiest quell'd, the battle 
 "With many an inroad gor'd ; deformed rout 
 Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground 
 With shiver'd armour strown, and on a heap 
 Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd. 
 And fiery-foaming steeds ; what stood, recoil'd 
 O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host 
 Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpris'd. 
 Then first with fear surpris'd, and sense of pain, 
 Fled ignominious, to such evil brought
 
 i 
 
 Book t). PARADISE LOST. ] 81 
 
 By sin of disobedience ; till that hour 
 
 Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. 
 
 Far otherwise the' inviolable Saints, 
 
 In cnbic phalanx firm, advanc'd entire, 
 
 Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd; 
 
 Such high advantages their innocence 
 
 Gave them above their foes ; not to have sinn'd, 
 
 Not to have disobey'd ; in fight they stood 
 
 Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd 
 
 By wound,though from their place by violence niov'd, 
 
 " Now Night her course began, and over Heaven 
 Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, 
 And silence on the odious din of war : 
 Under her cloudy covert both retir'd, 
 Victor and vanquish'd ; on the foughten field 
 Michael and his Angels prevalent 
 Encamping, plac'd in guard their watches round, 
 Cherubic waving fires ; on the' other part, 
 Satan with his rebellious disappeared. 
 Far in the dark dislodg'd ; and, void of rest, 
 His potentates to council call'd by night ; 
 And in the midst thus undisniay'd began : 
 
 * O now in danger tried, now known in arms 
 Not to be overpower d. Companions dear, 
 Found worthy not of liberty alone, 
 Too mean pretence ! but what we more affect, 
 Honour, dominion, glory, and renown ; 
 Who have sustain'd one day in doubtful fight, 
 (And if one day, why not eternal days ?) 
 What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 
 Against us from about bis 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
 
 182 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 
 
 Some disadvantas^e we endur'd and pain, 
 
 Till nownotkKOwn, but, known, as soon contemn'd; 
 
 Since now we find this our empyreal form 
 
 Incapable of mortal injury, 
 
 Imperishable, and, though pierc'd with wound, 
 
 Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd. 
 
 Of evil then so small as easy think 
 
 The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, 
 
 Weapons more violent, when next we meet, 
 
 May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 
 
 Or equal what between us made the odds, 
 
 In nature none : if other hidden cause 
 
 Left them superior, while we can preserve 
 
 Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, 
 
 Due search and consultation will disclose.' 
 
 " He sat; and in the assembly next upstood 
 Nisroch, of Principalities the prime ; 
 As one he stood escap'd from cruel fight, 
 Sore toil'd, Ins riven arms to havoc hewn, 
 And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake : 
 
 * Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free 
 Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard 
 For Gods, and to unequal work we find, 
 Against unequal arms to fight in pain. 
 Against unpain'd, impassive ; from which evil 
 Ruin must needs ensue ; for what avails [pain 
 
 Valour or strength, though matchless, quell'd with 
 Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands 
 Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well 
 Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 
 But live content, which is the calmest life; 
 But pain is perfect misery, the worst 
 Of evils, and, excessive, overturns
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 183 
 
 All patieuce. He, who therefore can invent 
 With vvljat more forcible we may offend 
 Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm 
 Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves 
 No less than for deliverance what we owe.' 
 
 " Whereto Vv^ith look compos'd Satan replied : 
 * Not uninvented that, which thou aright 
 Beiiev'st 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 Heaven, adorn'd 
 With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; 
 Whose eye so superficially surveys 
 These things, as not to mind from whence they grow 
 Deep under ground, materials dark and crude. 
 Of spiritous and fiery spume, till, touch'd 
 With Heavens ray, and temper'd, they shoot forth 
 So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? 
 These in their dark nativity the deep 
 Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame ; 
 Which, into hollow engines, long and round. 
 Thick ramm'd, at the' other bore with touch of fire 
 Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth 
 From far, v/ith thundering noise, among our foes 
 Such implements of mischief, as shall dash 
 To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands 
 Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd 
 The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. 
 Nor long shall be our labour ; yet ere dawn, 
 Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive ; 
 Abandon fear ; to strength and counsel join'd 
 Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.' 
 
 '' He ended, and his words their drooping cheer 
 Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd.
 
 ISJi PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 The' invention all admir'd, and each, how he 
 To be the' inventer miss'd ; so easy it seem'd 
 Once found, which yet unfound most would have 
 Impossible : yet, haply, of thy race [thought 
 
 In future days, if malice should abound, 
 Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd 
 With devilish machination, might devise 
 Like instrument to plague the sons of men 
 For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. 
 Forthwitli from council to the work they flew j 
 None arguing stood ; innumerable hands 
 Were ready ; in a moment up they turn'd 
 Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 
 The' originals of nature in their crude 
 Conception ; sulphurous and nitrous foam 
 They found, they mingled, and with subtle art 
 Concocted and adjusted, they reduc'd 
 To blackest grain, and into store convey'd : 
 Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth 
 Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone. 
 Whereof to found their engines and their balls 
 Of mis!?ive ruin ; part incentive reed 
 Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 
 So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, 
 Secret they finish'd, and in order set, 
 With silent circumspection, unespied. 
 
 " Now when fairmorn orient in Heaven appear'd, 
 Up rose the victor- Angels, and to arms 
 The matin trumpet sung : in arms they stood 
 Of golden panoply, refulgent host. 
 Soon banded ; others from the dawning hills 
 Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed 
 Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, [scour, 
 ^Vhere lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 185 
 
 In motion or in bait: him soon they met 
 Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow 
 But firm battalion; back with speediest sail 
 Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, 
 Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried : 
 
 * Arm, Warriors, arm 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 settled in his face I see 
 Sad resolution, and secure: let each 
 His adamantine coat gird well, and each 
 Fit well bis helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, 
 Borne even or high ; for this day will pour down, 
 If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower. 
 But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.' 
 
 " So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon 
 In order, quit of all impediment; 
 Instant without disturb they took alarm. 
 And onward raov'd embattled: when behold! 
 Not distant far with heavy pace the foe 
 Approaching gross and huge, in hollow^ cube 
 Training his devilish enginery, impal'd 
 On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, 
 To hide the fraud. At interview both stood 
 A while ; but suddenly at head appear'd 
 Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. 
 
 ' Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold ; 
 That all may see who hate us, how we seek 
 Peace and composure, and with open breast 
 Stand ready to receive them, if they like 
 Our overture, and turn not back perverse: 
 But that I doubt; however, witness Heaven! 
 Heaven, ^^-itness thou anon! while we discharge 
 Freely our part; ye, who appointed stand, 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 186 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 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 J when to right and left the front 
 Divided, and to either flank retir'd: 
 "VVliich to our eyes discover'd, new and strange, 
 A triple m.ouiited row of pillars laid 
 On wheels (for like to pillars most they seera'd, 
 Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir, 
 With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd,) 
 Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths 
 With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide. 
 Portending hollow truce: at each behind 
 A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed 
 Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense, 
 Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd, 
 Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds 
 Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied 
 With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, 
 But soon obscur'd with smoke, all Heaven appear'd. 
 From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose 
 EmbowelI'd with outrageous noise the air, [roar 
 And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul 
 Their deviUsh glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail 
 Of iron globes; which, on the victor-host 
 Levell'd, with such impetuous fury smote. 
 That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, 
 Though standing eise as rocks, but down they fell 
 By thousands. Angel on Arch-angel roll'd; 
 The sooner for their arms ; unarmed they might 
 Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift 
 By quick contraction or remove ; but now- 
 Foul dissipation foUow'd, and forc'd rout ; 
 Nor serv'd it to relax their serried files.
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. W7 
 
 What should they do? if on they rush'd, repulse 
 
 Repeated, and indecent overthrow 
 
 Doubled, would render them yet more despis'd, 
 
 And to their foes a laughter; for in view 
 
 Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row. 
 
 In posture to displode their second tire 
 
 Of thunder : back defeated to return 
 
 They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight, 
 
 And to his mates thus in derision call'd : 
 
 * O Friends ! why come not on these victors proud? 
 Erewhile they fierce were coming; and when we, 
 To entertain them fair with open front 
 And breast, (what could we more?) propounded 
 
 terms 
 Of composition, straight they chang'd their minds. 
 Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 
 As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd 
 Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps 
 For joy of offer'd 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 gamesome mood : 
 * Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight. 
 Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home ; 
 Such as we might perceive amus'd them all, 
 And stumbled many ; who receives them right, 
 Had need from head to foot well understand; 
 Not understood, this gift they have besides, 
 They show us when our foes walk not upright.' 
 " So they among themselves in pleasant vein 
 Stood scoffing, heighten'd in their thoughts beyond 
 All doubt of victory: Eternal Might 
 To match with their inventions they presum'd 
 So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, 
 And all his host derided, while they stood
 
 188 PARADISE LOST. Boolc 6. 
 
 A while in trouble: but they stood not long; 
 
 Rage prompted them at length, and 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!) 
 
 Their arms away they tlnew, and to the hills 
 
 (For earth hath this variety from Heaven 
 
 Of pleasure situate in hill and dale) 
 
 Light as the lightning-glimpse they ran, they flewj 
 
 From their foundations loosening to and fro, 
 
 They pluck'd the seated bills, with all their load, 
 
 Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops 
 
 Up-lifting bore them in their hands; amaze, 
 
 Be sure, and terror, seiz'd the rebel-host, 
 
 When coming towards them so dread they saw 
 
 The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd; 
 
 Till on those cursed engines, triple-row 
 
 They saw them whelm'd, and all their confidence 
 
 Under the weight of mountains buried deep; 
 
 Themselves invaded next, and on their heads 
 
 Main promontories flung, which in the air 
 
 Came shadowing, and oppress'd whole legions arm'd; 
 
 Their armour help'd their harm,crush'(l in and bruis'd 
 
 Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain 
 
 Implacable, and many a dolorous groan ; 
 
 Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind 
 
 Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 
 
 Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. 
 
 The rest, in imitation, to like arms 
 
 Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore : 
 
 So aills amid the air encounter'd hills, 
 
 Huil'd to and fro with jaculation dire; 
 
 Tha: under ground they fought in dismal shade; 
 
 Infe-nal noise ! war seem'd a civil game 
 
 To this uproar^ horrid confusion heap'd
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 189 
 
 Upon confusion rose : and now all Heaven 
 
 Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread ; 
 
 Had not the' Almighty Father, where he sits 
 
 Shriu'd in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, 
 
 Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen 
 
 This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd; 
 
 That his great purpose he might so fulfil, 
 
 To honour his anointed Son aveng'd 
 
 Upon his enemies, and to declare 
 
 All power on him transferr'd : whence to his Son, 
 
 The' x-Vssessor of his throne, he thus began : 
 
 ' Effulgence of my glory, Son belov'd,^ 
 Son, in whose face invisible is beheld 
 Visibly, what by Deity I am ; 
 And in whose hand what by decree I do, . 
 Second Omnipotence ! two days are past, 
 Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, 
 Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame 
 These disobedient : sore hath been their fight, 
 As likeliest was, when two such foes met arm'd ; 
 For to themselves I left them ; and thou know'st, 
 
 1 Equal in their creation they were form'd, 
 Save what sin hath impair'd ; which yet hath wrought 
 Insensibly, for I suspend their doom ; 
 j Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 
 Endless, and no solution will be found : 
 War wearied hath perform'd what war can do, 
 And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins, [makes 
 With mountains, as with weapons, arm'd ; which 
 Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. 
 Two days are therefore past, tlie third is thine j 
 For thee I have ordain'd it ; and thus far 
 IHave suffer'd, that the glory may be thine 
 |Of ending this great war, since none but Thoa
 
 190 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace 
 Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know 
 In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare ; 
 Acid, this perverse commotion govern'd 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 Father's might; 
 Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels 
 That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, 
 My bow and thunder, my almighty arms 
 Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; 
 Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out 
 From all Heaven's 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 rays direct 
 Shone full ; he all his Father full express'd 
 Ineffably into his face receiv'd ; 
 And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake : 
 
 * O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, 
 First, Highest, Holiest, Best ! thou alv\ ays seek'st 
 To glorify thy Sen, I always thee. 
 As is most just : this I ray glory' account. 
 My exaltation, and my whole delight. 
 That thou, in me well pleas'd, declar'st thy will 
 Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss. 
 Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume, 
 And gladlier shall resign, when in the end 
 Thou Shalt be all in all, and I in thee 
 For ever; and in me 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,
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 19 1 
 
 Arm'd with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebell'd; 
 
 To their prepar'd ill mansion driven down, 
 
 To chains of darkness, and the' undying worm ; 
 
 That from thy just obedience could revolt, 
 
 Whom to obey is happiness entire. 
 
 Then shall thy saints unmix'd, and from the' impure 
 
 Far separate, circling thy holy mount. 
 
 Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, 
 
 Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief.' 
 
 " So said. He, o'er his sceptre bowing, rose 
 From the right hand of Glory where he sat; 
 And the third sacred morn began to shine, 
 ])awning tlirough Heaven. Forth rush'd with whirl- 
 The chariot of Paternal Deity, [wind sound 
 
 Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, 
 Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoy'd 
 By four Cherubic shapes, four faces each 
 Had wondrous; as with stars, their bodies all 
 And wings were set with eyes ; with eyes tlie wheels 
 Of beryl, and careering fires between ; 
 Over their heads a crystal firmament, 
 Wiiereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 
 Amber, and colours of the showery arch. 
 He, in celestial panoply all arm'd 
 Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, 
 Ascended; at his right hand Victory 
 Sat eagle-wing'd; beside him hnng his bow 
 And quiver, with three-bolted thunder stor'd; 
 And from about him fierce etfusion roU'd 
 Of smoke, and bickering flame and sparkles dire : 
 Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, 
 He onward came; far ofl:'his coming shone; 
 And twenty thousand (I their number heard) 
 Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen ;
 
 192 PARADISE LOST. Eook 6. 
 
 He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime 
 
 On the crystalhne sky, in sappliire thron'd, 
 
 Illustrious far and wide ; but by his own 
 
 First seen : them unexpected joy surpris'd, 
 
 When the great ensign of Messiah blaz'd 
 
 Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; 
 
 Under whose conduct Michael soon reduc'd 
 
 His army, circumfus'd on eitl»er wing, 
 
 Under their Head imbodied all in one. 
 
 Before him Power Divine his way prepar'dj 
 
 At his command the' uprooted hills retir'd 
 
 Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went 
 
 Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renew'd. 
 
 And with fresh flowerets hill and valley sniild. 
 
 This saw his hapless foes but stood obdur'd, 
 
 And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, 
 
 Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. 
 
 In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell ? 
 
 But to convince the proud what signs avail. 
 
 Or wonders move the' obdurate to relent? 
 
 They, harden'd more by what might most reclaim, 
 
 Grieving to see his glory, at the sight 
 
 Took envy; and aspiring to his heighth, 
 
 Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud 
 
 Weening to prosper, and at length prevail 
 
 Against God and Messiah, or to fall 
 
 In universal ruin last; and now 
 
 To final battle drew, disdaining flight. 
 
 Or faint retreat ; when the great Son of God 
 
 To all his host on either hand thus spake: 
 
 'Standstillin bright array, ye Saints; here stand. 
 Ye Angels arm'd; this day from battle rest; 
 Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God 
 Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause j
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 193 
 
 And as ye have leceiv'd, so have ye done. 
 Invincibly : but of this cursed crew 
 The punishment to other hand belongs ; 
 Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints : 
 Number to this day's work is not ordain'd, 
 Nor multitude ; stand only, and behold 
 God's indignation on these godless pour'd 
 By me ; not you, but me, they have despis'd, 
 Yet envied ; against me is all their rage, 
 Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme 
 Kingdom, and power, and gloiy appertains, 
 Hath honour'd me, according to his will. 
 Therefore to me their doom he hath assign'd; 
 That they may have their wish, to try with me 
 In battle which the stronger proves : they all, 
 Or I alone against them ,: since by strength 
 They measure all, of other excellence 
 Not emulous, nor care who them excels ; 
 Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.' 
 
 " So spake the Son, and into terror chang'd 
 His countenance too severe to be beheld, 
 And full of wrath bent on his enemies. 
 At once the Four spread out their starry wings 
 With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs 
 Of his tierce chariot roU'd, as with the sound 
 Of torrent Hoods, or of a numerous host. 
 He on his impious foes right onward drove, 
 Gloomy as night ; under his burning wheels 
 The stedfast empyrean shook throughout, 
 All but the throne itself of God. Full soon 
 Among thorn he arrived ; in his right hand 
 Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent 
 Before him, such as in their souls intix'd 
 Plagues : they, astouish'd, all resistance lost,
 
 194 PARADISE LOST. Book 6. 
 
 Ail courage ; down their idle weapons dropt : 
 O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 
 Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, 
 Tliat wish'd the mountains now migiit be again 
 Thrown on them as a shelter from ins ire. 
 Nor less on either side tcn)pestuous fell 
 His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Four 
 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 fort pernicious lire 
 Among the' accurs'd, that wither'd all their strength, 
 And of their wonted vigour left them drain'd, 
 Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n. 
 Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd 
 His thunder in mid volley ; for he meant 
 Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven : 
 Tiic overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd 
 Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd 
 Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued 
 With terrors, and with furies, to the bounds 
 And crystal wall of Heaven ; which, opening wide, 
 RoU'd inward, and a spacious gap disclos'd 
 Into the wastefiil deep ; the monstrous sight 
 Struck tliem with horror backward, but far worse 
 Urg'd them behind ; headlong themselves they threw 
 Down from the verge of Heaven ; eternal wrath 
 Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. 
 
 " Hell heard the' unsulferable noise. Hell saw 
 Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled 
 Aflrighted -, but strict Fate had cast too deep 
 Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 
 Nine days they fell : confounded Chaos roar'd, 
 And felt tenfold coniiision in their fall
 
 Book 6. PARADISE LOST. 193 
 
 Through bis wild anarchy, so huge a rout 
 Incumberd him with ruin : Hell at last 
 Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd ; 
 Hell their fit habitation, fraught with fire 
 Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. 
 Disburden'd Heaven rejoic'd, and soon repaird 
 Her mural breach, returning whence it rolTd. 
 Sole victor, from the' expulsion of his foes, 
 Messiah his triumphal chariot turn'd : 
 To meet him al! his Saints, who silent stood 
 Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, 
 With jubilee advanc'd ; and, as they went, 
 Shaded with branching palm, each order bright, 
 Sung triumph, and him sung ' Victorious King, 
 Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, 
 Worthiest to reign.' He, celebrated, rode 
 Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts 
 And temple of his Mighty Father, thron'd 
 On high ; who into glory him receiv'd. 
 Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 
 " Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things 
 on Earth, 
 At thy request, and that thou may'st beware 
 By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd 
 What might have else to human race been hid ; 
 The discord which befel, and war in Heaven 
 Among the' angelic Powers, and the deep fall 
 Of those too high aspiring, who rebell'd 
 With Satan ; he who envies now thy state, 
 Who now is plottinn how he may seduce 
 Thee also from obedience, that, with him 
 Bereav'd of happiness, thou may'st partake 
 His punishment, eternal misery ; 
 Which would be all liis solace and revenge,
 
 196 PARADISE LOST. BooJc €. 
 
 As a despite done agaiiist the Most High, 
 Thee once to gain companion of his woe. 
 But listen not to his temptations ; warn 
 Thy weaker; let it profit thee to' have heard, 
 By terrible example, the reward 
 Of disobedience ; firm they might have stood. 
 Yet fell ; remember, and fear to transgress." 
 
 END OF VOL. 
 
 Whittinffliam anri Rowland, Printers, Goswetl Street, London.
 
 J
 
 THE 
 
 POETICAL WORKS 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN MILTON. 
 
 COLLATED WITH THE BEST, EDITIONS: 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS PARK, F,S.A, 
 VOL. IL 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 t^vintst at tlje ^tanljoje Pw^sf, 
 
 BV WHITflNOHAM A^D RUWLAXD, 
 
 Gosuell Street ; 
 
 •a SUTTABY, EVANCE, AND FOX, STATIONERS' COURT; 
 
 •HARPEANDHL\ILES,MUSEOM, i'ICCADILLy;TAYLORAND 
 
 HESSEY, FLEET STREET; AND R. JENNINGS, POULTRY. 
 
 1814.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 ookVII 3 
 
 UookVIII 25 
 
 BookIX 47 
 
 BookX 05 
 
 Book XI 121 
 
 Book XII. 140
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name 
 If rightly thou art call'd, whose voice divine 
 Following, above the' Olympian hill I soar, 
 Above the flight of Pegasean wing. 
 The meaning, not the name, I call : for thou 
 Nor of the Muses nine, nor on tlie top 
 Of old Olympus dwell'st ; but, heavenly-bora, 
 Before the hills appear'd, or fountain flow'd, 
 Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, 
 Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play 
 In presence of the' Almighty Father, pleas'd 
 With thy celestial song. Up led by thee 
 Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presum'd, 
 An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air, 
 Thy tempering : with like safety guided down 
 Return me to my native element : 
 Lest from this flying steed unrein'd, (as once 
 Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,) 
 Dismounted, on the' Aleian field I fall, 
 Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn. 
 Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound 
 
 VOL. II. B
 
 6 PARADISE LOST. JBook 7. 
 
 Within the visible diurnal sphere j 
 Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, 
 More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchang'd 
 To hoarse or mute, though fall'n on evil days, 
 On evil days though fall'u, and evil tongues ; 
 In darkness, and with dangers compass'd round, 
 And soUtude ; yet not alone, while thou 
 Visit'st my slumbers nightly, or when mom 
 Purples the east : still govern thou my song, 
 Urania, and fit audience find, though few. 
 But drive far off the barbarous dissonance 
 Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race 
 Of that wild rout that tore the Tliracian bard 
 In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears 
 To rapture, till the savage clamour drown'd 
 Both h rp and voice ; nor could the Muse defend 
 Her son. So fail not thou, who thee implores : 
 For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. 
 Say, goddess, what ensued when Raphael, 
 The affable Arch-angel, had forewaru'd 
 Adam, by dire example, to beware 
 Apostacy, by what befel in Heaven 
 To those apostates; lest 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 obey'd, amid the choice 
 Of all tastes else to please their appetite. 
 Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve, 
 The story heard attentive, and was fiU'd 
 With admiration and deep muse, to hear 
 Of things so high and strange; things, to their 
 So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, [thought 
 
 And war so near the peace of God in bliss,
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. 7 
 
 With such coufusion : but the evil soon, 
 Driven back, redounded as a flood on those 
 From whom it sprung; impossible to mix 
 With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed 
 The doubts that in his heart arose : and now 
 Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know 
 What nearer might concern iiim, how this world 
 Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; 
 When, and whereof created ; for wliat cause ; 
 What within Eden, or without, was done 
 Before his memory; (as one whose drouth 
 Yet scarce allay'd, still eyes the current stream, 
 Whose liquid murmur heard, new thirst excites,) 
 Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest : — 
 
 " Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, 
 Far difl^ering from this world, thou hast reveal'd, 
 Divine interpreter ! by favour sent 
 Down from the empyrean, to forewarn 
 Us timely of what might else have been our loss, 
 Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach : 
 For which to the' infinitely Good we owe 
 Immortal thanks, and his admonishment 
 Receive, with solemn purpose to observe 
 Immutably his sov'ran will, the end 
 Of what we are. But since thou hast vouclisaf 'd 
 Gently, for our instruction, to impart 
 Things above earthly thought, (which yet concern'd 
 Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seem'd,) 
 Deign to descend now lower, and relate 
 (What may no less, perhaps, avail us known,) 
 How first began this Heaven which we behold 
 Distant so high, with moving fires adorn'd 
 Innumerable ; and this which yields or fills 
 All space, the ambient air wide interfus'd
 
 8 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 Embracing round this florid Earth ; what cause 
 
 Mov'd the Creator, in his holy rest 
 
 Through all eternity, so late to build 
 
 In Chaos ; and the work begun, how soon 
 
 Absolv'dj if unforbid thou may'st unfold 
 
 What we, not to explore the secrets ask 
 
 Of his eternal empire, but the more 
 
 To magnify his works, the more we know. 
 
 And the great light of day yet wants to run 
 
 Much of his race though steep ; suspense in Heaven, 
 
 Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, 
 
 And longer will delay to hear thee tell 
 
 His generation, and the rising birth 
 
 Of Nature from the unapparent Deep : 
 
 Or if the star of evening and the moon 
 
 Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring 
 
 Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch j 
 
 Or we can bid his absence, till thy song 
 
 End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine." 
 
 Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought; 
 And thus the godlike Angel answer'd mild : 
 " This also thy request, with caution ask'd, 
 Obtain ; though to recount almighty 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 glorify the Maker, and infer 
 Thee also happier, shall not be withheld 
 Thy hearing ; such commission from above 
 I have receiv'd, to answer thy desire 
 Of knowledge within bounds ; beyond, abstain 
 To ask; nor let thine ovm inventions hope 
 Things not reveal'd, which the' invisible King, 
 Only Omniscient, hath suppress'd in night j
 
 Book 7, PARADISE LOST. 9 
 
 To none communicable in Earth or Heaven : 
 Enough 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 surfeit, and soon turns 
 Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. 
 
 " Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven 
 (So call him, brighter once amidst the host 
 Of Angels, than that star the stars among,) 
 Fell with his flaming legions through the deep 
 Into his place, and the great Son return'd 
 Victorious with his Saints, the' Omnipotent 
 Eternal Father from his throne beheld 
 Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake : — 
 
 * At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, vpho thought 
 All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 
 This inaccessible high strength, the seat 
 Of Deity supreme, us dispossess'd, 
 He trusted to have seiz'd, and into fraud 
 Drew many, whom their place knows here no more : 
 Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, 
 Their station ; Heaven, yet populous, retains 
 Number sufficient to possess her realms 
 Though wide, and this high temple to frequent 
 With ministeries due, and solemn rites : 
 i But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm 
 Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, 
 My damage fondly deem'd, I can repair 
 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,.
 
 10 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 They open to themselves at length the way 
 Up hither, under long obedience tried : [Earth, 
 And Earth be chang'd to Heaven, and Heaven to 
 One kingdom, joy and union without end. 
 Meanwhile inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven ; 
 And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee 
 This T perform ; speak Thou, and be it done ; 
 My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee 
 I send along ; ride forth, and bid the Deep 
 Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth ; 
 Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill 
 Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. 
 Though I, uncircumscrib'd myself, retire 
 And put not forth my goodness, whicii is free 
 To act or not ; Necessity and Chance 
 Approach not me, and what I will is Fate.' 
 
 " So spake the' Almighty, and to what he spake 
 His Word, the Filial Godliead, gave effect. 
 Immediate are the acts of God, more swift 
 Than time or motion, but to human ears 
 Cannot without process of speech be told, 
 So told as earthly notion can receive. 
 Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven, 
 When such was heard declar'd the' Almighty's will j 
 ' Glory, they sung, to the Most High ! good will 
 To future men, and in their dwellings peace ! 
 Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire 
 Had driven out the' ungodly from his sight 
 And the' habitations of the just ; to Him 
 Glory and praise ! whose wisdom had ordain'd 
 Good out of evil to create; instead 
 Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring 
 Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse 
 His good to worlds and ages infinite 
 
 J
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. 11 
 
 " So saug the Hierarchies ; — Meanwhile, the Son 
 On liis irreat expedition now appear'd, 
 Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crown'd 
 Of Majesty Divine: sapience and love 
 Immense, and all his Father in him shone. 
 About his chariot numberless were pour"d 
 Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, 
 And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots wing'd 
 From the' armoury of God ; where stand of old 
 Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodg'd 
 Against a solemn day, harness'd at hand, 
 Celestial equipage; and now came forth 
 Spontaneous ; (for within them Spirit liv'd, 
 Attendant on their Lord:) Heaven open'd wide 
 Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound 
 On golden hinges moving, to let forth 
 The King of Glory, in his powerful Word 
 And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. 
 On heavenly ground they stood ; and from the shore 
 They view'd the vast immeasurable a.iyss 
 Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, 
 Up from the bottom turnM by tnrious winds 
 And surging waves, as mountains, to assault 
 Heaven's height, and with the centre mix the pole. 
 ' Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, 
 peace,' 
 Said then the' Onmific Word; ' your discord end !' 
 Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim 
 Uplifted, in paternal glory rode 
 Far into Chaos, and the world imborn ; 
 For Chaos heard his voice. Him all his train 
 Follow'd in bright procession, to behold 
 Creation, and the wonders of his might. 
 Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand
 
 12 PARADISE LOST. Book 7* 
 
 He took the golden compasses, prepar'd 
 In God's eternal store, to circumscribe 
 This universe, and all created things : 
 One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd 
 Round throuj^h the vast profimdity obscure; 
 And said, * Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, 
 This be thy just circumference, O World !' — 
 Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth, 
 Matter unform'd and void : darkness profound 
 Cover'd the' abyss : but on the watery calm 
 His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread. 
 And vital virtue* infus'd, and vital warmth. 
 Throughout the fluid mass ; but downward purg'd 
 The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, 
 Adverse to hfe : then founded, then conglob'd 
 Like things to like j the rest to several place 
 Disparted, and between spun out the air ; 
 And Earth self-balanc'd on her centre hung. 
 
 * Let there be lightj'said God ; and forthwith Light 
 Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure 
 Sprung from the deep ; and from her native east 
 To journey through the airy gloom began, 
 Spherd in a radiant cloud ; for yet the sun 
 Was not ; she in a cloudy tabernacle 
 Sojoarn'd the while. God saw the light was good ; 
 And light from darkness by the hemisphere 
 Divided : light the * Day,' and darkness ' Night,* 
 He nam'd. Thus was the first day even and mom i- 
 Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung 
 By the celestial quires, when orient light 
 Exhaling first from darkness they beheld ; 
 Birth-day of Heaven and Earth ; with joy and shout 
 The hollow universal orb they fill'd. 
 And touch'd their golden harps, and hymning prais'd
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. l3 
 
 God and his -works ; Creator hrm they sung, 
 Both when first evenincj was, and when first morn. 
 
 *' Again, God said, ' Let there 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, difTus'd 
 In circuit to the uttermost convex 
 Of this great round ; partition firm and snre, 
 The waters underneath from those above 
 Dividing ; for as earth, so he the world 
 Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide 
 Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule 
 Of Chaos far remov'd; lest fierce extremes 
 Contiguous might distemper the whole frame : 
 And Heaven he nam'd the ' Firmament :' so even 
 And morning chorus sung the second day. 
 
 " The Earth was form'd, but in the womb as yet 
 Of waters, embi-yon immature involv'd, 
 Appear'd not : over all the face of Earth 
 Main ocean flow'd not idle ; but, with warm 
 Prolific humour softening all her globe, 
 Fermented the great mother to conceive. 
 Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, 
 * Be gather'd now ye waters under Heaven 
 Into one place, and let dry land appear.' — ■ 
 Immediately the mountains huge appear 
 Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave 
 Into the clouds ; their tops ascend the sky : 
 So high as heav'd the tumid hills, so low 
 Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep. 
 Capacious bed of waters : thither they 
 Hasted with glad precipitance, uproU'd,
 
 14 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 As drops on dust coui»lobing from the dry : 
 Part rise iu crystal wall, or ridge direct, 
 For haste ; such flight the great command impress'd 
 On the swift floods : as armies at the call 
 Of trumpet (for of armies thon hast heard) 
 Troop to their standard ; so the watery throng, 
 Wave rolling after wave, where way they found, 
 If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain, 
 Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill; 
 But they, or under ground, or circuit wide 
 With serpent error wandering, found their way, 
 And on the washy ooze deep channels wore ; 
 Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, 
 All but within those banks, where rivers now 
 Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. 
 Ti»e dry land, ' Earth ;' and the great receptacle 
 Of congregated waters, he call'd ' Seas :' 
 And saw that it was good: and said,* Let the' Earth 
 Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, 
 And fruit-tiee yielding fruit after her kind, 
 Whose seed is in herselr' 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 flower'd 
 Opening their various colours, and made gay 
 Her bosom, smellingsweet: and, these scarce blown, 
 Forth flourish'd thick the clustering vine, forth crept 
 The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed 
 Embattled in her field, and the' humble shrub, 
 And bush w ith frizzled hair implicit : last 
 Kose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. 15 
 
 Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemm'd 
 Their blossoms : witii \\v^\ woods the hills were 
 
 crown'd ; 
 With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side ; 
 With borders long the rivei's ; that Earth now 
 Seem'd like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might 
 Or wander with delight, and love to haunt [dwell, 
 Her sacred shades : tnough God had yet not rain'd 
 Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground 
 None was ; but from the Eartii a dewy mist 
 Went up, and water'd all the ground, and each 
 Plant of the field ; which, ere it was in the' Earth, 
 God made, and every lierb, before it grew 
 On the green stem : God saw that it was good : 
 So even and morn recorded the third day. ' 
 
 " Again the' Almighty spake,' Let there be lights 
 High in the' expanse of Heaven, to divide 
 The day from night; and let them be for signs, 
 For seasons, and for days, and circhng years ; 
 And let them be for lights, as I ordam 
 Their office in the firmament of Heaven, 
 To give light on the Earth ;' and it was so. 
 And God made two great lights, great for their use 
 To Man, the greater to have rule by day. 
 The less by night, altern ; and made the stars, 
 And set them in the firmament of Heaven 
 To' illuminate the Eartii, and rule the day 
 In their 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 mighty sphere he fram'd, unlightsome first, 
 Though of ethereal mould : then form'd the Moon 
 Globose, and every magnitude of stars,
 
 16 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 And sow'd with stars the Heaven, thick as a field: 
 Of light by far the greater part he took, 
 Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and plac'd 
 In the Sun's orb, made porous to receive 
 And drink the liquid light ; firm to retain 
 Her gather'd beams, great palace now of light. 
 Hither, as to their fountain, other stars 
 Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, 
 And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns ; 
 By tincture or reflection they augment 
 Their small peculiar, though from human sight 
 So far remote, with diminution seen. 
 First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, 
 Regent of day ! and all the' horizon round 
 Invested with bright rays, jocund to run 
 His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray 
 Dawn and the Pleiades before him danc'd, 
 Shedding sweet influence : less bright the Moon, 
 But opposite in levell'd 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 keeps 
 Till nieht ; then in the east her turn she shines 
 Revoiv'd on Heaven's great axle, and her reign 
 With thousand lesser lights dividual holds. 
 With tliousand thousand stars, that then appear'd 
 Spangling the hemisphere : then first adom'd 
 With their bright luminaries that set and rose. 
 Glad evening and glad morn crown'd the fourth day. 
 
 " And God said, ' Let the waters generate 
 Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul : 
 And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings 
 Display'd on the' open firmament of Heaven.' — 
 And God created the great whales, and each
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. 17 
 
 iSoul living, each that crept, which plenteously 
 The waters generated by their kinds; 
 And everj' bird of wing after his kind ; 
 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 fowl be multiplied, on the' Earth.' — 
 Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, 
 With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals 
 Offish that with their fins, and shining scales, 
 Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft 
 Bank the mid sea; part single, or with mate, 
 Graze the sea-weed their pasture,and through groves 
 Of coral stray ; or, sporting with quick glance, 
 Show to the sun their wav'd coats dropt with gold; 
 Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend 
 Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food 
 In jointed armour watch : on smooth the seal, 
 And bended dolphins play : part huge of bulk 
 Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, 
 Tempest the ocean : there leviathan, 
 Hugest of living creatures, on the deep 
 Stretch'd like a promontory sleeps or swims, 
 And seems a moving land ; and at his gills 
 Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. 
 Meanwhile the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, 
 Their brood as numerous hatch, from the' egg that 
 Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd [soon 
 Their callow young ; but feather'd soon and fiedge 
 They summ'd their pens; and,soaring the'air sublime, 
 With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud 
 In prospect ; there the eagle and the stork 
 On chffs and cedar tops their eyries build : 
 Part loosely wing the region, part more wise
 
 J8 PARADISE LOST. Book 7 . 
 
 In common, rang'd in figure, wedge their way, 
 Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 
 Their aery caravan, high over seas 
 Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing 
 Easing their flight ; so steers the prudent crane 
 Her annual voyage, borne on winds ; the air 
 Floats as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes ; 
 From branch to branch the smaller birds with song 
 Solac'd the woods, and spread their painted wings 
 Till even ; nor then the solemn nightingale 
 Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays : 
 Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bath'd 
 Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, 
 Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows 
 Her state with oary feet ; yet oft they quit 
 The dank, and, rising on stift' pennons, tower 
 The mid aerial sky : others on ground 
 Walk'd firm ; the crested cock whose clarion sounds 
 The silent hours, and the' other whose gay train 
 Adorns him, colour'd with the florid hue 
 Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus 
 With fish replenish'd, and the air with fowl, 
 Evening and morn solemniz'd the fifth day. 
 
 " The sixth, and of creation last, arose 
 With evening harps and matin ; when God said, 
 * Let the' Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, 
 Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the' Earth, 
 Each in their kind.' — The Earth obey'd, and straight 
 Opening her fertile womb teem'd at a birth 
 Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, 
 Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up rose, 
 As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons 
 In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; 
 Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walk'd ;
 
 TjOok 7. PARADISE LOST. 19 
 
 The cattle in the fields and meadows green : 
 Those rare and solitary, these in flocks 
 Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. 
 The grassy clods now calv'd; now half appear'd 
 The tawny lion, pawing to get free 
 His hinder part*;, then springs as broke from bond?, 
 And rampant shakes his brinded name ; the ounce, 
 The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole 
 Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw 
 In hillocks : the swift stag from under ground 
 Bore up his branching head : scarce from his mould 
 Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheav'd 
 His vastness : fleec'd the flocks and bleating rose, 
 As plants : ambiguous between sea and land 
 The river-horse, and scaly crocodile. 
 At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 
 Insect or worm : those wav'd their limber fans 
 For wings, and smallest lineaments exact 
 In all the liveries deck'd of summer's pride, 
 With spots of gold and purple, azure' and green : 
 These, as a line, their long dimension drew, 
 Streaking the ground with sinuous trace ; not all 
 Minims of nature ; some of serpent-kind, 
 Wondrous in length and corpulence, involv'd 
 Their snaky folds, and added m injis. First crept 
 The parsimonious emmet, provident 
 Of future ; in small room large heart enclos'd ; 
 Pattern of just equality perhaps 
 Hereafter, join'd in her popular tribes 
 Of commonalty ; swarming next appear'd 
 The female bee, that feeds her husband-drone 
 Dehciously, and builds her waxen cells 
 With honey stor'd ; the rest are numberless,
 
 20 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 And thou their natures know'st, and gav'st them 
 Needless to thee repeated ; nor unknown [names, 
 The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, 
 Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes 
 And hairy mane terrific, though to thee 
 Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. 
 
 " Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and roll'd 
 Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand 
 First wheel'd their course : Earth in her rich attire 
 Consummate lovely smiPd ; air, water, earth, 
 By fowl, fish,'beast,wasflown,was swum, was walk'd 
 Frequent ; and of the sixth day yet remain'd ,' 
 There wanted yet the master-work, the end 
 Of all yet done ; a creature, who not prone 
 And brute as other creatures, but endued 
 With sanctity of reason, might erect 
 His stature, and upright with front serene 
 Govern the rest, self-knowing; and fiom thence 
 Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, 
 But grateful to acknowledge whence his good 
 Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes 
 Directed in devotion, to adore 
 And worship God Supreme, who made him chief 
 Of ail his works: therefore the* Omnipotent 
 Eternal Father (for where is not he 
 Present ?) thus to his Son audibly spake : 
 
 * Let us make now Man in our image, Man 
 In our simiUtude, and let them rule 
 Over the fish and fowl of sea and air. 
 Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, 
 And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.' — 
 This said, he form'd thee, Adam ; thee, O Man ! 
 Dust of the ground, aad in thy nostrils breath'd
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. gl 
 
 The breath of life ; in his own image he 
 Created thee, the image of God 
 Express; and thoii becam'st a living soul. 
 Male he created thee ; but thy consort 
 Female, for race ; then bless'd mankind, and said, 
 * Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth ; 
 Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold 
 Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, 
 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 tress of God, 
 Delectable both to beliold and taste ; 
 And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 
 Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the' Earth 
 Variety without end ; but of the tree, [yields, 
 
 Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, 
 Thou may St not; in the day thou eat'st,thou diest; 
 Death is the penalty impos'd : beware, 
 And govern well thy appetite ; lest Sin 
 Surprise thee, and her black attendant, Death. 
 " Here finish'd he, and all that he had made 
 View'd, and behold all was entirely good ; 
 So even and morn accomplish'd the sixth day ; 
 Yet not till the Creator from his work 
 Desisting, though unwearied, up return'd. 
 Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode ; 
 Thence to behold this new-created world, 
 The' addition of his empire, how it show'd 
 fn prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, 
 Answering his great idea. Up he rode 
 Follow'd with acclamation, and the sound 
 \vmphonious of ten thousand harps, that tun'd 
 
 VOL. II. c
 
 22 PARADISE LOST. Book 7. 
 
 Angelic harmonies : the earth, the air 
 Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st,) 
 The heavens and all the constellations rung, 
 The planets in their station listening stood, 
 While the bright pomp ascended Jubilant. 
 
 * Open, ye everlasting gates !' they sung, 
 
 * Open, ye Heavens ! your living doors ; let in 
 The great Creator from his work return'd 
 Magnificent, his six days work, a World ? 
 Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign 
 To visit oft the dwellings of just men. 
 Delighted; and with frequent intercourse 
 Thither will send his winged messengers 
 
 On errands of supernal grace.' — So sung, 
 
 The glorious train ascending : He through Heaven^, 
 
 Tliat open'd wide her blazing portals, led 
 
 To God's eternal house direct the way ; 
 
 A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold 
 
 And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, 
 
 Seen in the galaxy, that milky way. 
 
 Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest 
 
 Powder'd with stars. And now on Earth the seventh 
 
 Evening arose in Eden, for the sun 
 
 Was set, and twilight from the east came on, 
 
 Forerunning night ; when at the holy mount 
 
 Of Heaven's high-seated top, the' imperial throne 
 
 Of Godhead, fix'd for ever firm and sure. 
 
 The Filial Power arriv'd, and sat him down 
 
 With his great Father; for he also went 
 
 Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege 
 
 Hath OmnipreseDce) and tlie work ordain'd, 
 
 Author and End of all things; and, from work 
 
 Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the seventh day, 
 
 As resting on tliat day from all his work,
 
 Book 7. PARADISE LOST. S3 
 
 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, interniix'd with voice 
 
 Ciioral or unison : of incense clouds. 
 
 Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. 
 
 Creation and the six days acts they sung, 
 
 ' Great are thy works, Jehovah ! infinite 
 
 Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or 
 
 Relate thee ? Greater now in thy return [tongue 
 
 Than from the giant Angels : thee that day 
 
 Thy thunders magnified ; but to create 
 
 Is greater than created to destroy. 
 
 Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound 
 
 Thy empire ? Easily the proud attempt 
 
 Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, 
 
 Thou hast repell'd; while impiously they thought 
 
 Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw 
 
 The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks 
 
 To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 
 
 To manifest the more thy might : liis evil 
 
 Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good. 
 
 Witness this new-made world, another Heaven 
 
 From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view 
 
 On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea ; 
 
 Of amplitude almost immense, with stars 
 
 Numerous, and everj- star perhaps a world 
 
 Of destin'd habitation ; but thou know'st 
 
 Their seasons : among these the seat of Men, 
 
 Earth, with her nether ocean circumfus'd, 
 
 Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, 
 
 And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advano'd ! 
 
 Created in his image, there to dwell
 
 24 PARADISE LOST. Book 7 
 
 And worship him ; and in reward to rule 
 Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, 
 And multiply a race of worshippers 
 Holy and just : thrice happy, if they know 
 Their 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 memory was done 
 From the beginning : that posterity, 
 Inform'd by thee, might know : if else thou seek'st 
 Aught, not surpassing human measure, say." — 
 
 END OF BOOK YIl.
 
 THE 
 
 EIGHTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Adam inquires concerning celestial motions; is doubtfully 
 answered, and exJiorted to search rather things more worthy 
 of knowledge : Adam assents; and, still desirous to detain 
 Raphael, relates to him what he remembered since his own 
 creation ; his placing ia Paradise ; his talk with God con- 
 cerning solitude and fit society ; his first meeting and nuptials 
 with Eve ; his discourse with the Angel thereupon ; who, 
 after admonitions repeated, departs.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK MIL 
 
 The Aflgel ended, and in Adam's ear 
 So charming left his voice, that he a while 
 Thought him still speaking, still stood iix'd to hear ; 
 Then, as new wak'd, thus gratefully replied : 
 
 " What thanks sufficient, or what recompense 
 Equal, have I to render thee, divine 
 Historian ! who thus largely hast allay'd 
 The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafd 
 This friendly condescension to relate 
 Things, else by me unsearchable ; now heard 
 With wonder, but delight, and, as is due. 
 With glory attributed to the high 
 Creator? Something yet of doubt remains, 
 Wiiich only thy solution can resolve. 
 When I behold this goodly frame, this world, 
 Of Heaven and Earth consisting ; and compute 
 Their magnitudes ! This Earth, a spot, a grain, 
 An atom, with the firmament compar'd 
 And all her numberd stars, that seem to roll 
 Spaces incomprehensible, (for such 
 Their distance argues, and their swift return 
 Diurnal,) merely to officiate light
 
 ^Q PARADISE LOST. Book 8. 
 
 Round this opacons Earth, this punctual spot, 
 One day and night ; in all their vast survey 
 Useless besides ; reasoning [ 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 appears) and on their orbs impose 
 Such restless revolution day by day 
 Repeated; while the sedentary Earth, 
 That better might with far less compass move, 
 Serv'd by more noble than herself, attains 
 Her end without least motion, and receives, 
 As tribute, such a sumless journey brought 
 Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light ; 
 Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails." 
 So spake our 8ire, and by his countenance seem'd 
 Entering on studious thoughts abstruse ; which Eve 
 Perceiving, 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 flowers, 
 To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom, 
 Her nursery : tliey at her coming sprunjr, 
 And, touch'd by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. 
 Yet went she not, as not with such discourse 
 Delighted, or not capable her ear 
 Of what was high : such pleasure she reserv'd, 
 Adam relating, she sole auditress ; 
 Her husband the relater she preferr'd 
 Before the Angel, and of him to ask 
 Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix 
 Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute 
 With conjugal caresses : from his iip
 
 Uook 8. l'ARADli»E LOST. 29 
 
 Not words alone pleas'd her. O ! when meet now 
 
 Such pairs, in love and mutual honour join'd ? 
 
 With goddess-like demeanor forth she went, 
 
 Not unattended ; for on her, as Queen, 
 
 A pomp of winning Graces waited still, 
 
 And from about her shot darts of desire 
 
 Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. 
 
 And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt propos'd, 
 
 Benevolent and facile thus replied : 
 
 " To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven 
 Is as the book of God before thee set. 
 Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn 
 His seasons, hours, or days, or month?, or years : 
 This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, 
 Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest 
 From jMan 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 tiy 
 Conjecture, he his fabric of the Heavens 
 Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move 
 His laughter at their quaint opinions wide 
 Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven 
 And calculate the stars, how they will wield 
 The mighty frame : how build, unbuild, contrive 
 To save appearances ; how gird the sphere 
 W^ith centric and eccentric scribbled o'er, 
 Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb : 
 Already by thy reasoning this I guess, 
 Who are to lead thy offspring, and supposest 
 That bodies bright and greater should not serve 
 The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run. 
 Earth sitting still, when she alone receives 
 The benefit. Consider first, that great
 
 30 PARADISE LOST. Book B. 
 
 Or bright infers not excellence : the Earth 
 
 (Thoujrhjin comparison of Heaven, so small, 
 
 Nor glistering,) may of solid good contain 
 
 More plenty than the Sun that barren shines ; 
 
 Whose virtue on itself works no effect, 
 
 But in the fruitful Earth ; there first receiv'd, 
 
 His beams, unactive else their vigour find. 
 
 Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries 
 
 Officious ; but to thee, Earth's habitant. 
 
 And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak 
 
 The Maker's high magnificence, who built 
 
 So spacious, and his line stretch'd out so far j 
 
 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 tlie rest 
 
 Ordain'd for uses to his Lard best known. 
 
 The swiftness of those circles attribute. 
 
 Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, 
 
 That to corporeal substances could add 
 
 Speed almost spiritual : me thou think'st not slow, 
 
 Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven 
 
 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 Heavens, to show 
 
 Invalid that which thee to doubt it raov'd ; 
 
 Not that I so affirm, though so it seem 
 
 To tliee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. 
 
 God, to remove his ways from human sense, 
 
 Plac'd Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, 
 
 If it presume, might err in things too high, 
 
 And no advantage gain. What if the Sun 
 
 Be centre to the world ; and other stars, 
 
 By his attractive virtue and theii- own
 
 Book 8. PARADISE LOST. 31 
 
 Incited, dance about him various rounds ? 
 Their wandering course now high, now low, tlien 
 Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, [''id, 
 In six thou seest ; and what if seventh to these 
 The planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem, 
 Insensibly three ditFerent motions mover 
 Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, 
 Mov'd contrary with thwart obliquities ; 
 Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift 
 Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb suppos'd, 
 Invisible else above all stars, the wheel 
 Of day and night ; which needs not thy belief, 
 If Earth, industrious of iierself, fetch day 
 Travelling east, and with her part averse 
 From the Sun's beam meet Night, her other part 
 Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, 
 Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, 
 To the terrestrial Moon be as a star, 
 Enlightening her by day, as she by night 
 This earth ; reciprocal, if land be there. 
 Fields and inhabitants : her spots thou seest 
 As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce 
 Fruits in her soften'd soil, for some to eat 
 Allotted there ; and other suns perhaps. 
 With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, 
 Communicating male and female light ; 
 Which two great sexes animate the world, 
 Stor'd in each orb perhaps with some that live. 
 For such vast room in nature unpossess'd 
 By living soul, desert and desolate, 
 Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute 
 Each orb a glimpse of light, convey'd so far 
 Down to this habitable, which returns 
 Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
 
 32 PARADISE LOST. Book ?,. 
 
 But whether thus these things, or whether not ; 
 Whether the Sun, predominant in Heaven, 
 Rise on the Earth ; or Earth rise on the Sun ; 
 He from the east his flaming road begin ; 
 Or she from west her silent course advance, 
 With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps 
 On her soft axle, while she paces even, 
 And bears thee soft with the smooth air along ; 
 Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid ; 
 Leave them to God above ; Him serve, and fear ; 
 Of other creatures, as him pleases best, 
 Wherever plac'd, let him di.^pose; joy thou 
 In what he gives to thee, this Paradise 
 And thy fair Eve ; Heaven is for thee too high 
 To know what passes there ; be lowly wise: 
 Think only what concerns thee, and thy being ; 
 Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there 
 Live in what state, condition or degree ; 
 Contented that thus fir hath been reveal'd 
 Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven." 
 
 To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, replied : 
 " How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure 
 Intelligence of Heaven, 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 far oflF all anxious cares, 
 And not molest us; unless we ourselves 
 Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions 
 But apt the mind or fancy is to rove [vain. 
 
 Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end ; 
 Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learn. 
 That, not to know at large of things remote 
 From use, obscure and subtle ; but, to know
 
 Uonk 8. PARADISE LOST. 33 
 
 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 concern, 
 
 Upractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek. 
 
 Therefore, from this high pitch let us descend 
 
 A lower flight, and speak of things at hand 
 
 Useful ; whence, haply, mention may arise 
 
 Of something not unseasonable to ask. 
 
 By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deign'd. 
 
 Thee I have heard relating what was done 
 
 Ere my remembrance : now, hear me relate 
 
 My story, which perhaps tliou hast not heard ; 
 
 And day is not yet spent ; till then thou seest 
 
 How subtly to detain thee I devise j 
 
 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 Heaven ; 
 
 And sweeter tliy discourse is to my ear 
 
 Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst 
 
 And hunger both, from labour, at the hour 
 
 Of sweet repast : they satiate, and soon fill, 
 
 Though pleasant; but thy words with grace divine 
 
 Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.'' 
 
 To whom thus Raphael answer'd, heavenly meek : 
 ** Nor are thy lips ungraceful. Sire of Men ! 
 Nor tongue ineloquent ; for God on thee 
 Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd 
 Inward and outward both, his image fair : 
 Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace 
 Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms j 
 Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth 
 Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire 
 Gladly into the ways of God with Man :
 
 S4 PARADISE LOST. Book 8. 
 
 For God, we see, hath honour'd thee, and set 
 On Man his equal love : say therefore ou; 
 For I that day was absent, as befel, 
 Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, 
 Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell ; 
 Squar'd in full legion (such command we had) 
 To see that none thence issued forth a spy 
 Or enemy, while God was in his work; 
 Lest he, incens'd at such eruption bold, 
 Destruction with creation might have raix'd. 
 Not that they durst without his leave attempt; 
 But us he sends upon his high behests 
 For state, as So v' ran King ; and to inure 
 Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, 
 Tiie dismal gates, and barricado'd strong ; 
 But long ere our approaching heard within 
 Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, 
 Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. 
 Glad we returned up to the coasts of light 
 Ere sabbath-evening : so we had in charge. 
 But thy relation now ; for I attend, 
 Pleas'd with thy words no less than thou with mine." 
 So Spake the godlike Power, and thus our Sire : 
 *' For Man to tell how human life began 
 Is hard : for who himself beginning knew ? 
 Desire with thee still longer to converse 
 Induc'd me. As new wak'd from soundest sleep, 
 Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid. 
 In balmy sweat ; which with his beams the Sun 
 Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. 
 Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I 
 
 turn'd. 
 And gaz'd awhile the ample sky : till, rais'd 
 By quick instiDCtive motion, up I sprung,
 
 Book 8. PARADISE LOST, 35 
 
 As thitherward endeavouring, and upright 
 Stood on my feet : about me round I saw 
 Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, 
 And liquid lapse of murmuring streams ; by these. 
 Creatures that liv'd and mov'd and walk'd, or flew ; 
 Birds on the branches warbling ; all things smil'd: 
 With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflow'd. 
 Myself 1 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, 
 Knew not ; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake ; 
 My tongue obey'd, and readily could name 
 Whate'er 1 saw. ' Thou Sun, (said I) fair light. 
 And thou enlighten'd Earth, so fresh and gay, 
 Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains 
 And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, 
 Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here? — 
 Not of myself; — by some great Maker then. 
 In goodness and in power pre-eminent ; 
 Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 
 From wliom I have that thus I move and live, 
 And feel that I am happier than I know.' — 
 While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither, 
 From where I first drew air, and first beheld 
 This happy light ; when, answer none return'd, 
 On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, 
 Pensive I sat me dov.'n : there gentle Sleep 
 First found me, and with soft oppression seiz'd 
 My drowsed sense, untroubled . (though I thought 
 I then was passin? to my former state 
 Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve :) 
 When suddenly stood at my head a Dream, 
 Whose inward apparition gently mov'd
 
 36 PARADISE LOST. Boak 8. 
 
 My fancy to believe 1 yet had being, 
 
 And liv'd : 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, 
 
 And over fields and vt^aters, as in air 
 
 Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up 
 
 A woody mountain ; whose high top was plain, 
 
 A circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest trees 
 
 Planted with walks, and bowers; that what I saw 
 
 Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree, 
 
 Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the' eye 
 
 Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite 
 
 To pluck and eat; whereat I wak'd, and found 
 
 Before mine eyes all real, as the dream 
 
 Had lively shadow'd. Here had new begun 
 
 My wandering, had not He, who was my guide 
 
 Up hither, from among the trees appear'd, 
 
 Presence Divine ! Rejoicing, bat with awe, 
 
 In adoration at his feet I fell [I am,' 
 
 Submiss : He rear'd me, and ' Whom thou sought'st 
 
 Said mildly, ' 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 eat : 
 
 Of every tree that in the garden grows 
 
 Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth : 
 
 But of the tree whose operation brings 
 
 Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set 
 
 The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith. 
 
 Amid the garden by the tree of life, 
 
 Eemember what I warn thee, shun to taste.
 
 Book 8. PARADISE LOST. 37 
 
 And shun the bitter consequence : for know, 
 Tlie day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command 
 Transgress'd, inevitably thou shalt die ; 
 From that day mortal ; and this happy state 
 Slialt lose, espell'd from hence into a world 
 Of woe and sorrow.' — Sternly he pronounc'd 
 The rigid interdiction, which resounds 
 Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 
 Not to incur ; but soon his clear aspect 
 Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd : 
 * Not only 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, 
 Or live in sea or air ; beast, fish, and fowl. 
 In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold 
 After their kinds ; I bring them to receive 
 From thee their names, and pay thee fealty 
 With low subjection : understand the same 
 Of fish within their watery residence, 
 Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change 
 Their element, to draw the thinner air.' — 
 As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold 
 Approaching two and two ; these cowering low 
 With blandishment: each bird stoop'd on his wing, 
 I nara'd them, as they pass'd, and understood 
 Their nature; with such knowledge God endued 
 My sudden apprehension ; but in these 
 I found not what methought I wanted still j 
 And to the heavenly Vision thus presum'd : — 
 
 ^ O, l)y what name, for Thou above all these, 
 Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, 
 Surpasses t far my naming ; how may I 
 Adore thee, Author of this universe. 
 And all tliis good to man? for whose well being 
 
 VOL. II, D
 
 38 PARADISE LOST* Book 8. 
 
 So amply, and with hands so liberal, 
 Thou hast provided all things : but with nie 
 I see not who partakes. In solitude 
 What happiness, who can enjoy alone ; 
 Or, all enjoying, what contentment find ?' — 
 Thus I presun)ptuous ; and the Vision bright. 
 As with a smile more brighten'd, thus replied : 
 
 < What call'st thou solitude ? Is not the Earth 
 "With various living creatures, and the air 
 Replenish'd, and all these at thy command 
 To come and play before thee ? Know'st thou not 
 Their language and their ways ? They also know, 
 And reason not contemptibly : with these 
 Find pastime, and bear 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 replied : 
 
 * Let not my words offend thee. Heavenly Power, 
 My Maker, be propitious while I speak. 
 Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, 
 And these inferior far beneath me set ? 
 Among unequals what society 
 Can sort ; what harmony, or true delight? 
 Which must be mutual, in proportion due 
 Given and receiv'd ; but, in disparity 
 The one intense, the other still remiss, 
 Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove 
 Tedious alike : of fellowship I speak 
 Such as I seek, fit to participate 
 All rational delight : w herein the brute 
 Cannot be human consort : they rejoice 
 Each with their kind, lion with lioness ; 
 So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd : 
 Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl
 
 Book 3. PARADISE LOST. 39 
 
 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; 
 Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.' 
 
 " Whereto the'Almightyanswer'd,not displeas'd : 
 ' A nice and subtle happiness, I see, 
 Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice 
 Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste 
 No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. 
 What think'st thou then of me, and this my state? 
 Seem 1 to thee sufficiently possess'd 
 Of happiness, or not? who am alone 
 From all eternity; for none I know 
 Second to me 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 inferior, infinite descents 
 Beneath what other creatures are to theer' 
 
 " He ceas'd ; I lowly answered : — * To attain 
 The height and depth of thy eternal ways 
 All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! 
 Thon in thyself art perfect, 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 propagate, already Infinite; 
 And through all numbers absolute, though Oue : 
 But Man by number is to manifest 
 His single imperfection, and beget 
 IJke of his like, his image multiplied, 
 In unity defective; which requires 
 Collateral love, and dearest amity. 
 Thou in thy secresy although alone. 
 Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not 
 Social commuuication J yet, so pleas'd,
 
 40 PAR.4DISE LOST. Book 8. 
 
 Canst raise thy creature to what height thou wilt 
 
 Of uuion or communion, deified : 
 
 I, by conversing, cannot tliese erect 
 
 From prone ; nor in their ways complacence find.' — 
 
 Thus I embolden'd spake, and freedom us'd 
 
 Permissive, and acceptance found ; which gain'd 
 
 This answer from the gracious Voice Divine. 
 
 * Thus far to tiy thee, Adam, I was pleas'd; 
 And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone. 
 Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thyself; 
 Expressing well tlie spirit within thee free, 
 My image, not imparted to the brute ; 
 Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee 
 Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike ; 
 And be so minded still: I, ere thou spak'st, 
 Knew it not good for Man to be alone ; 
 And no such company as then thou saw'st 
 Intended thee ; for trial only brought. 
 To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet: 
 What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd, 
 Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self. 
 Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.' 
 
 " He ended, or I heard no more; for now 
 My earthly by his heavenly overpower'd, 
 Which it had long stood under, strain'd to the' height 
 In that celestial colloquy sublime, 
 (As with an object that excels the sense) 
 Dazzled and spent, sunk down ; and sought repair 
 Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd 
 By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes. 
 Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell 
 Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, 
 Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, 
 Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
 
 Book 8. PARADISE LOST. 41 
 
 Still glorious before whom awake I stood : 
 
 Who stooping open'd my left side, and took 
 
 From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, 
 
 And life-blood streaming fresh ; wide was the wound, 
 
 But suddenly with flesh fiU'd up and heai'd : 
 
 The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands; 
 
 Under his forming hands a creature grew, 
 
 Man-hke, but different sex ; so lovely fliir. 
 
 That what seem'd fair in all the world, seera'd now 
 
 Mean, or in her sumnvd up, in her contain'd 
 
 And in her looks; which from that time infus'd 
 
 Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, 
 
 And into all things from her air inspir'd 
 
 The spirit of love and amorous delight. 
 
 She disappear'd, aud left me dark; I wak'd 
 
 To find her, or for ever to deplore 
 
 Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure : 
 
 When out of hope, behold her, not far off, 
 
 Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd 
 
 With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow, 
 
 To make her amiable : on she came. 
 
 Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, 
 
 And guided by his voice; nor uninform'd 
 
 Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: 
 
 Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, 
 
 In every gesture dignity and love. 
 
 I, overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud: — 
 
 ' This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfiU'd 
 Thy words. Creator bounteous and benign. 
 Giver of all things fair! but fairest this 
 Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see 
 Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself 
 Before me: Woman is her name; of Man 
 Extracted: for this cause he shall forego
 
 42 PARADISE LOST. BooJc H. 
 
 Father and mother, and to' his wife adhere ; 
 And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one sonl.' 
 
 " She heard me thus ; and though divinely brought, 
 Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, 
 Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, 
 That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won, 
 Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retir'd, 
 The more desirable; or, to say all, 
 Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, 
 Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turn'd: 
 I follow'd her; she what was honour knew, 
 And with obsequious majesty approv'd 
 My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower 
 I led her blushing like the morn : all Heaven, 
 And happy constellations, on that iiour 
 Shed their selectest influence ; the Earth 
 Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; 
 Joyous the birds ; fresh gales and gentle airs 
 Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wing* 
 Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, 
 Disporting, till the amorous bird of night 
 Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star 
 On his hill-top, to light the bridal lamp. — 
 Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought 
 My story 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 deUcacies 
 I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flow- 
 Walks, and the melody of birds : but here [ers. 
 Far otherwise, transported I behold, 
 Transported touch ; here passion first I felt, 
 Commotion strange 1 in all enjoyments el&«
 
 Book 8. PARADISE LOST. 4.1 
 
 Superior and unmov'd ; here only weak 
 Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. 
 Or Nature faild in me, and left some part 
 Not proof enough such object to sustain; 
 Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps 
 More than enough ; at least on her bestow'd 
 Too much of ornament, in outward show 
 Elaborate, of inward less exact. 
 For well I understand in the prime end 
 Of Nature her the' inferior, in the mind 
 And inward faculties, which most excel j 
 In outward also her resembling less 
 His image who made both, and less expressing 
 The character of that dominion given 
 O'er other creatures: yet when I approach 
 Her loveliness, so absolute she seems 
 And in herself complete, so well to know 
 Her own, that what she wills to do or say, 
 Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best : 
 All higher knowledge in her presence falls 
 Degraded ; Wisdom in discourse with her 
 Loses discount'nanc'd, and like Folly shows; 
 Authority and Reason on her wait. 
 As one intended first, not after made 
 Occasionally; and, to consummate all, 
 Greatness of mind and Nobleness, their seat 
 Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 
 About her, as a guard angelic plac'd." 
 
 To whom the Angel with contracted brow : 
 " Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; 
 Do thou but thine ; and be not diffident 
 Of Wisdom ; she deserts thee not, if thou 
 Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh. 
 By attributing overmuch to things
 
 44 PARADISE LOST. Book 8. 
 
 Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'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 thyself; 
 Then value : oft-times nothing profits more 
 Than 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 reaUties yield all her shows : 
 Made so adorn for thy delight the more. 
 So awful, that with honour thou mays't love 
 Tliy mate, who seest when thou art seen least wise» 
 But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind 
 Is propagated, seem such dear delight 
 Beyond all other; think the same vouchsaf'd 
 To cattle and each beast; which would not be 
 To them made common and divulg'd, if au^ht 
 Therein enjoyd were worthy to subdue 
 The soul of man, or passion in him move. 
 What higher in her society thou find'st 
 Attractive, human, rational, love still; 
 In loving thou dost well, in passion not. 
 Wherein true love consists not: love relines 
 The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat 
 In reason, and is judicious; is the scale 
 By which to heavenly love thou may'st ascend, 
 Not sunk in carnal pleasure ; for which cause, 
 Among the beasts no mate for thee was found." 
 
 To whom thus, half abash'd, z\dam replied : 
 *' Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor aught 
 In procreation common to all kinds, 
 (Though higher of the genial bed by far, 
 And with mysterious reverence I deem,)
 
 Boole 8. PARADISE LOST. 45 
 
 So much delights me, as those graceful acts, 
 Those thousand decencies, that daily flow 
 From all her words and actions, mix'd with love 
 And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd 
 Union of mind, or in us both one soul; 
 Harmony to behold in wedded pair 
 More grateful than harmonious sound to the' ear. 
 Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose 
 What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd, 
 "Who meet with various objects, from the sense 
 Variously representing; yet, still free. 
 Approve the best^ and follow what I approve. 
 To love, thou blam'st me not; for love, thou say'st. 
 Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; 
 Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask : 
 Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love 
 Express they? by looks only? or do they mix 
 Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?" 
 
 To whom the Angel, with a smile that glow'd 
 Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue, 
 Answer'd; " Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 
 Us happy, 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, joint, or limb, exclusive barsj 
 Easier than 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 
 Beyond the Earth's green cape and verdant isles 
 Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. 
 Be strong, live happy, and love! But, first of all.
 
 46 PARADISE LOST. Book 8. 
 
 Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep 
 
 His great command; take heed lest passion sway 
 
 Thy judgment to do aught, which else free will 
 
 Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, 
 
 The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware! 
 
 I in thy persevering shall rejoice, 
 
 And all the Blest: standfast; to stand or fall 
 
 Free in tiiine own arbitrement it lies. 
 
 Perfect within, no outward aid require; 
 
 And all temptation to transgress repel." 
 
 So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus 
 FoUow'd with benediction: " Since to part, 
 Go, heavenly Guest, ethereal Messenger, 
 Sent from whose sov'ran goodness I adore ! 
 Gentle to me and affable hath been 
 Thy condescension, and shall be honour'd ever 
 With grateful memory : thou to mankind 
 Be good and friendly still, and oft return!" 
 
 So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven 
 From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. 
 
 £NU OF BOOK VIII.
 
 THE 
 
 NINTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Satan, having compassed the Earth, with meditated gnile re- 
 turns, as a mist, by night into Paradise ; enters into the Ser- 
 pent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the mornini» go forth to 
 their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, 
 each labouring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the danger, 
 lest that enemy, of whom they were forewarned, should at- 
 tempt her found alone : Eve, loth to be thought not circum- 
 spect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous 
 to make trial of her strength; Adam at last yields: the Ser- 
 pent finds her alone ; his subtle approach, first gazing, then 
 speaking; with much flattery extolling Eve above all other 
 creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the Serpent speak, asks 
 how he attained to human speech, and such nnderstanding, 
 not till now ; the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a cer- 
 tain tree in the garden he attained 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 wile? and argu- 
 ments, induces her at length to eat; she, pleased with the 
 taste, deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam 
 or not; at last brings him of the fruit; relates what per- 
 suaded her to eat thereof: Adam, at first amazed, but per- 
 ceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, to 
 perish with her; and, extenuating the trespass, eats also of 
 the fruit : the efifects thereof in them both ; they seek to cover 
 their nakedness ; then fall to variance and accusation of one 
 another.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 ^ o more of talk where God or Angel guest 
 ^Vith Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd 
 To sit indulgent, and with him partake 
 Rural repast ; permitting him the while 
 Venial discourse nnblam'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 Heaven 
 Now alienated, distance and distaste, 
 Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given. 
 That brought into this world a world of woe, 
 Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery, 
 Death's harbinger : sad task, yet argument 
 Not less but more heroic than the wrath 
 Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued 
 Thrice fugitive about Troy-wall ; or rage 
 Of Tumus for Lavinia disespous'd; 
 Or Neptune's ire, or Jimo's, that so long 
 Perplex'd the Greek, and Cytherea's souj 
 If answerable style I can obtain 
 Of my celestial patroness, who deigns 
 Her uigbtly visitation unimplor'd,
 
 50 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires 
 Easy my unpremeditated verse : 
 Since tirst tliis subject for heroic song 
 Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late ; 
 Not sedulous by nature to indite 
 Wars, hitherto the only argument 
 Heroic deeni'd ; chief mastery to dissect 
 With lung and tedious havoc fabled knights 
 In battles feign'd ; the better fortitude 
 Of patience and heroic martyrdom 
 Unsung ; or to describe races and games, 
 Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields. 
 Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, 
 Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights 
 At joust and tournament; then marshali'd feast 
 Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals j 
 The skill of artifice or office mean, 
 Not that which justly gives heroic name 
 To person, or to poem. Me, of these 
 Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument 
 Remains; sufficient of itself to raise 
 That name, unless an age too late, or cold 
 Climate, or years, damp my intended wing 
 Depress'd ; 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 star 
 Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring 
 Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter 
 'Twixt day and night, and now from end to end 
 Night's hemisphere had veil'd 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 man's destruction, maugre what might hap
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 51 
 
 Of heavier on himself, fearless retuna'd. 
 
 By night he fled, and at midnight return'd 
 
 From compassing the earth; cautious of day, 
 
 Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried 
 
 His entrance, and forewarn'd the Cherubim 
 
 Tiiat kept their watch ; thence full of anguish dri v en, 
 
 The space of seven continued nights he rode 
 
 "With darkness : thrice the equinoctial line 
 
 He circled; four times cross'd the car of night 
 
 From pole to pole, traversing each coliire ; 
 
 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 wrought the 
 
 Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, [change,) 
 
 Into a gulf shot under ground, till part 
 
 Rose up a fountam 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 search'd, and land. 
 
 From Eden over Pontus and the pool 
 
 Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob ; 
 
 Downward as far antarctic; and in length, 
 
 West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd 
 
 At Darien ; thence to the land where flows 
 
 Ganges and Indus : thus the orb he roam'd 
 
 With narrow search; and with inspection deep 
 
 Considcrd every creature, which of all 
 
 Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found 
 
 The Serpent subtlest 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
 
 52 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 From sharpest sight : for, in the wily snake 
 Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, 
 As from his wit and native subtlety 
 Proceeding ; which, in other beasts observ'd, 
 Doubt might beget of diabolic power 
 Active within, beyond the sense of brute. 
 Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward grief 
 His bursting passion into plaints thns pour'd : 
 
 '' O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not pi eferr'd 
 More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built 
 With second thoughts, reforming what was old ! 
 For what God, after better, worse would build ? 
 Terrestrial Heaven, danc'd round by other Heavens 
 That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, 
 Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, 
 In thee concentring all their precious beams 
 Of sacred influence I As God in Heaven 
 Is centre, yet extends to all ; so thou, 
 Centring, receiv'st from all those orbs : in thee, 
 Not in themselves, all their known virtue' appears 
 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 walk'd thee round, 
 If I could joy in aught ; sweet interchange 
 Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plain?. 
 Now land, now sea, and shores w'ith forest crown'd. 
 Rocks, dens, and caves ! But I in none of these 
 Find place or refuge ; and the more I see 
 Pleasures about me, so much more I feel 
 Torment within me, as from the hateful siege 
 Of contraries : all good to me becomes 
 Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my 
 But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven [state.
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. &J 
 
 To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme j 
 Nor hope to be myself less miserable 
 By what I see, but others to make such 
 As I, though thereby worse to me redound : 
 For only in destroying I find ease 
 To my relentless thoughts ; and, him destroy'd, 
 Or won to what may work his utter loss, 
 For whom all this was made, all this will soon 
 Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe ; 
 In woe then; that destruction wide may range : 
 To me shall be the glory sole among 
 The' infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd 
 What he, ' Almighty' stjTd, six nights and days 
 Continued making ; and who knows how long 
 Before had been contriving; thougli perhaps 
 Not longer than since I, in one night, freed 
 From servitude inglorious well nigh lialf 
 The' angelic name, and thinner left the throng 
 Of his adorers : He, to be aveng'd, 
 And to repair his numbers thus impair'd, 
 Whether such virtue spent of old now fail'd 
 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 ba-e original. 
 With heavenly spoils; our spoils. What he decreed^ 
 He' effected : Man he made, and for hiui built 
 Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, 
 Him lord pronoune'd : and, O indignity ! 
 Subjected to his service angel-wings. 
 And flaming ministers to watch and tend 
 Their earthly charge : of these the vigilance 
 I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist 
 vot. II. E
 
 54 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 9. 
 
 Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry 
 In every bush and brake, where liap may find 
 The Serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds 
 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 constraint 
 Into a beast J and, mix'd with bestial slirne, 
 This essence to incarnate and imbrute, 
 That to the heighth of Deity aspir'd ! 
 But what will not ambition and revenge 
 Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low 
 As high he soar'd; obnoxious, first or last, 
 To basest things, Revenge, at first though sweet, 
 Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: 
 Let it ; I reck not, so it light well aim'd. 
 Since higher I fall short, on him who next, 
 Provokes my envy, this new favourite 
 Of Heaven, 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 dank or dry, 
 Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on 
 His midnight search, where soonest he might find 
 The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found 
 In labyrinth of many a round self-roU'd, 
 His head the midst, well stor'd with subtle wiles: 
 Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den. 
 Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb. 
 Fearless unfear'd he slept: in at his mouth 
 The Devil enter'd; and his brutal sense, 
 In heart or head, possessing, soon inspir'd 
 With act intelligential; but his sleep 
 Disturb'd not, waiting close the' approach of morn. 
 Now, when as sacred light began to dawn
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 55 
 
 In Eden on the humid flowers, that breath'd 
 Their morning incense, wlien all things, that breathe, 
 From the' Earth's great altar send up silent praise 
 To the Creator, and his nostrils fill 
 With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, 
 And join'd their vocal worship to the quire 
 Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake 
 The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs : 
 Then commune, how that day tliey best may ply 
 Their growing work ; for much their work outgrew 
 The hands' dispatch of two gardening 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 flower, 
 Our pleasant task enjoiu'd; but, till more hands 
 Aid us, the work under our labour grows, 
 Luxurious by restraint; what we by day 
 Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 
 One night or two with wanton growth derides. 
 Tending to wild. 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 ivy where to climb; while I, 
 In yonder spring of roses intermix'd 
 With myrtle, find what to redress till noon : 
 For, while so near each other thus all day 
 Our task we choose, what wonder if so near 
 Looks intervene and smiles, or object new 
 Casual discourse draw on; which intermits 
 Our day's work, brought to little, though begun 
 Early, and the' hour of supper comes unearn'd?" 
 
 To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd ;
 
 56 PARADISE LOST. Book 9, 
 
 " Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond 
 Compare above all living creatures dear ! 
 Well hast thou motion'd, well thy thoughts employ'd, 
 How we might best fulfil the work which here 
 God hath assign'd us ; nor of me shalt pass 
 Unprais'd : for nothing lovelier can be found 
 In woman, than to study household good, 
 And good works in her husband to promote. 
 Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd 
 Labour, as to debar us when we need 
 Refresliment, whether food, or talk between, 
 (Food of the mind) or this sweet intercourse 
 Of looks and smiles ; for smiles from reason flow, 
 To brute denied, and are of love the food j 
 Love, not the lowest end of human life. 
 For not to irksome toil, but to delight. 
 He made us, and delight to reason join'd. [hands 
 These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint 
 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 yield ; 
 For solitude sometimes is best society, 
 And short retirement urges sweet return. 
 But other doubt possesses me, lest harm 
 Befall thee, sever'd from me; for thou know'st 
 What hath been warn'd ns, what malicious foe 
 Envying our happiness ; and of his own 
 Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame 
 By sly assault, and somewhere nigh at hand 
 Watches, no doubt, w ith greedy hope to find 
 His wish and best advantage, us asunder; 
 Hopeless to circumvent us join'd, where each 
 To other speedy aid might lend at need ;
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 57 
 
 Whether bis first design be to withdraw 
 Our fealty from God, or to disturb 
 Conjugal love, than wliich perhaps no bliss 
 Enjoy'd by us excites his envy more j 
 Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side 
 That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. 
 The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, 
 Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, 
 Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." 
 
 To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, 
 As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, 
 With sweet austere composure thus replied : 
 
 " Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all earth's 
 Tl)at such an enemy we have, who seeks [Lord ! 
 Our ruin, both by thee inforra'd I learn, 
 And from the parting Angel over-heard. 
 As in a shady nook I stood behind, 
 Just then return'd at shut of evening flowers. 
 Hut, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt 
 To God or thee, because we have a foe 
 May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 
 His violence thou fear'st not, being such 
 As we (not capable of death or pain) 
 Can either not receive, or can repel. 
 His fraud is then thy fear ; which plain infers 
 Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love 
 Can by his fraud be shaken or seduc'd ; 
 Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy 
 Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?" [breast. 
 
 To whom with healing words Adam replied : 
 *' 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
 
 58 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 The' attempt itself, intended by our foe. 
 
 For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses 
 
 The tempted with dishonour foul; suppos'd 
 
 Not incorruptible of faith, not proof 
 
 Against temptation : thou thyself with scorn 
 
 And anger wouldst resent the oifer'd wrong, 
 
 Though ineffectual found : misdeem not then, 
 
 If such affront I labour to avert 
 
 From thee alone, which on us both at once 
 
 The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare ; 
 
 Or daring, first on me the' assault shall light. 
 
 Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; 
 
 Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce 
 
 Angels ; nor think superfluous others' aid. 
 
 I, from the influence of thy looks, receive 
 
 Access in every virtue ; in thy sight 
 
 More wise, more watchful; stronger, if need were 
 
 Of outward strength ; while shame, thou looking on, 
 
 Shame to be overcome or over-reach'd, 
 
 Would utmost vigour 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 virtue tried?" 
 
 So spake domestic Adam in his care 
 And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought 
 Less attributed to her faith sincere. 
 Thus her reply with accent sweet renew'd : 
 
 *' If this be our condition, thus to dwell 
 In narrow circuit straiten'd by a foe, 
 Subtle or violent, we not endued 
 Single with like defence, wherever met; 
 How are we happy, still in fear of harm? 
 But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, 
 Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 59 
 
 Of our integrity : his foul esteem 
 
 Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns 
 
 Foul on himself: then wherefore shunn'd or fear'd 
 
 By us ? who rather double honour gain 
 
 From his surmise prov'd false ; find peace within, 
 
 Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the' event. 
 
 And what is faith, love, virtue, unassay'd 
 
 Alone, without exterior help sustain'd? 
 
 Let us not then suspect our happy state. 
 
 Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, 
 
 As not secure to single or combiu'd. 
 
 Frail is our happiness, if this be so. 
 
 And Eden were no Eden, thus expos'd." 
 
 To whom thus Adam fervently replied : 
 *' O Woman, best are all things as the will 
 Of God ordain'd them : His creating hand 
 Nothing imperfect or deficient left 
 Of all that he created, much less Man, 
 Or aught that might his happy state secure. 
 Secure from outward force ; within himself 
 Tiie danger lies, yet lies within his power: 
 Against his will he can receive no harm. 
 But God left free the will ; for v/hat obeys 
 Reason, is free ; and Reason he made right, 
 But bid her well be ware, and still erect ; 
 Lest, by some fair-appearing good surpris'd, 
 She dictate false ; and mis-inform the will 
 To do what God expressly hath forbid. 
 Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins. 
 That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. 
 Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve ; 
 Since Reason not impossibly may meet 
 Some specious object by the foe suborn'd, 
 And fall into deception unaware,
 
 60 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warn'd. 
 Seek not temptation then, which to avoid 
 Were better, and most likely, if from me 
 Thou sever not : trial will come unsought. 
 Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve 
 First thy obedience : the' other who can know, 
 Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? 
 But, if then think, trial unsought may find 
 TJs both securer than thus warn'd thou seem'st, 
 Go ; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more ; 
 Go in thy native innocence, rely 
 On what thou hast of virtue : summon all ! 
 For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine." 
 
 So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve 
 Persisted : yet submiss, though last, replied : 
 
 " AVith thy permission then, and thus forewarn'd 
 Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words 
 Touch'd only; that our trial, when least sought, 
 May find us both perhaps far less prepar'd, 
 The willinger I go, 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 husband's hand her hand 
 Soft she withdrew ; and, like a Wood-nymph light, 
 Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, 
 Betook her to the groves ; but Delia's self 
 In gait surpass'd, and goddess-like deport. 
 Though not as she with bow and quiver arm'd. 
 But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, 
 Guiltless of fire, had form'd, or Angels brought. 
 To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorn'd, 
 Likest she seem'd (Pomona, when she fled 
 Vertumnus,) or to Ceres in her prime, 
 Vet virgin of Proserpina from Jove,
 
 Rook 9. PARADISE LOST. 61 
 
 Her long with ardent look bis eye pursued 
 iJelighted, but desiring more her stay. 
 Oft he to her his charge of quick return 
 Repeated ; she to him as oft engag'd 
 To be returu'd by noon amid the bower, 
 And all things in best order to invite 
 Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. 
 
 O much deceiv'd, much failing (hapless Eve) 
 Of thy presura'd return ! event perverse! 
 Thou never from that hour in Paradise 
 Found'st either sweet repast, or sound repose ; 
 Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, 
 Waited with hellish rancour imminent 
 To intercept thy way, or send thee back 
 Despoil'd of innocence, of faith, of bliss ! 
 For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, 
 3Iere Serpent in appearance, forth was come ; 
 And on his quest, where likeliest he might find 
 The only two of iMankind, but in them 
 The whole included race, his purpos'd prey. 
 In bower and field he sought, where any tuft 
 Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, 
 Their tendance, or plantation for delight j 
 By foimtain or by shady rivulet 
 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, 
 Veil'd in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood. 
 Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round 
 About her glow'd, oft stooping to support 
 Each flow erofsiender stalk, whose head, though gay 
 Taniation, purple, azure, or speck'd with gold. 
 Hung drooping imsustaiu'd ; them she upstays
 
 62 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Gently with myrtle-band, mindless the while 
 Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, 
 From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. 
 Nearer he drew, and many a walk travers'd 
 Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm ; 
 Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, 
 Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers 
 Imborder'd on each bank, the hand of Eve : 
 Spot more delicious than those gardens feign'd 
 Or of reviv'd Adonis, or renownd 
 Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son ; 
 Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king 
 Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. 
 
 Much he the place admir'd, the person more. 
 As one who long in populous city pent. 
 Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, 
 Forth issuing on a summer's mom, to breathe 
 Among the pleasant villages and farms 
 Adjoin'd, from each thing met conceives delight; 
 The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine. 
 Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound ; 
 If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass. 
 What pleasing seem'd, for her now pleases more ; 
 She most, and in her look sums all delight : 
 Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold 
 This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve 
 Thus early, thus alone : her heavenly form 
 Angelic, but more soft and feminine, 
 Her graceful innocence, her every air 
 Of gesture, or least action, overaw'd 
 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 tiie time remain'd
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 63 
 
 Stupidly good; of enmity disarm'd, 
 Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge : 
 But the hot Hell that always in him burns, 
 Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, 
 And tortures him now more, the more he sees 
 Of pleasure, not for him ordain'd : then soon 
 Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts 
 Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. 
 
 " Thoughts, whither have ye led me ! with what 
 Compulsion thus transported, to forget [sweet 
 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 
 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 haughty and of limb 
 Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould; 
 Foe not informidable ! exempt from wound, 
 I not ; so much hath Hell debas'd, and pain 
 Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. 
 She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods ! 
 Not terrible, though terror be in love 
 And beauty, not approach'd by stronger hate. 
 Hate stronger, under show of love well feigu'd ; 
 The way which to her ruin now I tend." 
 
 So spake the enemy 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 rear. 
 Circular base of rising folds, that tower'd
 
 64 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Fold above fold, a surging maze ! his head 
 Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes ; 
 With burnish'd neck of verdant gold, erect 
 Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass 
 Floated redundant : pleasing was his shape 
 And lovely; never since of serpent-kind 
 Lovelier; not those that in Iliyria chang'd 
 Hermione and Cadmus, or the God 
 In Epidaurus ; nor to which transform'd 
 Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen ; 
 He with Olympias ; this with her who bore 
 Scipio, the heighth of Rome. Witli tract oblique 
 At first, as one who sought access, but fear'd 
 To interrupt, side-long he works his way. 
 As when a ship, by skilful steersman wrought 
 Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind 
 Veers oft, as oft so steers, and siiifts her sail : 
 So varied he, and of his tortuous train 
 Curl'd many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, 
 To lure her eye ; she, busied, heard the sound 
 Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as us'd 
 To such disport before her tlirough the field, 
 From every beast; more duteous at her call, 
 Than at Cirrean call the herd disguis'd. 
 He, bolder now, uncall'd before her stood, 
 But as in gaze admiring: oft he bow'd 
 His turret crest, and sleek enamell'd neck. 
 Fawning; and lick'd the ground whereon she trod. 
 His gentle dumb expression turn'd at length 
 The eye of Eve, to mark his play ; he, glad 
 Of her attention gain'd, with serpent-tongue 
 Organic, or impulse of vocal air, 
 jHi§ fraudulejit temptation tluis began : 
 " Wonder not, sov'ran Mistress, if perhaps
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 65 
 
 Thou canst, who art sole wonder ! much less arm 
 Thy looks, the heaven of mildness, with disdain ; 
 Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze 
 Insatiate : I thus single ; nor have fear'd 
 Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd. 
 Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair. 
 Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine 
 By gift, and thy celestial beauty' adore 
 With ravishment beheld ! there best beheld, 
 Where universally adniir'd ; but here 
 In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, 
 (Beholders rude, and shallow to discern 
 Half what in thee is fair,) one man except, 
 AV^ho sees thee ; (and what is one?) one should be 
 A Goddess among Gods, ador'd and serv'd: [seen 
 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, 
 Though at the voice much marvelling : at length, 
 Not unaraaz'd, she thus in answer spake, [nounc'd 
 
 " What may this mean ? language of man pro- 
 By tongue of brute, and human sense cxpress'd? 
 The first, at least, of these I thought denied 
 To beasts ; whom God, on their creation-day, 
 Created mute to all articulate sound : 
 The latter I demur ; for in their looks 
 Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. 
 Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field 
 1 knew, but not with human voice endued: 
 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.
 
 66 PARADISE LOST. JBook 9. 
 
 To whom the guileful tempter thus replied : 
 " Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve ! 
 Easy to me it is to tell thee all [obey'd : 
 
 What thou command'st ; and right thon shouldst be* 
 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 discem'd 
 Or sex, and apprehended nothing high : 
 Till, on a day roving the field, I chanc'd 
 A goodly tree far distant to behold 
 Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mix'd. 
 Ruddy and gold : I nearer drew to gaze ; 
 When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, 
 Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense 
 Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats 
 Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, 
 Unsuck'd of lamb or kid, tliat tend their play. 
 To satisfy the sharp desire I had 
 Of tasting those fair apples, I resolv'd 
 Not to defer ; hunger and thirst at once, 
 Powerful persuaders, quicken'd at the scent 
 Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keen. 
 About the mossy trunk I wound me soon ; 
 For, high from ground, the branches would require 
 Thy utmost reach or Adam's : 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 plenty 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 perceive 
 Strange alteration in me, to degree 
 Of reason in my inward powers ; and speech
 
 I 
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 67 
 
 Wanted not long ; though to this shape retain'd. 
 
 Thenceforth to speculations high or deep 
 
 I turn'd my thoughts, and with capacious mind 
 
 Consider'd all things visible in Heaven, 
 
 Or Earth, or Middle ; all things fair and good : 
 
 But all that fair and good in thy divine 
 
 Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, 
 
 United I beheld ; no fair to thine 
 
 Equivalent or second ! which compell'd 
 
 Me thus, thougii importune perhaps, to come 
 
 And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd 
 
 Sov'ran of creatures, universal Dame !" 
 
 So talk'd the spirited sly Snake ; and Eve, 
 Yet more amaz'd, unwary thus replied : 
 
 " Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt 
 The virtue of that fruit, in thee first prov'd : 
 But say, where grows the tree ? from hence how fav r 
 For many are the trees of God that grow 
 In Paradise, and various, yet unknown 
 To us ; in such abundance lies our choice, 
 As leaves a greater store of fruit untouch'd. 
 Still hanging incorruptible, till men 
 Grow up to their provision, and more hands 
 Help to disburden Nature of her birth." 
 
 To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad : 
 *' Empress, the way is ready, and not long j 
 Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat. 
 Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past 
 Of blowing myrrh and balm : if thou accept 
 My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon." 
 
 " Lead then," said Eve. He, leading, swiftly roll'd 
 In tangles, and made intjicate seem straight, 
 To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy 
 Brightens his crest ; as when a wandering fire,
 
 68 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Compact of unctuous vapour, whicli the night 
 Condenses and the cold environs round, 
 Kindled through agitation to a flame, 
 Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends. 
 Hovering and blazing with delusive ligiit. 
 Misleads the' amaz'tl night-wanderer from his way 
 To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool j 
 There swallow'd up and lost, from succour far. 
 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 mighthave spar'd our coming hither, 
 Fruitless to me, though fniit be here to' excess, 
 The credit of whose virtue rest with thee ; 
 Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. 
 But of this tree we may not taste nor touch ; 
 God so commanded, and left tliat command 
 Sole daughter of his voice ; the rest, we live 
 Law to ourselves ; our reason is our law." 
 
 To whom the Tempter guilefully replied : 
 *' Indeed ! hath God then said that of the fruit 
 Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, 
 Yet Lords declar'd of all in earth or air?" 
 
 To whom thus Eve, yet sinless : " Of the fruit 
 Of each tree in the garden we may eat ; 
 But of the fruit of tliis fair ti-ee amidst 
 The garden, God hath said. Ye shall not eat 
 Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die." [bold 
 
 She scarce had said, though brief, when now more 
 The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love 
 To Man, and indignation at his wrong, 
 New part puts on ; and, as to passion mov'd, 
 Fluctuates disturb'd, yet comely and in act
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 69 
 
 Rais'd, as of some gieat matter to begin. 
 As when of old some orator renown'd, 
 In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence [dress'd, 
 Flourish'd, since mute, to some great cause ad- 
 Stood in himself collected; while each part, 
 Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue ; 
 Sometimes in heighth began, as no delay 
 Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right : 
 So standing, moving, or to heighth up grown, 
 The tempter, all impassion'd thus began : — 
 
 '' O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, 
 Mother of science! now I feel thy power 
 Within me clear ; not only to discern 
 Things in their causes, but to trace the ways 
 Of highest agents, deem'd however wise. 
 Queen of this universe ! do not believe 
 Those rigid threats of death : ye shall not die : 
 How should you? — by the fruit ! it gives you life 
 To knowledge ; — by the threateuer ? look on me. 
 Me, who have touch'd and tasted ; yet both hve, 
 And life more perfect have attain'd than Fate 
 Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. 
 Shall that be shut to Man, which to the beast 
 Is open ! or will God incense his ire 
 For such a petty trespass? and not praise 
 Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain 
 Of death denounc'd, whatever thing death be, 
 Deterr'd not from atchieviug what might lead 
 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 shunn'd ? 
 God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just ; 
 Not just, not God ; not fear'd then, nor obey'd: 
 Your fear itself of death removes the fear. 
 
 VOL. II. F
 
 70 PARADISE LOST. liook 9, 
 
 Why then was this forbid ? Why, but to awe j 
 Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, 
 His worshippers ? He knows that in the day 
 Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, 
 Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then 
 Open'd and clear'd, and ye shall be as Gods, 
 Knowing both good and evil, as they know. 
 That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, 
 Internal Man, is but proportion meet ; 
 I, of brute, human ; ye, of human, Gods. 
 So ye shall die perhaps, by putting otf 
 Human, to put on Gods; death to be wish'd. 
 Though threaten'd, which no worse than this can 
 
 bring. 
 And what are Gods, that Man may not become , 
 As they, participating God-hke 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, 
 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 
 The' 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 envy ? and can envy dwell 
 In heavenly breasts ? — These, these, and many more 
 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 easy entrance won : 
 J'ix'd on the fruit she gaz'd, which to behold
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 71 
 
 Might tempt alone ; and in her ears the sound 
 Yet rung of his persuasive 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 
 So savoury of that fruit, which with desire 
 (Inclinable now grown to touch or taste) 
 Solicited her longing eye ; yet first 
 Pausing awhile, thus to herself she mus'd : 
 
 " Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, 
 Though kept from man, and worthy to be' admir'd ; 
 Whose taste, too long forborne, at first assay 
 Gave elocution to the mute, and taugiit 
 The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: 
 Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use, 
 Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree 
 Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; 
 Forbids us then to taste ! but his forbidding 
 Commends the more, while it infers 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 bind not. But, if death 
 Bind us with after-bands, what profits then 
 Our inward freedom? In the day we eat 
 Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die ! 
 How dies the Serpent ? lie hath eaten and lives. 
 And knows and speaks, and reasons and discerns, 
 Irrational till then. For us alone 
 Was death invented ? or to us denied 
 This intellectual food, for beasts reserv'd ? 
 For beasts it seems ; yet that one beast which first
 
 72 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy 
 
 The good befali'n him, author unsuspect, 
 
 Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. 
 
 What fear I then ? rather, what know to fear 
 
 Under this ignorance of good and evil, 
 
 Of God or death, of law or penalty ? 
 
 Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, 
 
 Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, 
 
 Of virtue to make wise. What hinders then 
 
 To reach, and feed at once both body' and mind ?'' 
 
 So saying, her rash hand in evil hour 
 Forth reaching to the fruit, she pluck'd, she eat ! 
 Earth felt the wound ; and Nature from her scat, 
 Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, 
 That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk 
 The guilty Serpent ; and well might ; for Eve, 
 Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else 
 Regarded ; such delight till then, as seem'd, 
 In fruit she never tasted, whether true 
 Or fancied so, through expectation high 
 Of knowledge; nor was Godhead from her thought. 
 Greedily she' ingorg'd without restraint, 
 And knew not eating death. Satiate at length, 
 And heighten'd as with wine, jocund and boon, 
 Thus to herself she pleasingly began : 
 
 " O sov'ran, virtuous, 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, 
 Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease 
 Of thy full branches offefd free to all; 
 Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 73 
 
 In knowledge, as the Gods, who all tilings know ; 
 
 Though others envy what they cannot give : 
 
 For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here 
 
 Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, 
 
 Best guide ; not following thee, I had remain'd 
 
 In ignorance ; thou open'st Wisdom's way, 
 
 And giv'st access, though secret she retire. 
 
 And I perhaps am secret : Heaven is high, 
 
 High, and remote to see from thence distinct 
 
 Kach 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 appear ? shall I to him make known 
 
 As yet my change, and give him to partake 
 
 Full happiness with me, or rather not, 
 
 But keep the odds of knowledge in my power 
 
 Without copartner? so to add what wants 
 
 In female sex, the more to draw his love. 
 
 And render me more equal ; and perhaps, 
 
 A thing not undesirable, sometime 
 
 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 ! coufirm'd then I resolve, 
 
 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 turn'd ; 
 But first low reverence done, as to the Power 
 That dwelt within, whose presence had infus'd 
 Into the plant sciential sap, deriv'd
 
 74 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 From Nectar, drink of gods. Adam the while, 
 Waiting desirous her return, had wove 
 Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn 
 Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; 
 As reapers oft are wont their 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 something ill, 
 Misgave him ; he the faltering 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, 
 Scarce from the tree returning ; in her hand 
 A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smil'd, 
 New gather'd, and ambrosial smell difFus'd. 
 To him she hasted ; in her face excuse 
 Came prologue, and apology too prompt ; 
 Which, with bland words at vnll,she thus address'd : 
 
 *' Hast thou not wonder'd, Adam, at ray stay? 
 Thee I have miss'd, and thought it long, depriv'd 
 Thy presence ; agony of love till now 
 Not felt, nor shall be twice ; for never more 
 Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, 
 The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange 
 Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear : 
 This tree is not, as we are told, a tree 
 Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown 
 Opening the way, but of divine effect 
 To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste j 
 And hath been tasted such ; the Serpent wise, 
 Or not restrain'd as we, or not obeying. 
 Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become. 
 Not dead, as we are threaten'd, but thenceforth 
 Endued with human voice and human sense,
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 75 
 
 Reasoning to admiration-, and witli me 
 Persuasively hath so prevail'd, that I 
 Have also tasted, and have also found 
 The' effects to correspond ; opener mine eyes, 
 Dim 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. 
 Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot 
 May join us, equal joy as equal love; 
 Lest, thou not tasting, different degree 
 Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce 
 Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit." 
 
 Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story toldj 
 But in her cheek distemper flushing glow'd. 
 On the' other side, Adam, soon as he heard 
 The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazd, 
 Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill 
 Ran through his veins, and all his joints relax'd; 
 From his slack hand the garland wreath'd for Evc( 
 Down dropt, 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 God's works, Creature in whom excell'd 
 Whatever can to sight or thought be form'd, 
 Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet ! 
 How art thou lost ! how on a sudden lost, 
 Defac'd, deflower'd, and now to death devote ! 
 Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress 
 The strict forbiddance, how to violate 
 The sacred fruit forbidd'n I some cursed fraud 
 Of enemy' hath beguil'd thee, yet unkuowo,
 
 76 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 And me with tliee hath ruin'd ; for with thee 
 
 Certain my resolution is to die : 
 
 How can I live without thee! how forego 
 
 Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly join'dy 
 
 To live again in these wild woods forlorn ! 
 
 Should God create another Eve, and I 
 
 Another rib afford, yet loss of thee 
 
 Would never from my heart : no, no ! I feel 
 
 The link of Nature draw me : flesh of flesh. 
 
 Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state 
 
 Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe." 
 
 So having said, as one from sad dismay 
 Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb'd 
 Submit.ing to what seem'd remediless, 
 Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turn'd : 
 
 "Bold deed thouhastpresuni'd,adventurousEve^ 
 And peril great provok'd, who thus hast dar'd, 
 Had it been only coveting to eye 
 That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence. 
 Much more to taste it under ban to touch. 
 But past who can recall, or done undo ? 
 Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so 
 Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact 
 Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, 
 Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first 
 Made common and unhallow'd, ere our taste ; 
 Nor yet on him found deadly : he yet lives ; 
 Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, 
 Higher degree of life ; inducement strong 
 To us, as likely tasting to attain 
 Proportional ascent ; which cannot be 
 But to be Gods, or Angels,- demi-Gods. 
 Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, 
 Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 77 
 
 Us his prime creatures, dignified so high. 
 Set over all his works ; which in our fall, 
 For us created, needs with us must fail, 
 Dependant made; so God shall uucreate, 
 Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose ; 
 Not well conceiv'd of God, who, though his power 
 Creation could repeat, yet would be loth 
 Us to abolish, lest the Adversary 
 Triumph, and ?ay ; ' Fickle their state whom GoA 
 Most favours ; who can please him long? Me first 
 He iniin'd, now Mankind ; whom will he next r' — 
 Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. 
 However I with thee have fix'd my lot, 
 Certain to undergo like doom : if death 
 Consort with thee, death is to me as life j 
 iSo forcible within my heart I feel 
 The bond of Nature draw me to my own ; 
 My own in thee, for what thou art is mine j 
 Our state cannot be sever'd ; we are one, 
 One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself." 
 So Adam ; and thus Eve to him replied : 
 *•' O glorious trial of exceeding love, 
 Illustrious evidence, example high ! 
 Engaging me to emulate ; but, short 
 Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, 
 Adam: from whose dear side I boast me sprung, 
 And gladly of our union hear thee speak, 
 One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof 
 This day affords, declaring thee resolv'd, 
 Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, 
 Shall separate us, link'd in love so dear. 
 To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, 
 If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; 
 Whose virtue (for of good still good proceeds,
 
 ^8 PARADISE LOST. Bcok 9. 
 
 Direct, or by occasion,) hath presented 
 
 This happy trial of thy love, which else 
 
 So eminently never had been known. 
 
 Were it I thought death menacd would ensue 
 
 This my attempt, I would sustain alone 
 
 The worst, and not persuade thee ; i-ather die 
 
 Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact 
 
 Pernicious to thy peace ; chiefly, assur'd 
 
 Remarkably so late of thy so true, 
 
 So faithful, love unequall'd : but I feel 
 
 Far otherwise the' event ; not death, but life 
 
 Augmented, open'd eyes, new hopes, new joys, 
 
 Taste so divine, that what of sweet before 
 
 Hath touch'd my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh, 
 
 On my experience, Adam, freely taste. 
 
 And fear of death deliver to the winds." 
 
 So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy 
 Tenderly wept ; much won, that he his love 
 Had so ennobled, as of choice to' incur 
 Divine di>pleasure for her sake, or death. 
 In recompense, (for such compliance bad 
 Such recompense best mtrits) from the bough 
 She gave him of that fair enticing fruit 
 With liberal hand : he scrupled not to eat. 
 Against his better knowledge ; not deceiv'd, 
 But fondly overcome with female charai. 
 Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 
 In pangs : and Nature gave a second groan ; 
 Sky lour'd ; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops 
 Wept at completing 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 society ; that now,
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 79 
 
 As with new wine intoxicated both, 
 
 They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel 
 
 Divinity within them breeding wings, 
 
 Wherewith to scorn the earth : but that false fniit 
 
 Far other operation first display'd, 
 
 Carnal desire inflaming ; he on Eve 
 
 Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him 
 
 As wantonly repaid ; in lust they burn : 
 
 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 
 Yield 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 forbidd'n, it might be wish'd. 
 For this one tree had been forbidden ten. 
 But come, so well refresh'd, now let us play, 
 As meet is, after such delicious fare ; 
 For never did thy beauty, since the day 
 I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd 
 With all perfections, so inflame my sense 
 With ardour to enjoy thee ; fairer now 
 Than ever ; bounty of this virtuous 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 seiz'd ; and to a sha^y bank, 
 Thick over-head with verdant roof imbower'd. 
 He led her nothing loth ; flowers were the couch, 
 Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, 
 And hyacinth ; Earth's freshest softest lap.
 
 80 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 There they their fill of love and love's disport 
 Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, 
 The solace of their sin ; till dewy sleep 
 Oppress'd them, wearied with their amorous play. 
 
 Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 
 That with exhilarating vapour bland 
 About their spirits had play'd, and inmost powers 
 Made err, was now exhal'd ; and grosser sleep, 
 Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams 
 Incumber'd, now had left them j up they rose 
 As from unrest; and, each the other viewing. 
 Soon found their eyes how open'd, and their minds 
 How darkened : Innocence, that as a veil 
 Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gone ; 
 Just confidence, and native righteousness. 
 And honour, from about them, naked left 
 To guilty Shame ; he cover'd, but his robe 
 Uncover'd more. So rose the Danite strong, 
 Herculean Samson, from tlie harlot-iap 
 Of Philistean Dalilah, and wak'd 
 Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare 
 Of all their virtue ; silent, and in face 
 Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute ; 
 Till Adam, though not less than Eve abash'd, 
 At length gave utterance to these words constrain'd : 
 
 " O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear 
 To that false worm, of whomsoever taught 
 To counterfeit Man's voice ; true in our fall, 
 False in our promis'd rising ; since our eyes 
 Open'd 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 purity,
 
 Book 9. PARADISE LOST. 81 
 
 Our wonted oraaments now soii'd and stain'd, 
 And in our faces evident tlie signs 
 Gf foul concupiscence ; whence evil store; 
 Even shame, the last of evils; of the first 
 Be sure then. — How shall I behold the face 
 Henceforth of God or Angel, erst uith joy 
 And rapture so' oft beheld? those heavenly shapes 
 Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze 
 Insufferably bright. O ! might I here 
 In solitude live savage ; in some glade 
 Obscur'd, where highest woods, impenetrable 
 To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad 
 And brown as evening : cover me, ye pines ! 
 Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs 
 Hide me, where I may never see them more ! — 
 But let us now, as in bad plight, devise 
 What best may for the present serve to hide 
 The parts of each from other, that seem most 
 To shame obnoxious, and unseemhest seen ; 
 Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together 
 
 sew'd 
 And girded on our loins, may cover round 
 Those middle parts ; that this new comer, Shame, 
 There sit not, and reproach us as unclean." 
 So counsell'd he, and both together went 
 Into the thickest wood ; there soon they chose 
 The fig-tree ; not that kind for fruit renown'd, 
 But such as at this day, to Indians known, 
 In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms 
 Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 
 The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 
 About the mother tree, a pillar'd siiade 
 High over-arch'd, and echoing walks betw een : 
 There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
 
 Qi PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds 
 At loop-holes cut through thickest shade : those 
 They gather'd, broad as Amazonian targe; [leaves 
 And, with what skill they had, togetlier sew'd, 
 To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide 
 Tlieir guilt and dreaded shame ! O, how unlike 
 To that first naked glory! such of late 
 Columbus found the' American, so girt 
 With feather'd cincture; naked else, and wild 
 Among the tress on isles and woody shores. 
 Thusfenc'd, and, as they thought, their shame in part 
 Cover'd, but not at rest or ease of mind, 
 They sat them down to weep ; nor only tears 
 Rain'd at their eyes, but high winds worse w ithin 
 Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate. 
 Mistrust, suspicion, discord ; and shook sore 
 Their inward state of mind, calm region once 
 And fnll 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 beneath 
 Usurping over sov'ran Reason claim'd 
 Superior sway : from thus distemper'd breast, 
 Adam, estrang'd in look and alter'd style. 
 Speech intermitted thus to Eve renew'd : [staid 
 " Would thou hadst hearken'd to my w ords, and 
 With me, as I besought thee, when that strange 
 Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, 
 I know not whence possess'd thee ; we had then 
 Remain'd still happy ; not, as now, despoil'd 
 Of all our good ; sham'd, naked, miserable ! 
 Let none henceforth seek needless cause to' approve 
 The faith they owe ; when earnestly they seek 
 Such proof, conclude, they tlien begin to foil."
 
 Book 'J. PARADISE LOST. 83 
 
 To whoni, soon mov'd ^vith touch of blame, 
 thus Eve : 
 '' What words have pass'd thy lips, Adam severe ! 
 Imput'st thou that to my default, or will 
 Ot wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows 
 But might as ill have happen'd thou being by, 
 Or to thyself perhaps? hadst thou been there, 
 Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have dis 
 
 cern'd 
 Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake ; 
 No ground of enmity between us known, 
 AVhy he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. 
 Was I to' have never parted from thy side ? 
 As good have grown there still a lifeless 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 facile then, thou didst not much gainsay ; 
 Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 
 Hadst thou been firm and fix'd in thy dissent, 
 Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with me." 
 To whom, then first incens'd, Adam rephed : 
 " Is this the love, is this the recompense 
 Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve ! express'd 
 Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I ; 
 Wlio might have liv'd, and 'joy'd 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: wiiat could I more ? 
 I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold 
 The danger, and the lurking enemy 
 That lay in wait ; beyond this, had been force j 
 And force upon free will hath here no place.
 
 84 PARADISE LOST. Book 9. 
 
 But confidence then bore thee on : secure 
 Either to meet no danger, or to find 
 Matter of glorious trial ; and perhaps 
 T also err'd, in ovennuch admiring 
 What seem'd in thee so perfect, that I thought 
 No evil durst attempt thee ; but I rue 
 That error now, which is become my crime, 
 And thou the' accuser. Thus it shall befall 
 Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, 
 Lets her will rule : restraint she will not brook ; 
 And, left to' herself, if evil thence ensue. 
 She first his weak indulgence will accuse." 
 
 Thus they in mutual accusation spent 
 The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning ; 
 And of their vain contest appear'd no end. 
 
 END OF BOOK IX.
 
 tHE 
 
 TENTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Mau's traiisgiessiou known, the guardian-Angels forsake Para- 
 dise, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and 
 are approved ; God declaring iLhI the entrance of Satan could 
 not be by tliera prevented. He stncis Lis Sou to judge the 
 transgressors; who descends and gives sentence accordingly; 
 then in pily clothes them bo^h, and reascends. Sin and 
 Death, sitting till then at the gates of Htll, by wondtroHS 
 sympathy feeling the success of Satan m iliis new world, and 
 the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer con- 
 fined in Hell, but to follow Satan, their siie, up to the place 
 of Man : to make the way easier from Hell lo this world to 
 and fro, they pave a broad high-way or bridge over Chaos, 
 according to the track that Satan iirst made ; then, preparing 
 for Earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning tv> 
 Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemo- 
 nium, in full asseniDly relaies, with boasting, his success 
 against Man ; instead of applause, is entertained w iih a gene- 
 ral hiss by all his audience, transformed with himself also 
 suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Para- 
 dise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree spring- 
 ing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the 
 fruit, chew dust and bitter aahes. The proceedings of Sin and 
 Death ; God foreiels the (inal victory of his Son over them, 
 and the renewing of all things ; but, for the present, com- 
 mands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens 
 and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen 
 condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve ; 
 she persists, and at Ituglb appeases him : then, to evade the 
 curse likely to fall on their ofifspring, proposes to Adam vio- 
 lent ways, which he approves not; but, conceiving better 
 hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that 
 her seed shoull be revenged on the Serpent ; and exhorts her 
 with him to seek peace of the otfended Deity, by repentance 
 and supplication.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK X. 
 
 Meanwhile the heinous and despiteful act 
 Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how 
 He, in the Serpent, had perverted Eve, 
 Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, 
 Was known in Heaven ; for what can 'scape the eye 
 Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart 
 Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, 
 Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind 
 Of jMan, with strength entire, and freewill arm'd ; 
 Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd 
 Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend, [ber'd, 
 For still they knew, and ought to' have still remem- 
 The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, 
 Whoever tempted ; which they not obeying, 
 Incurr'd (what could they less?) the penalty; 
 And, manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall. 
 Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste 
 The' angelic guards ascended, mute, and sad. 
 For man ; for of his state by this they knew. 
 Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stol'n 
 Entrance unseen. Soon as the' unwelcome news 
 From Earth arriv'd at Heaven-gate, displeas'd
 
 88 PARADISE LOST. BooU 10. 
 
 All were who heard ; dim sadness did not spare 
 
 That time celestial visages, yet, mix'd 
 
 With pity, violated not their bliss. 
 
 About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes 
 
 The' ethereal people ran, to hear and know 
 
 How all befel: they towards the throne Supreme, 
 
 Accountable, made haste, to make appear, 
 
 With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance, 
 
 And easily appro v"d ; when the Most High 
 
 Eternal Father, from his secret cloud 
 
 Amidst, in thunder utter'd thus his voice : 
 
 " Assembled Angels, and ye Powers return'd 
 From unsuccessful charge ; be not dismay'd, 
 Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, 
 Whicli 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 
 On his bad errand ; Man should be seduc'd, 
 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 even scale. But fall'n he is ; and now 
 What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass 
 On his transgression, — death denounc'd that day? 
 Which he presumes already vain and void, 
 Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, 
 By some immediate stroke ; but soon shall find 
 Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. 
 Justice shall not return as bounty scorn'd. 
 But whom send I to judge them ? whom but thee, 
 Vicegerent Son ? to thee I have transferr'd
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 89 
 
 All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. 
 
 Easy it may be seen that I intend 
 
 Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee 
 
 Man's friend, his Mediator, his design'd 
 
 Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, 
 
 And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n." 
 
 So spake the Father ; and, unfolding bright 
 Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son 
 Blaz'd forth imclouded Deity : he full 
 Resplendent all his Father manifest 
 Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild : 
 
 " Father Eternal, thine is to decree ; 
 Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will 
 Supreme ; that thou in me, thy Son belov'd, 
 May'st ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge 
 On earth these thy transgressors ; but thou knows't, 
 "VVTioever judg'd, the worst on me raiLst light, 
 When time shall be ; for so I undertook 
 Before thee ; and, not repenting, this obtain 
 Of right, that I may mitigate their doom 
 On me deriv'd ; yet I shall temper so 
 Justice with mnercy, as may illustrate most 
 Them fully satisfied, and Thee appease. 
 Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 
 Are to behold the judgment but the judgd. 
 Those two ; the third best absent is condemned, 
 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 glory : 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 straight : (the speed of Gods
 
 ^'0 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 10. 
 
 Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes 
 Now was the sun in western cadence low [wing'd.) 
 From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, 
 To fan the earth now, wak'd, and usher in 
 The evening cool ; when he from wrath more cool, 
 Came the mild Judge, and intercessor both, 
 To sentence Man : the voice of God they heard 
 Now walking i>i the garden, by soft winds 
 Brought to their ears^ while day declin'd ; they heard, 
 And from his presence hid themselves among 
 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 
 jVIy coming seen far off? I miss thee here. 
 Not pleas'd, thus entertain'd with solitude, 
 Where obvious duty' ere while appear'd unsought: 
 Or come I less conspicuous, or what change 
 Absents thee, or what chance detains ?— Come 
 forth !" [first 
 
 He came ; and with bim Eve, more loth, though 
 To' offend ; discountenanc'd both, and discompos'd ; 
 Love was not in their looks, either to God 
 Or to each other; but apparent guilt 
 And shame, and perturbation, and despair, 
 Anger and obstinacy, and hate and guile. 
 Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answer'd brief: 
 
 * I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice 
 Afraid, being naked, hid myself." — To whom 
 The gracious Judge, without revile, replied: 
 
 " My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not 
 But still rejoic'd ; how is it now become [fear'd, 
 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 ?"
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 91 
 
 To whom thus Adam, sore beset, replied : 
 " O heaven ! in evil strait this day I stand 
 Before my Judge ; either to undergo 
 Myself the total crime, or to accuse 
 My other self, the partner of my life ; 
 Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, 
 I should conceal, and not expose to blame 
 By my coniplaint ; but strict necessity 
 Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; 
 Lest 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 conceal. — 
 Tliis Woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, 
 And gav'st me as thy perfect gift, so good, 
 So fit, so acceptable, so divine, 
 That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 
 And what she did, whatever in itself, 
 Her doing seem'd to justify the deed ; 
 She gave me of the tree, and I did eat." 
 
 To whom the Sov'ran Presence thus replied : 
 " Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey 
 Before his voice ? or was she made thy guide, 
 Superior, or but equal, that to her 
 Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 
 Wherein God set thee' above her, made of thee 
 And for thee, whose perfection far excell'd 
 Hers in all real dignity? Adom'd 
 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 bear rule ; which was thy part 
 And person, hadst thou known thyself ariglit."
 
 92 PARADISE LOST. Book 10, 
 
 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 
 Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied : 
 ^' The Serpent me beguil'd, and I did eat." 
 
 Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 
 To judgment he proceeded on the' accus'd 
 Serpent, though brute ; unable to transfer 
 The guilt on him, who made him instrument 
 Of mischief, and polluted from the end 
 Of his creation ; justly then accurs'd, 
 As vitiated in nature : more to know 
 Concem'd not Man, (since he no further knew) 
 Nor alter'd his oflfence ; yet God at last 
 To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied, 
 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 accurs'd 
 Above all cattle, each beast of the field ; 
 Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, 
 And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. 
 Between thee and the woman I will put 
 Enmity, and between thine and her seed ; 
 Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel." 
 
 So spake this oracle, then verified 
 When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, 
 Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven, 
 Prince of the air ; then, rising from his grave, 
 Spoil'd Principalities and Powers, triumph'd 
 In open show ; and, with ascension bright, 
 Captivity led captive through the air, 
 The realm itself of Satan, long usurp'd j
 
 ^ Book iO. PARADISE LOST. i'j 
 
 Whom he shall tread at last under our feet ; 
 Ev'n he, who now foretold his fatal bruise ; 
 And to the Woman thus his sentence turn'd ; — 
 
 ** Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply 
 By thy conception ; children thou shalt bring 
 In sorrow forth ; and to thy husband's will 
 Thine shall submit ; he over thee shall rule." 
 
 On Adam last thus judgment he pronounc'd : 
 " Because thou' hast hearken'd to the' voice of thy 
 And eaten of the tree, concerning which, [wife, 
 I charg'd thee, saying, ' Thou shalt not eat thereof;' 
 Curs'd is the ground for thy sake ; thou in sorrow 
 Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life ; 
 Thorns also' and thistles it shall bring thee forth 
 Unbid ; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field ; 
 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 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 return." 
 
 So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent ; 
 And the' instantstroke of death, denounc'dthatday, 
 Remov'd far off; then, pitying how they stood 
 Before him naked to the air, that now 
 Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin 
 Thenceforth the form of servant to assume ; 
 As when he wash'd his servants' feetj so now. 
 As father of his family, he clad 
 Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, 
 Or (as the snake) with youthful coat repaid; 
 And thought not much to clothe his enemies : 
 Nor he their outward only with the skins 
 Of beasts, but inward nakedness (much more 
 Opprobrious) with his robe of righteousness 
 Arraying, cover'd from his Father's sight,
 
 94- PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 To him with swift ascent lie up return'd, 
 
 Into his blissful bosom reassum'd 
 
 In glory, as of old; to him appeas'd, 
 
 All (though all-knowing) what had pass'd with Man 
 
 Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. [Earth, 
 
 Meanwhile, ere thus was sinn'd and judg'd on 
 Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, 
 In counterview within the gates, that now 
 Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame 
 Far 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 
 Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives 
 In other worlds, and happier seat provides 
 For us, his offspring dear ? it cannot be 
 But that success attends him ; if mishap, 
 Ere this he had returnd, with fury driven 
 By his avengers ; since no place like this 
 Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. 
 Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,' 
 Wings growing, and dominion given me large 
 Beyond this deep ; whatever draws me on, 
 Or sympathy, or some connatural force, 
 Powerful at greatest distance to unite. 
 With secret amity, things of like kind, 
 By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade 
 Inseparable, must with me along: 
 For Death from Sin no power can separate. 
 But, lest the difficulty' of passing back 
 Stay his return perhaps over this gulf 
 Impassable impervious ; let us try 
 (Adventurous work ! yet to thy power and mivie 
 Not unagreeable,) to found a path 
 Over this main, from Hell to that new world
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 95 
 
 Where Satan now prevails ; a monument 
 Of merit high to all the' infernal host, 
 Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, 
 Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. 
 Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn 
 By this new-felt attraction and instinct.' 
 
 Whom tlms the njeagre Shadow answer'd soon : 
 " Go, whither Fate, and incUnation strong 
 Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err 
 The way, thou leading; such a scent 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 
 Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid." 
 
 So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell 
 Of mortal chauge on earth. As when a flock 
 Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, 
 Against the day of battle, to a field 
 Where armies lie encamp'd, come flying, lur'd 
 With scent of living carcasses, design'd 
 For death the following day, in bloody fight : 
 So scented the grim Feature, and upturn'd 
 His nostril wide into the murky air ; 
 Sagacious of his quarry from so far. 
 Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste 
 Wide anarchy of Chaos damp and dark, great) 
 Flew diverse; and with power (their power was 
 Hovering upon the waters, what they met 
 Solid or slimy, as in raging sea 
 Tost up and down, together crowded drove, 
 From each side shoaling towards the month of Hell : 
 As when two polar winds, blowing adverse 
 Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 
 Mountains of ice, that stop the' imagin'd way
 
 96 PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich 
 Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil 
 Death witli his mace petrific, cold and dry, 
 As with a trident, smote ; and fix'd as firm 
 As Delos, floating once ; the rest his look 
 Bound with Gorgonian rigour 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 wrought on, 
 Over the foaming deep high-arch'd ; a bridge 
 Of length prodigious, joining to the wall 
 Immoveable of this now fenceless world, 
 Forfeit to Death ; from hence a passage broad 
 Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. 
 So if great things to small may be compar'd, 
 Xerxes the liberty of Greece to yoke, 
 From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, 
 Came to the sea ; and, over Hellespont 
 Bridging his way, Europe with Asia join'd, [waves. 
 And scourg'd with many a stroke the' indignant 
 Now had they brought the work by wondrous art 
 Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock. 
 Over the vex'd abyss, following the track 
 Of Satan to the self-same place where he 
 First lighted from his wing, and landed safe 
 From out of Chaos, to the outside bare 
 Of this round world : with pins of adamant 
 And chains they made all fast ; too fast they made 
 And durable ! and now in little space 
 The confines met of empyrean Heaven, 
 And of this World; and, on the left hand. Hell 
 With long reach interpos'd ; three several ways 
 In sight, to each of these three places led. 
 And now their way to Earth they had descried,
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 97 
 
 To Paradise first tending ; when, behold ! 
 Satan, in likeness of an Angel bright, 
 Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering 
 His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose : 
 Disguis'd he came ; but those his children dear 
 Their parent soon discern'd, though in disguise. 
 He, after Eve seduc'd, unniinded 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 their shame that sought 
 Vain covertures ; but when he saw descend 
 The Son of God to judge them, terrified 
 He fled ; not hoping to escape, but shun 
 The present ; fearing, guilty, what his wrath 
 Might suddenly inflict: that past, return'd 
 By night, and listening where the hapless pair 
 Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, 
 Thence gather'd 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, near the foot 
 Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhop'd 
 Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. 
 Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight 
 Of that stupendous bridge his joy encreas'd. 
 Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair 
 Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke : 
 
 " O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds, 
 Thy trophies ! which thou view'st as not thine own ; 
 Thou art their author, and prime architect : 
 For I no sooner in my heart divin'd 
 (My heart, which by a secret harmony 
 Still moves with thine, join'd in connexion sweet,)
 
 98 PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 That thou on earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks 
 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 our bounds. 
 Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure 
 Detain from following thy illustrious track, 
 Thou hast atchiev'd our liberty, confin'd 
 Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impower'd 
 To fortify thus far, and overlay, 
 With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. 
 Thine now is all this world ; thy virtue' hath won 
 What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gain'd 
 With odds what war hath lost, and fully' aveng'd 
 Our foil in Heaven ; here thou shalt monarch reign, 
 There didst not ; there let him still victor sway, 
 As battle hath adjudg'd ; from this knew world 
 Retiring, by his own doom alienated ; 
 And henceforth monarchy with thee divide 
 Of all things, parted by the' empyreal bounds, 
 His quadrature, from thy orbicular world ; 
 Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne." 
 
 Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answer'd glad : 
 " FairDaughter,and thou Son and Grandchild both j 
 High proof ye now have given to be the race 
 Of Satan, (for I glory in the name, 
 Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King,) 
 Amply have merited of me, of all 
 The' infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door 
 Triumphal with triumphal act have met, 
 Mine, with this glorious work ; and made one realm, 
 Hell and this world, one realm, one continent 
 Of ea;sy thorough-fare. Therefore, while I
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 99 
 
 Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, 
 To my associate Powers, them to acquaint 
 With these successes, and with them rejoice: 
 You two this way, among these numerous orbs, 
 All yours, right down to Paradise descend ; 
 There dwell and reign in bliss; thence on the earth 
 Dominion exercise and in the air. 
 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 
 Pleuipotent on eaith, of matchless might 
 Issuing from me : on your joint vigour now 
 My hold of this new kingdom all depends, 
 Through Sin to Death expos'd by my exploit. 
 If your joint power prevails, the' affairs of Hell 
 No detriment need fear; go, and be strong!'' 
 
 So saying he dismiss'd them : they with speed 
 Their course through thickest constellations held,' 
 Spreading their bane; the blasted stars look'dwan, 
 And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse 
 Then suffei-'d. The other way Satan went down 
 The causey to Hell-gate: on either side 
 Disparted Chaos over built exclaim'd. 
 And with rebounding surge the bars assail'd, 
 That scorn'd his iuUiguation : through the gate, 
 Wide open and unguarded, Satan pass'd, 
 And all about found desolate ; for those. 
 Appointed to sit there, had left their charge, 
 Flown to the upper world ; the rest were all 
 Far to the' inland retir'd, about the walls 
 Of Pandemonium ; city and proud seat 
 Of Lucifer, (so by allusion call'd 
 Of that bright star to Satan paragon'd ;) 
 There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand
 
 100 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 10. 
 
 In counsil sat, solicitous what chauce 
 Might intercept their emperor sent; so he 
 Departing gave command, and they observ'd. 
 As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, 
 By Astracan, over the snowy plains, 
 Retires : or Bactrian Sophi, from the horns 
 Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond 
 The realm of Aladule, in his retreat 
 To Tauris or Casbeen : so these, the late 
 Heaveu-banish'd host, left desert utmost Hell 
 Many' a dark league, reduc'd in careful watch 
 Round their metropolis ; and now expecting 
 Each hour their great adventurer, from the search 
 Of foreign worlds; he, through the midst unmark'd^ 
 In show plebeian-angel militant 
 Of lowest order, pass'd; and from the door 
 Of that Plutonian hall, invisible 
 Ascended his high throne ; which, under state 
 Of richest texture spread, at the' upper end 
 Was plac'd in regal lustre. Down a while 
 He sat, and round about him saw, unseen : 
 At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head 
 And shape star-bright appear'd, or brighter j clad 
 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 their aspect, and whom they wish'd beheld, 
 Their mighty Chief return'd : loud was the' acclaim : 
 Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting peers, 
 Rais'd from their dark Divan, and with like joy 
 Congratulant approach'd him ^ who with hand 
 Silence, and with these words attention won :— 
 
 " Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, 
 For in possession such, not only' of right, [Powers ;
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. lt)l 
 
 I call ye, and declare ye now ; return'd 
 
 Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth 
 
 Triumphant out of this infernal pit 
 
 Abominable, accurs'd, the house of woe, 
 
 And dungeon of our tyrant: now possess, 
 
 As Lords, a spacious world, to' our native Heaven 
 
 Little inferior, by my adventure hard 
 
 With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell 
 
 What I have done ; what sufFer'd ; with what pain 
 
 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 
 
 Toil'd out my uncouth passage, forc'd to ride 
 
 The' untractable abyss, plung'd in the womb 
 
 Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild ; 
 
 That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely' oppos'd 
 
 My journey strange, with clamorous uproar 
 
 Protesting Fate supreme ; thence how I found 
 
 The new created world, which fame in Heaven 
 
 Long had foretold, a fabric wonderful 
 
 Of absolute perfection ! therein Man 
 
 Plac'd in a Paradise, by our exile 
 
 Made happy : him by fraud I have seduc'd 
 
 From his Creator ; and, the more to' encrease 
 
 Your wonder, with an apple ; He, thereat 
 
 Offended, (worth your laughter !) hath given up 
 
 Both his beloved Man and all his world, 
 
 To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us. 
 
 Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; 
 
 To range in, and to dwell, and over Man 
 
 To rule, as over all he should have rul'd. 
 
 True is, me also he hath judg'd, or ratlier 
 
 Me not, but the brute-serpent in whose shape
 
 102 PAHADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 Man I deceiv'd : that wliich to me belongs, 
 Is enmity, which he will put between 
 Me and mankind ; I am to bruise his lieel ; 
 His seed (when is not set) shall bruise my head'. 
 A world who would not purchase with a bruise, 
 Or much more grievous pain ? — Ye have the' account 
 Of my performance : what remains, ye Gods ! 
 But up, and enter now into full bliss?" — 
 
 So having said, a while he stood, expecting 
 Their universal sliout and high applause 
 To fill his ear ; when, contrary, he hears 
 On all sides, from innumerable tongues, 
 A dismal universal hiss, the sound 
 Of public scorn : he wonder'd, but not long 
 Had leisure, wondering at himself now more ; 
 His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; 
 His arms clung to his ribs ; his legs entwining 
 Each other, till supplanted down he fell 
 A monstrous serpent on his belly prone^ 
 Reluctant, but in vain ; a greater power 
 Now nil'd him, punish'd in the shape he siim'd, 
 According to his doom : he would have spoke, 
 But hiss for hiss return'd with forked tongue 
 To forked tongue ; for now were all transform'd 
 Alike, to serpents all, as accessories 
 To his bold riot : dreadful was the din 
 Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now 
 With complicated monsters head and tail, 
 Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire. 
 Cerastes horn'd, Hydrus, and Elops drear, 
 And Dipsas ; (not so thick swarm'd once the soil 
 Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle 
 Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst, 
 Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the Sim
 
 Book 10. PARA.DISE LOST. 103 
 
 Tngender'd in the Pythian vale or sliine, 
 
 Huge Python ; and his power no less he seem'd 
 
 Above the rest still to retain. They all 
 
 Him foUow'd, issuing forth to the' open field, 
 
 Where all yet left of that revolted rout, 
 
 Heaven fall'n, in station stood or just array; 
 
 Subhme with expectation, when to see 
 
 In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief, 
 
 They saw, but other sight instead ! a crow'd 
 
 Of ugly serpents; horror on them fell, 
 
 And horrid sympathy ; for, what they saw, [arms, 
 
 They felt themselves, now changing ; down their 
 
 Down fell both spear and shield ; down they as fast ; 
 
 And the dire hiss renew'd, and the dire form 
 
 Catch'd by contagion ; Hke in punishment. 
 
 As in their crime. Thus was the' applause they meant, 
 
 Turn'd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame, [stood 
 
 Ca.st on themselves from their own mouths. There 
 
 A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, 
 
 (His will, who reigns above) to aggravate 
 
 Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that 
 
 Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve 
 
 Us'd by the Tempter : on that prospect strange 
 
 Their earnest eyes they fixd, imagining 
 
 For one forbidden tree a multitude 
 
 Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; 
 
 Yet parch'd, with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, 
 
 Though to delude them sent, could not abstain ; 
 
 But on they roli'd in heaps, and, up the trees 
 
 Climbing sat thicker than the snaky locks 
 
 That curl'd Megaera : greedily they pluck'd 
 
 The fruitage fair to sight, (like that which grew 
 
 Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flam'd ; 
 
 This more delusive, not the touch but taste 
 
 Deceiv'd ;) they fondly thinking to allay
 
 lO-h PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 Their appetite with gnst, instead of fruit 
 Chew'd bitter ashes, which the' offended taste 
 With spattering noise rejected : oft they' assay'd 
 Hunger and thirst constraining ; drugg'd as oft, 
 With hatefuUest disrelish writh'd their jaws, 
 With soot and cinders fiU'd ; so oft they fell 
 Into the same illusion, not as Man 
 Whom they triumph'd once laps'd. Thus were they 
 
 plagu'd 
 And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, 
 Till their lost shape, permitted, they resum'd ; 
 Yearly enjoin'd, some say, to undergo, 
 This annual humbling certain number'd days, 
 To dash their pride and joy, for Man seduc'd. 
 However, some tradition they dispers'd 
 Among the Heathen, of their purchase got, 
 And fabled how the Serpent, whom they call'd 
 Ophion, with Eurynome, (the wide- 
 Encroaching Eve perhaps,) had first the rule 
 Of high Olympus ; thence by Saturn driven 
 And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. 
 
 Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair 
 Too soon arriv'd ; Sin, there in power before, 
 Once actual; now in body, and to dwell 
 Habitual habitant ; behind her Death, 
 Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet 
 On his pale horse : to whom Sin thus began : 
 
 " Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death 1 
 What think'stthou of our empire now, though earn'd 
 With travel difficult, not better far 
 Than still at Hell's d ark threshold to' have sat watcli^ 
 Unnam'd, undreaded, and thyself half starv'd?" 
 
 Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answer'd soon : 
 " To me, who with eternal famine pine, 
 Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven;
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 105 
 
 There best, where most with ravine I may meet; 
 Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems 
 To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps." 
 
 To whom the' incestuous mother thus replied : 
 " Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and 
 
 flowers, 
 Feed first ; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl ; 
 No homely morsels! and, whatever thing 
 The scythe of Time mows down, devour unspar'd; 
 Till I, in Man residing, through the race, 
 His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect 3 
 And season him thy last and sweetest prey." 
 
 This said, they both betook them several ways, 
 Both to destroy, or unimmortal make 
 All kinds, and for destruction to mature 
 Sooner or later; which the' Almighty seeing. 
 From his transcendent seat the Saints among, 
 To those bright Orders utter'd 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 wasteful Furies, who impute 
 Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell 
 And his adherents, that with so much ease 
 I suffer them to enter and possess 
 A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem 
 To gratify my scornful enemies. 
 That laugh, as if (transported with some fit 
 Of passion) I to them had quitted all, 
 At random yielded up to their misrule; 
 And know not that I call'd, and drew them thither, 
 My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth 
 Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed
 
 106 PARADISE LOST. Book 10, 
 
 On wbat was pure; till, cramm'd and gorg'd, nigh 
 
 With suck'd and glutted offal, at one sling [burst 
 
 Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, 
 
 Both Sin and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, 
 
 Through Chaos hurPd, obstruct the mouth of Hell 
 
 For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. 
 
 Then Heaven and Earth renew'd shall be made pure 
 
 To sanctity, that shall receive no stain : 
 
 Till then, the curse pronounc'd on both precedes." 
 
 He ended, and the heavenly audience loud 
 Sung Halleluiah, 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 Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise. 
 Or down from Heaven descend." — Such was their 
 While the Creator, calling forth by name [song; 
 His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, 
 As sorted best with present things. The Sun 
 Had first his precept so to move, so shine, 
 As might affect the earth with cold and heat 
 Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call 
 Decrepit winter ; from the south to bring 
 Solstitial summer's heat. To the blanc Moon 
 Her office they prescribed ; to the' other five 
 Their planetary motions, and aspects. 
 In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite, 
 Of noxious efficacy, and when to join 
 In synod unbenign: and taught the fix'd 
 Their influence malignant when to shower. 
 Which of them rising with the Sun, or falling, 
 Should prove tempestuous: to the Winds tliey set 
 Their corners, when with bluster to confound
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 107 
 
 Sea, air, and shore ; the thunder when to roll 
 With terror through the dark aereal hall. 
 Some say, he bid his Angels turn askance 
 The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, 
 From the suns axle; they with labour push'd 
 Oblique the centric globe: some say, the sun 
 Was bid turn reins from the' equinoctial road 
 Like distant breadth to Taurus, with the seven 
 Atlantic Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, 
 Up to the Tropic Crab; thence down amain 
 By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, 
 As deep as Capricorn ; to bring in change 
 Of seasons to each clime : else had the Spring 
 Perpetual smil'd on €arth with vernant flowers, 
 Equal in days and nights, except to those 
 Beyond the polar circles; to them day 
 Had unb€nighted shone, while the low SiiU, 
 To recompense his distance, in their sight 
 Had rounded still the' horizon, and not known 
 Or east or west; which had forbid the snow 
 From cold Estotiland, and south as far 
 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 than now, 
 Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? 
 These changes in the Heavens, 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 shore, 
 Bursting their brazen dungeon, arm'd with ice, 
 And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, 
 Boreas and-Caecias, and Argestes loud,
 
 108 PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; 
 With adverse blast upturns them from the south 
 Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds 
 From Serraliona: thwart of these, as fierce, 
 Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds, 
 Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise, 
 Sirocco and Libecchio. Thus began 
 Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first, 
 Daughter of Sin, among the' irrational 
 Death introduc'd, through fierce antipathy : 
 Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl, 
 And fish with fish ; to graze the herb all leaving, 
 Devour'd each other; nor stood much in awe 
 Of Man, but fled him j or, with countenance grim, 
 Glar'd on hira passing. These were from without 
 The growing miseries, which Adam saw 
 Already' in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, 
 To sorrow' abandon'd, but worse felt within; 
 And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, 
 Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint. 
 
 " O miserable of happy! Is this the end 
 Of this new glorious world; and me, so late 
 The glory of that glory, who now become 
 Accurs'd, of blessed? hide me fiom the face 
 Of God, whom to behold was then my heighth 
 Of happiness! — Yet well, if here would end 
 The misery ; I deserv'd it, and would bear 
 My own deservings; but this will not serve: 
 All that I eat or drink, or shall beget. 
 Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard 
 Delightftilly, Encrease and multiply; 
 Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, 
 Or multiply, but curses on my head ? 
 Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 109 
 
 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 me 
 
 Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; 
 
 On me, as on their natural centre, light 
 
 Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys 
 
 Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! 
 
 Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay 
 
 To mould me Man? did I solicit thee 
 
 From darkness to promote me, or here place 
 
 In this delicious garden? As my will 
 
 Concurr'd not to my being, it were but right 
 
 And equal to reduce me to my dust; 
 
 Desirous to resign and render back 
 
 All I receiv'd; unable to perform 
 
 Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold 
 
 The good I sought not. To the loss of that, 
 
 Sufiicient penalty, 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 refus'd 
 
 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 
 
 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;
 
 tlO PARADISE LOST. Book ^0. 
 
 Thy punishment then justly' is at his wiH. 
 
 Be it so, for I submit; his doom is fair, 
 
 That dust I am, and shall to dust return: 
 
 O welcome hour whenever! Why delays 
 
 His hand to execute what his decree 
 
 Fix'd on this day? Why do I overlive? 
 
 Why am I mock'd with death, and lengthen'd out 
 
 To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet 
 
 Mortality my sentence, and he earth 
 
 Insensible? How glad would lay me down 
 
 As in my mother's lap ! There I should rest. 
 
 And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more 
 
 Would thunder in my ears ; no fear of worse 
 
 To me, and to my offspring, would torment me 
 
 Wilh cruel expectation. Yet one doubt 
 
 Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die; 
 
 Lest 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 hfe that sinn'd; what dies but what had life 
 
 And sin? The body properly hath neither. 
 
 All of me then shall die : let this appease 
 
 The doubt, since human reach no further knows : 
 
 For though the Lord of all be infinite. 
 
 Is his wrath also? Be it, Man is not so, 
 
 Bat 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, wiiich to God himself 
 
 Impossible is held ; as argument 
 
 Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out.
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. Ill 
 
 For anger's sake, finite to infinite, 
 
 In punish'd Man, to satisfy his rigour, 
 
 Satisfied never? That were to extend 
 
 His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law; 
 
 By which all causes else, according still 
 
 To the reception of their matter, act; 
 
 Not to the' extent of their own sphere. But say 
 
 That death be not one stroke, as I suppos'd, 
 
 Bereaving sense, but endless misery 
 
 From this day onward ; which I feel begun 
 
 Both in me, and without me; and so last 
 
 To perpetuity: — Ay me! that fear 
 
 Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution 
 
 On my defenceless head; both Death and I 
 
 Are found eternal, and incorporate both; 
 
 Nor I on my part single ; in me all 
 
 Posterity stands curs'd : fair patrimony 
 
 That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able 
 
 To waste it all myself, and leave ye none ! 
 
 So disinherited, how would yon bless 
 
 Me, now your curse ! Ah, why should all mankind. 
 
 For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemn'd, 
 
 If guiltless ? But from me what can proceed, 
 
 Bat all corrupt ; botli mind and will deprav'd 
 
 Not to do only, but to will the same 
 
 With me? How can they then acquitted stand 
 
 In sight of God? Him, after all disputes, 
 
 Forc'd I absolve : all my evasions vain. 
 
 And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still 
 
 But to my own conviction : first and last 
 
 On me, me only, as the source and spring 
 
 Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; 
 
 So might the wrath! Fond wish! couldst thou support 
 
 That burden, heavier than the earth to bear;
 
 112 PARADISE LOST. Book W. 
 
 Than all the world much heavier, though divided 
 With that bad Woman? Thus, what thou desir'st. 
 And what thou fear'st, alike destroys all hope 
 Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable 
 lieyond all past example and future ; 
 To Satan only like both crime and doom. 
 
 Conscience! into what abyss of fears 
 
 And horrors hast thou driven me; out of which 
 
 1 find no way, from deep to deeper plung'd!" 
 Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, 
 
 Through the still night; not now (as ere Man fell) 
 Wholesome, 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 
 Outstretch'd he lay ; on the cold ground ; and oft 
 Curs'd his creation; Death as oft accus'd 
 Of tardy execution, since denounc'd 
 The day of his oifence. " Why comes not Death, 
 (Said he) with one thrice-acceptable stroke 
 To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, 
 Justice Divine not hasten 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 bowers I 
 With other echo late I taught your shades 
 To answer, and resound far other song." — 
 Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld. 
 Desolate where she sat, 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, thyself as felse 
 And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape,
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 115 
 
 Like his, and colour serpentine, may show 
 Thy inward fraud ; to warn all creatures from thee 
 Henceforth ; lest that too heavenly form, pretended 
 To hellish falshood, snare them ! But for thee 
 I had persisted happy ; had not thy pride 
 And wandering vanity, when least 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, 
 To trust thee from my side ; imagin'd wise. 
 Constant, mature, proof against all assaults ; 
 And understood not all was but a show, 
 Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib 
 Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, 
 iMore to the part sinister, from me drawn ; 
 Well if thrown out, as supernumerary 
 To my just number found. O ! why did Gody 
 Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven 
 With Spirits masculine, create at last 
 This novelty 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 female snares, 
 And strait conjunction with this sex : for either 
 He never shall find out fit mate, but such 
 As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; 
 Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain 
 Through her perverseness, but shall see her gain'd 
 By a far worse ; or, if she love, withheld
 
 Hi PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 By parents ; or his happiest choice too late 
 Shall meet, already link'd and wedlock-bound 
 To a fell adversary, his hate or shame : 
 Which infinite calamity shall cause 
 To human life, and household peace confound." 
 
 He added not, and from her turn'd; but Eve, 
 Not so repuls'd, with tears that ceas'd not flowing 
 And tresses all disorder'd, at his feet 
 Fell humble ; and, embracing them, besought 
 His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint : 
 
 " Forsake me not thus, Adam ! witness Heaven 
 What love sincere, and reverence in my heart 
 I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, 
 Unhappily deceiv'd ! Thy suppliant 
 T beg, and clasp thy knees ; bereave me not 
 (Whereon I live) thy gentle looks, thy aid, 
 Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress. 
 My only strengtli and stay : forlorn of thee, 
 Whither shall I betake me, where subsist ? 
 While yet we live, (scarce one short hour perhaps) 
 Between us two let there be peace ; both joining, 
 As join'd in injuries, one enmity 
 Against a foe by doom express assign'd us. 
 That cruel Serpent : on me exercise not 
 Thy hatred for this misery befall'n ; 
 On me already lost, me than thyself 
 More miserable! Both have sinn'd; but thou 
 Against God only ; I against God and thee ; 
 And to the place of judgment 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 ; 
 Me, me only, just object of his ire !" 
 
 She ended weeping ; and her lowly plight
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. ll/> 
 
 Immoveable, till peace obtain'd from fault 
 Acknowledg'd and deplor'd, in Adam wrought 
 Commiseration : soon his heart relented 
 Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, 
 Now at his feet submissive in distress ; 
 Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, 
 His counsel, whom she had displeas'd, his aid ; 
 As one disarm'd, his anger all he lost, 
 And thus with peaceful words uprais'd her soon; — 
 
 " Unwary, and too desirous, as before, 
 So now of what thou know'st not, who desii'st 
 The punishment all on thyself ; alas ! 
 Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain 
 His full wrath, whose thou feel'st as yet least part, 
 And my displeasure bear'st 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 frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, 
 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 lighten 
 Each other's burden, in our share of woe ; 
 Since tlas day's death denounc'd, if aught I see, 
 Will prove no sudden, but a slow-pac'd, evil j 
 A long day's dying, to augment our pain -. 
 And to our seed (O hapless seed !) deriv'd." 
 
 To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied : 
 " Adam, by sad experiment I know 
 How little weight my words with thee can find, 
 Found so erroneous; thence by just event 
 Fouud so unfortunate : nevertheless,
 
 116 PARADISE LOST. Book W. 
 
 Restor'd by thee, vile as I am, to place 
 
 Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain 
 
 Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart 
 
 Living or dying, from thee I will not hide 
 
 What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen. 
 
 Tending to some 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, devour'd 
 
 By Death at last ; (and miserable it is 
 
 To be to others cause of misery, 
 
 Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring 
 
 Into this cursed world a woeful race, 
 
 That after wretched life must be at last 
 
 Food for so foul a monster ;) in thy power 
 
 It lies, yet ere conception to prevent 
 
 Tile race unblest, to being yet unbegot. 
 
 Childless thou art, childless remain : so Deatl* 
 
 Shall be deceiv'd his glut, and with us two 
 
 Be forc'd to satisfy his ravenous maw. 
 
 But if thou judge it hard and difficult. 
 
 Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain 
 
 From love's due rites, nuptial embraces sweet ; 
 
 And with desire to languish without hope. 
 
 Before the present object languishing 
 
 With Hke desire : which would be misery 
 
 And torment less than none of what we dread ; 
 
 Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free 
 
 From what we fear for both, let us make short,— 
 
 Let us seek Death ; — or, he not found, supply 
 
 With our own hands his office on ourselves. 
 
 Why stand we longer shivering ueder fears.
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 117 
 
 That show no end but death; and have the power, 
 Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, 
 Destruction with destruction to destroy?" — 
 
 " She ended liere, or vehement despair 
 Broke off the rest; so much of death her thoughts 
 Had entertaiu'd, as dy'd her cheeks with pale. 
 But Adam (with such counsel nothing sway'd) 
 To better hopes his more attentive mind 
 Labouring had rais'd ; and thos to Eve replied : 
 
 " Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems 
 To argue in thee something more sublime 
 And excellent, than what thy mind contemns ; 
 But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes 
 That excellence thought in thee ; and impUes, 
 Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret 
 For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd. 
 Or if thou covet death, as utmost end 
 Of misery, so thinking to evade 
 The penalty pronounc'd ; doubt not but God 
 Hath wiselier arm'd his vengeful ire, than so 
 To be forestall'd : much more [ fear lest death, 
 So snatch'd, will not exempt us from the pain 
 We are by doom to pay ; rather, such acts 
 Of contumacy will provoke the Highest 
 To make death in us live : then let us seek 
 Some safer resolution, which methinks 
 I have in view, calling to mind with heed 
 Part of our sentence, that ' tliy seed shall braise 
 The Serpent's head :' piteoits 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 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 118 PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 Would be revenge indeed ! which will be lost 
 By death brought on ourselves, or childless days 
 Resolv'd, as thou proposestj so our foe 
 Shall 'scape his punishment ordain'd, and we 
 Instead shall double ours upon our heads. 
 No more be mention'd then of violence 
 Against ourselves ; and wilful barrenness, 
 That cuts us oflF from hope ; and savours only 
 Rancour 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 wrath or reviling ; we expected 
 Immediate dissolution, which we thought 
 Was meant by death that day ; when lo ! to thee 
 Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, 
 And bringing forth ; soon recompens'd with joy, 
 Fruit of thy womb : on me the curse aslope 
 Glanc'd on the ground ; with labour I must earn 
 My bread ; what harm ? Idleness had been worse j 
 My labour will sustain me ; and, lest cold 
 Or heat should injure us, his timely care 
 Hath, unbesought, provided ; and his hands I 
 
 Cloth'd us unworthy, pitying while he judg'd : ; 
 How much more, if we pi-ay him, will his ear 
 Be open, and his heart to pity' incline, } 
 
 And teach us further by what means to shun j 
 
 The' inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow? 
 Which now the sky, with various face, begins 
 To show us in this mountain ; while the winds 
 Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks ! 
 Of these fair spreading trees j which bids us seek
 
 Book 10. PARADISE LOST. 119 
 
 Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish 
 Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal star 
 Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams 
 Reflected may with matter sere foment; 
 Or, by collision of two bodies, grind 
 The air attrite to fire ; as late the clouds 
 Justling, or push'd with winds, rude in their shock, 
 Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, 
 
 driven down. 
 Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine ; 
 And sends a comfortable heat from far, 
 Which might supply the Sun ; such fire to use, 
 And what may else be remedy or cure 
 To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 
 He 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, than, 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 
 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 favour, grace, and mercy, shown ?" 
 
 So spake our father penitent ; nor Eve 
 Felt less remorse : they, forthwith to the place
 
 120 PARADISE LOST. Book 10. 
 
 Repairing where hejudg'd them, prostrate fell 
 Before him reverent; and both confess'd 
 Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd ; with tears 
 Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air 
 Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 
 Of sorrow' unfeigned, and hiimiliatiou meek. 
 
 END OF LOOK X.
 
 THE 
 
 ELEVENTH BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 PARADISE LOST.
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of oiir first 
 parents now repenting, and intercedes for then) : God accepts 
 them, but declares that they mnst no longer abide in Para- 
 dise ; sends Michael with a band of Cbernbim to dispossess 
 them ; but first to reveal to Adam future things. Michael's 
 coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs ; 
 he discerns Michael's approach ; goes out to meet him ; the 
 Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam 
 pleads, but submits. The Angel leads him up to a high hill ; 
 sets before him in vision what shall happen till the Flood.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK XL 
 
 Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood 
 Praying ; for from the mercy-seat above 
 Prevenient grace descending had reraov'd 
 The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh 
 Regenerate grow instead ; that sighs now breath'd 
 Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer 
 Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heaven with speedier flight 
 Thau loudest oratory : yet their port 
 Not of mean suitors; nor important less 
 Seem'd their petition, than when the ancient pair 
 In fables old, (less ancient yet than these,) 
 Deucahon and chaste Pyrrha, to restore 
 The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine 
 Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their Prayers 
 Flew up, nor miss'd the way, by envious winds 
 Blown vagabond or frustrate : in they pass'd 
 Dimensionless through heavenly doors ; then clad 
 With incense, where the golden altar fum'd, 
 By their great Intercessor, came in sight 
 Before the Father's throne : them the glad Son 
 Presenting, thus to intercede began :
 
 124 PARADISE LOST. BooJcil. 
 
 " See, Father, what first-fniits on earth are sprung 
 From thy implanted grace in Man ; these sighs 
 And prayers, which in this golden censer, mix'd 
 With incense, I thy Priest before thee bring; 
 Fruits of more pleasmg sarvoar, from thy seed 
 Sown with contrition in his heart, than those 
 Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees 
 Of Paradise could have produc'd, ere fall'n 
 From iunocence. Now therefore, bend thine car 
 To supplication ; hear his sighs, though mute ; 
 Unskilful with what words to pray, let me 
 Interpret for him ; me, his Advocate 
 And propitiation; all his works on me. 
 Good, or not good, ingraft ; my merit those 
 Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. 
 Accept me ; and, in me, from these receive 
 The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live 
 Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days 
 Numbei-'d, though sad ; till death, his doom, (which I 
 To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) 
 To better life shall yield him ; where with me 
 All my redeem'd 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 h 
 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 
 No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul. 
 Eject him, tainted now ; and purge him off, 
 Asa distemper, gross, to air as gross. 
 And mortal food, as may dispose him best 
 For dissolution wrought by sin; that first
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 125 
 
 Distemper'd all things, and of incorrupt 
 Cornipted. I, at first, with two fair gifts 
 Created him endow'd ; with happiness, 
 And immortality : that fondly lost, 
 This other serv'd but to eternize woe ; 
 Till I provided death: so death becomes 
 His final remedy ; and (after life, 
 Tried in sharp tribulation, and refin'd 
 By faith and faithful works,) to second life, 
 Wak'd in the renovation of the just, 
 Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renew'd.— 
 But let us call to synod all the Blest, [not hide 
 Through Heaven's wide bounds : from thenj I will 
 My judgments ; how with Mankind I proceed. 
 As how with peccant Angels late they saw. 
 And in their state, though firm, stood more con- 
 firm'd." 
 
 He ended, and the Son gave signal high 
 To the bright minister that watch'd; he blew 
 His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps 
 When God descended, and perhaps once more 
 To sound at general doom. The' angelic blast 
 Fill'd all the regions : from their blissful bowers 
 Of amaranthine shade, fountain or spring, 
 By the waters of life, where'er they sat 
 In fellowships of joy, the Sons of Light 
 Hasted, resorting to the summons high ; 
 And took their seats : till from his throne supreme 
 The' Almighty thus pronounc'd his sov'ran 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
 
 126 PARADISE LOST. Book 11. 
 
 Good by itself, and evil not all. 
 
 He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite ; 
 
 My motions in him : longer than they move, 
 
 His heart I know, how variable and vain, 
 
 Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand 
 
 Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, 
 
 And live for ever, (dream at least to live 
 
 For ever,) to remove him I decree, 
 
 And send him from the garden forth to till 
 
 The ground whence he was taken ; fitter soil. 
 
 " Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; 
 Take to thee from among the Cherubim 
 Thy choice of flaming warriors, lest the Fiend, 
 Or in behalf of Man, or to invade 
 Vacant possession, some new trouble raise : 
 Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God 
 Without remorse drive out the sinful pair ; 
 From hallow'd ground the' unholy j and denounce 
 To them, and to their progeny, from thence 
 Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint 
 At the sad sentence rigorously urg'd, 
 (For I behold them soften'd, and with tears 
 Bewailing their excess,) all terror hide. 
 If patiently thy bidding they obey. 
 Dismiss them not disconsolate ; reveal 
 To Adam what shall come in future days, 
 As I shall thee enlighten ; intermix 
 My covenant in the Woman's seed renew'd ; 
 So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace : 
 And on the east side of the garden place. 
 Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, 
 Cherubic watch ; and of a sword the flame ] 
 
 Wide-waving : all approach far off to fright, j ] 
 
 And guard all passage to the tree of life : j |
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 127 
 
 Lest Paradise a receptacle prove 
 
 To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey ; 
 
 With whose stol'n fruit Man once more to delude," 
 
 He ceas'd ; and the' arch-angelic Power prepar'd 
 For swift descent ; with him the cohort bright 
 Of watcliful Cherubim : four faces each 
 Had, like a double Janus; all their shape 
 Spangled with eyes more numerous than those 
 Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drowse, 
 Charm'd with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed 
 Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Meanwhile, 
 To re-salute the world with sacred Ught, 
 Leucothea wak'd ; and with fresh dews embalm'd 
 The earth ; when Adam and first matron Eve 
 Had ended now their orisons, and found 
 Strength added from above ; new hope to spring 
 Out of despair ; joy, but with fear yet link'd ; 
 Wliich thus to Eve his welcome words renew'd :— 
 
 " Eve, easily may faith admit, that all 
 The good which we enjoy, from Heaven descends , 
 But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven 
 So prevalent as to concern the mind 
 Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, 
 Hard to believe may seem ; yet this will prayer 
 Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne 
 Even to the seat of God. For since I sought 
 By prayer the' offended Deity to' appease ; 
 Kneel'd and before him humbled all my heart j 
 Methought I saw him placable and mild. 
 Bending his ear ; persuasion in me grew, 
 That I was heard with favour j peace return'd 
 Home to my breast, and to my memory 
 His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; 
 Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now
 
 J 28 PARA.DISE LOST. Bouk li. 
 
 Assures me that the bitterness of death 
 Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee, 
 Eve rightly call'd, mother of all mankind, 
 Mother of all things Hving, since by thee 
 Man is to live ; and all things live for Man." 
 
 To whom thus Eve, with sad demeanor meek : 
 ** Ill-worthy I such title should belong 
 To me transgressor ; who, for thee ordain'd 
 A help, became thy snare ; to me reproach 
 Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise : 
 But infinite in pardon was my Judge, 
 That I, who first brought death on all, am grac'd 
 The source of life ; next favourable thou. 
 Who highly thus to' entitle me vouchsaf'st, 
 Far other name deserving. But the field 
 To labour calls us, now with sweat impos'd, 
 Though after sleepless night ; for see ! the Morn, 
 All unconcem'd with our unrest, begins 
 Her rosy progress smiling ; let us forth ; 
 I never from thy side henceforth to stray, 
 Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoin'd 
 Laborious, till day droop ; while here we dwell. 
 What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks ? 
 Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content." 
 
 So spake, so wish'd much-humbled Eve ; but Fate 
 Subscrib'd not : Nature first gave signs, impress'd 
 On bird, beast, air ; air suddenly eclips'd, 
 After short blush of morn ; nigh in her sight 
 The bird of Jove, stoop'd from his aery tour, 
 Two birds of gayest plume before him drove ; 
 Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, 
 First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, 
 GoodHest of all the forest, hart and hind ; 
 Direct to the' eastern gate was bent their flight.
 
 Book n. PARADISE LOST. 129 
 
 Adam observ'd, and with liis eye the chase 
 Pursuing not unmov'd, to Eve thus spake : 
 
 " O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, 
 Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature,siiows 
 Forerunners of his purpose ; or to warn 
 Us, haply too secure, of our discharge 
 From penalty, because from death releasd 
 Some days : how long, and what till then our life, 
 Who knows r or more than this, — that we are dust, 
 And thither must return, and be no more? 
 Why else this double object in our sight 
 Of flight pursued in the' air, and o'er the ground. 
 One way the self-same hour ? why in the east 
 Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light 
 More orient in yon western cloud, that draws 
 O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, 
 And slow descends, with something heavenly 
 fraught!" 
 
 He err'd not ; for by this the heavenly bands 
 Down from a sky of jasper lighted now 
 In Paradise, and on a hill made halt j 
 A glorious apparition, had not doubt 
 And caraal fear that day dimm'd Adam's eye. 
 Not that more glorious, when the Angels met 
 Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw 
 The field paviliou'd with his guardians bright ; 
 Nor that, which on the flaming mount appear'd 
 In Dotham, coverd with a camp of fire, 
 Against the Syrian king, who to surprise 
 One man, assassin-like, had levied war. 
 War unproclaim'd. The princely Hierarch 
 In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seize 
 Possession of the garden ; he alone, 
 To find where Adam shelter'd, took his way,
 
 130 PARADISE LOST. Book 11. 
 
 Not unperceiv'd of Adam ; who to Eve, 
 
 While the great Visitant approach'd, thus spake : 
 
 " Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps 
 Of us will soon determine, or impose 
 New laws to be observ'd ; for I descry, 
 From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, 
 One of the heavenly host ; and, by his gait, 
 None of the meanest ; some great Potentate 
 Or of the Thrones above ; such majesty 
 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 the' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, 
 Not in his shape celestial, but as man 
 Clad to meet man ; over his lucid arms 
 A military vest of purple flow'd. 
 Livelier than Melibcean, or the grain 
 Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old 
 In time of tmce ; Iris had dipt the woof; 
 His starry helm, unbuckled, show'd him prime 
 In manhood where youth ended ; by his side, 
 As in a glistering zodiac, hung the sword, 
 Satan's dire dread ; and in his hand the spear. 
 Adam bow'd low ; he kingly, from his state 
 Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd ; — 
 
 " Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs : 
 Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, 
 Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, 
 Defeated of his seizure many days 
 Given thee of grace; wherein thou may'st repent. 
 And one bad act with many deeds well done 
 May'st cover. Well may then thy Lord, appeas'd,
 
 Bookil. PARADISE LOST. 131 
 
 Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; 
 But longer in this Paradise to dwell 
 Permits not : to remove thee I am come, 
 And send thee from the garden forth to till 
 The ground whence thou wast taken ; fitter soil." 
 
 He added not ; for Adam at tlie news 
 Heart-struck 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 than of Death ! 
 Must I thus leave thee, Paradise ? thus leave 
 Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, 
 Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, 
 Quiet though sad, the respite of that day 
 That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, 
 That never will in other climate grow. 
 My early visitation, and my last 
 At even, which I bred up with tender hand 
 From the first opening bud, and gave ye names ! 
 Who now shall rear ye to the Sun, or rank 
 Your tribes, and water from the' ambrosial fount r 
 Thee lastly, nuptial bower ! by me adorn'd 
 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 wild r how shall we breathe in other air 
 Less pure, accustom'd to immortal fruits ?" 
 
 Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild : — 
 '* Lament not. Eve, but patiently resign 
 What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, 
 Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine : 
 Thy going is not lonely ; with thee goes 
 Thy husband ; him to follow thou art bound ; 
 Where he abides, think there thy native soil.'
 
 132 PARADISE LOST. Book ll. 
 
 Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp 
 Recovering, and his scatter'd spirits return'd, 
 To Michael thus his humble words address'd : 
 
 " Celestial! whether among the thrones, or nam'd 
 Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem 
 Prince above princes ! gently hast thou told 
 Thy message, which might else in telling wound, 
 And in performing end us; what besides 
 Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, 
 Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, — 
 Departure from this happy place, (our sweet 
 Recess, and only consolation left 
 Familiar to our eyes !) all places else 
 Inhospitable appear, 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 weary him with my assiduous cries: 
 But prayer against his absolute decree 
 No more avails than breath against the wind. 
 Blown stifling back on him that breathse it forth ; 
 Therefore to his great bidding I submit. 
 This most afflicts me, that departing hence, 
 As from his face I shall be hid, depriv'd 
 His blessed countenance : here I could frequent 
 With worship place by place where he vouchsaf'd 
 Presence Divine ; and to my sons relate, 
 * On this mount He appear'd ; under this tree 
 Stood visible ; among these pines His voice 
 I heard ; here with Him at this fountain talk'd :'— 
 So many grateful altars I would rear 
 Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone 
 Of lustre from the brook, in memory, 
 Or monument to ages ; and thereon 
 Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fi uits, and flowers :
 
 Booh 11. PARADISE LOST. 1S3 
 
 In yonder netlier world wliere shall I seek 
 His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? 
 For though I fled him angry, yet, recail'd 
 To life prolong'd and promis'd race, I now 
 Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts 
 Of glory ; and far otf his steps adore.' 
 
 To whom thus Michael with regard benign : 
 " Adam, thou know'st Heaven his, and all the Earth j 
 Not this rock only ; his Omnipresence fills 
 Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, 
 Fomented by his virtual power and warm'd : 
 All the Earth he gave tliee to possess and rule, 
 No despicable gift } surmi.-e not then 
 His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd 
 Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been 
 Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread 
 All generations ; and had hither come 
 From all the ends of the' Eartli, to celebrate 
 And reverence thee, their great progenitor. 
 But this pre-eminence thou' hast lost, brought down 
 To dwell on even ground now with thy sons : 
 Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain, 
 God is, as here; and will be found alike 
 present ; and of his presence many a sign 
 Still following thee, stili compas.>ing thee round 
 With goodness and paternal love, his face 
 Express, and of his steps the track divine. 
 Which that thou may'st believe, and be confirm'd 
 Ere thou from hence depart j know, I am sent 
 To show thee what shall come in future days 
 To thee, and to thy offspring : good with bad 
 Expect to hear ; supernal grace contending 
 With sinfulness of men ; thereby to learn 
 True patience, and to temper joy with fear 
 
 YOL. II. K
 
 134 PARADISE LOST. BooJc 11. 
 
 And pious sorrow : equally inur'd 
 By moderation eitlier state to bear, 
 Prosperous or adverse : so shalt thou lead 
 Safest tliy life, and best prepar'd endure 
 Thy mortal passage when it comes. — Ascend 
 This hill ; let Eve (for I have drench'd her eyes) 
 Here sleep below ; while thou to foresight wak'st ; 
 As once thou sleptst, while she to life was form'd." 
 
 To whom thus Adam gratefully replied : 
 *' Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path 
 Thou lead'st me ; and to the hand of Heaven submit, 
 However chastening ; to the evil turn 
 My obvious breast; arming to overcome 
 By suffering, and earn 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 clearest ken, 
 Stretch'd out to the' amplest reach of prospect lay. 
 Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, 
 Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set 
 Our second Adam, in the wilderness ; 
 To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their gloiy. 
 His eye might there command wherever stood 
 City of old or modern fame, the seat 
 Of mightiest empire, from the destin'd walls 
 Of Clambahi, seat of Cathain Cham, 
 And Samarchand by Oxis, Temir's throne, 
 To Pekin of Sinaean kings ; and thence 
 To Agra and Labor of great Mogul, 
 Down to tlie golden Chersonese ; or where 
 The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since 
 In Hispahan ; or where the Russian Czar 
 In Moscow 5 or the Sultan in Bizance,
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 135 
 
 Turchestan-born ; nor could his eye not ken 
 The' empire of Negus, to his utmost port 
 Ercoco ; and the less maratime iiings 
 Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, 
 And Sofala, thought Ophir, to tlie realm 
 Of Congo, and Angola farthest south ; 
 Or thence from Niger-flood to Atlas-mount 
 The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, 
 Morocco, 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 Montezume, 
 And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat 
 Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoild 
 Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons 
 Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights 
 Michael from Adams eyes the film remov'd, 
 Which that false fruit that promis'd clearer sight 
 Had bred j then purg'd with euphrasy and rue 
 Tiie visual nerve, for he had mucii to see ; 
 And from the well of life three drops instill'd. 
 So deep the power of these ingredients pierc'd, 
 (Ev'n 10 the inmost seat of mental sight) 
 That Adam, now enforc'd to close his eyes, 
 Sunk down, and all his spirits became intranc'd j 
 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 
 The' effects, which thy original crime hath wrought 
 In some to spring from thee ; wlio never touch'd 
 The' 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 opeu'd, and beheld a field,
 
 136 PARADISE LOST. Book 11. 
 
 Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves 
 New reap'd ; the other part sheep-walks and folds j 
 I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, 
 Rustic, of grassy sward ; thither anon 
 A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought 
 First fiTiits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, 
 UncuU'd, as came to hand j a shepherd next, 
 More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, 
 Choicest and best ; then, sacrificing, laid 
 The inwards and their fat, with incense strow'd. 
 On the cleft wood, and all due rites perform'd : 
 His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven 
 Consum*d with nimble glance, and grateful steam ; 
 The other's not, for his was not shicere ; 
 Whereat he inly rag'd, and, as they talk'd. 
 Smote him into the midriff with a stone 
 That beat out life ; he fell; and, deadly pale, 
 Groan'd out his soul with gushing blood effus'd. 
 Much at that sight was Adam in his heart 
 Dismay'd, and thus in haste to the' Angel cried : 
 
 " O Teacher ! some great mischief hath befaU'u 
 To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd : 
 Is piety thus and pure devotion paid :" 
 
 To' whom Michael thus (he also mov'd) replied : 
 " These two are brethen, Adam, and to come 
 Out of thy loins; the' unjust the just hath slain, 
 For envy that liis brother's offering found 
 From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact 
 Will be aveng'd ; and the' other's faith, approv'd, 
 Lose no reward : though here thou see him die, 
 Rolling in dust and gore." To which our Sire : 
 
 " 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
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 15?' 
 
 Of terror, 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 ways that lead 
 To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense 
 More terrible at the' entrance, than within. 
 Some, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die; 
 By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more 
 In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring 
 Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew 
 Before thee shall appear; that thou may'st know 
 What misery the' inabstinence of Eve 
 Shall bring on Men." — Immediately a place 
 Before his eyes appear'd, sad, noisome, dark ; 
 A lazar-house it seera'd ; wherein were laid 
 Numbers of all diseas'd ; all maladies 
 Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms 
 Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, 
 Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, 
 Intestine stone and ulcer, colic-pangs. 
 Demoniac phrenzy, moping melancholy. 
 And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, 
 Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, 
 Dropsies, and asthmas, 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 delay'd to strike, though oft invok'd 
 With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. 
 Sight so deform what heart of rock could long 
 Dry-ey'd behold ? Adam could not, but wept, 
 Though not of woman bom ; compassion quell'd 
 His best of man, and gave him up to tears
 
 1S8 PARADISE LOST. Boofc 11. 
 
 A space, till firmer thoughts restrain'd excess ; 
 And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renew'd: 
 
 ** O miserable mankind! to what fall 
 Degraded, to what wretched state reserv'd ! 
 Better end here unborn. Why is life given 
 To be thus wrested from us ? rather, why 
 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 disraiss'd in peace. Can thus 
 The' image of God in Man, created once 
 So goodly and erect though faulty since, 
 To such unsightly suflferings be debas'd 
 Under inhuman pains ? Why should not Man, 
 Retaining still divine Similitude 
 In part, from such deformities be free. 
 And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt?' 
 
 " Their Maker's image (answerd Michael) ti)eu 
 Forsook them, when themselves they vilified 
 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 their punishment. 
 Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own ; 
 Or if his likeness, by themselves defac'd ; 
 While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules 
 To loathsome sickness ; worthily since they 
 God's image did not reverence in themselves." 
 
 " I yield 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,
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 139 
 
 In what thou eat'standdiink'st; seeking from thence 
 Due nourishment, not gluttonous deUght, 
 Till many years over thy iiead return : 
 So mayst thou live ; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop 
 Into thy motliei-'s lap ; or be with ease 
 Gather'd, not harshly pluck'd; for death mature : 
 This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive 
 Thy youth, thy strengtli, thy beauty ; which will 
 
 change 
 To wither'd, weak, and gray; thy senses then, 
 Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, 
 To what thou hast ; and, for the air of youth. 
 Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign 
 A melancholy damp of cold and dry 
 To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume 
 The balm of life." To whom our ancestor: 
 
 " Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong 
 Life much ; bent rather, how I may be quit, 
 Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge ; 
 Which I must keep till my appointed day 
 Of rendering up, and patiently attend 
 My dissolution." Michael replied : 
 
 " Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou liv'st 
 Live well; how long or short, permit to Heaven! 
 And now prepare thee for another sight." 
 
 He look'd and saw a spacious plain, whereon 
 Were tents of various hue : by some, were herds 
 Of cattle grazing ; others, whence the sound 
 Of instrrments, that made melodious chime, 
 Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who m.ov'd 
 Their stops and chords, was seen ; his volant touch, 
 Instinct through all proportions, low and high. 
 Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. 
 In other part stood one who, at the forge
 
 140 PARADISE LOST. Book 11, 
 
 Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass 
 Had melted ; (whether found where casual fire 
 Had vA'asted woods on mountain or in vale, 
 Down to the veins of earth 5 thence gliding hot 
 To some cave's mouth; or whether wash'd by stream 
 From underground ;) the liquid ore he drain'd 
 Into fit moulds prepar'd, from which he form'd 
 First his own tools ; then, what might else be wrought 
 Fr.sile or graven in metal. After these, 
 But on the hither side, a different sort [seat, 
 
 From the high neighbouring hills, which was their 
 Down to the plain descended : by their guise 
 Just men they seem'd, and ail their study bent 
 To worship God aright, and know his works 
 Not hid ; nor those things last, which might preserve 
 Freedom and peace to Men : they on the plain 
 Long had not walk'd, when from the tents, behold! 
 A bevy of fair women, richly gay 
 In gems and wanton dress ; to the' harp they sung 
 Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on : 
 The men, though grave, ey'd them ; and let their eyes 
 Rove without rein ; till, in the amorous net 
 Fast caught, they lik'd ; aud each his liking chose : 
 And now of love they treat, till the' evening-star, 
 Love's harbinger, appear'd ; then all in heat 
 They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 
 Hymen, then first to marriage-rites invok'd: 
 With feast and nmsic all the tents resound. 
 Such happy interview, and fair event 
 Of love and youth not lost, song*, garlands, flowers^ 
 And charming symphonies, attach'd tlie heart 
 Of Adam, soon inclin'd to' admit delight. 
 The bent of nature; which he thus express'd : 
 *' True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest j
 
 Booh 11. PARADISE LOST. 141 
 
 Much better seems this vision, and more hope 
 Of peaceful days portends, than those two past y 
 Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; 
 Here Nature seems fulfiil'd in all her ends." 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " Judge not what is best 
 By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet j 
 Created, as thou art, to nobler end, 
 Holy and pure, conformity divine! 
 Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant, were the tent* 
 Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race 
 Who slew his brother ; studious they appear 
 Of arts that polish life, inventors rare ; 
 Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit 
 Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledg'duone. 
 Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget ; 
 For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seem'd 
 Of goddesses, so bUthe, so smooth, so gay, 
 Yet empty of all good wherein consists 
 Woman's domestic honour and chief praise ; 
 Bred only and completed to the taste 
 Of lustful apetence, to sing, to dance, 
 To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. 
 To these that sober race of men, (whose lives 
 Religious, titled them the sons of God,) 
 Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame 
 Ignobly, to tlie trains and to the smiles 
 Of these fair atheists ; and now swim in joy, 
 (Erelong to swim at large) and laugh ; for wliich 
 The world erelong a world of tears must weep." 
 
 To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft: 
 *' O pity' and shame, tbat they, who to live well 
 Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread 
 Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint !
 
 142 PARADISE LOST. Book 11. 
 
 But still I see the tenor of Man's woe 
 Holds on the same, from Woman to begin." 
 
 " From Man's effeminate slackness it begins, 
 (Said the' Angel), who should better hold his place 
 By wisdom, and superior gifts receiv'd. 
 But now prepare thee for another scene." 
 
 He look'd, and saw wide territory spread 
 Before him, towns and rural works between ; 
 Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, 
 Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, 
 Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise ; 
 Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, 
 Single or in array of battle, rang'd 
 Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood ; 
 One way a band select from forage drives 
 A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, 
 From a fat meadow-ground; or fleecy flock. 
 Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, 
 Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, 
 But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; 
 With cruel tournament the squadrons join ; 
 Where cattle pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies 
 With carcasses and arms the' ensanguin'd field. 
 Deserted : others to a city strong 
 Lay siege, encamp'd ; by battery, scale, and mine, 
 Assaulting ; others from the wall defend 
 With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire ; 
 On each hand slaughter, and gigantic deeds. 
 In other part the scepter'd heralds call 
 To council, in the city-gates : anon 
 Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors niix'd, 
 Assemble, and harangues are heard ; but soon, 
 In factious opposition: till at last. 
 
 1
 
 Book 11, PARADISE LOST. 143 
 
 Of middle age one rising, eminent, 
 
 In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, 
 
 Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace, 
 
 And judgment 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, 
 
 Tlirough all the plain, and refuge none was found. 
 
 Adam was all in tears, and to his guide 
 
 Lamenting turn'd full sad ; " O ! what are these, 
 
 Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death 
 
 Inhumanly to men, and multiply 
 
 Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew 
 
 His brother : for of whom such massacre 
 
 Make they, but of their brethren ; men of men ? 
 
 But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven 
 
 Rescued, had in his righteousness been lostr' 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " These are the product 
 Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawst ; 
 Wiiere good with bad were match'd, who of them- 
 Abhor to join ; and, by imprudence mix'd, [selves 
 Produce prodigious births of body' or mind. 
 Such were these giants, men of high renown ; 
 For in those days might only shall be' admir'd, 
 And valour and heroic virtue calld ; 
 To overcome in battle, and subdue 
 Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite 
 Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch 
 Of human glory ; and for glory done 
 Of triumph, to be styl'd great conquerors. 
 Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods ; 
 Destroyers rightUer call'd, and plagues of men. 
 Thus fame shall be atchiev'd, renown on earth j
 
 144 PARADISE LOST. Book li. 
 
 And what most merits fame, in silence hid. 
 But he, the seventh from thee whom thou beheld'st, 
 The only 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 
 To judge them with his Saints: him the Most High, 
 Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds. 
 Did (as thou saw'st) receive, to walk with God 
 High in salvation and the climes of bliss, 
 Exempt from death; to show thee what reward 
 Awaits the good ; the rest what punishment ; 
 Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold." 
 He look'd, and saw the face of things quite 
 chang'd ; 
 The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar ; 
 All now was turn'd to jollity and game, 
 To luxury and riot, feast and dance ; 
 Marrying or prostituting, as befel, 
 Rape or adultery, where passing fair 
 AUur'd them ; thence from cups to civil broils. 
 At length a reverend Sire among them came, 
 And of their doings great dislike declar'd. 
 And testified against their ways; he oft 
 Frequented their assemblies, whereso met. 
 Triumphs or festivals ; and to them preach'd 
 Conversion and repentance, as to souls 
 In prison, under judgments imminent: 
 But all in vain ! Which when he saw, he ceas'd 
 Contending, and remov'd his tents far off; 
 Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, 
 Began to build a vessel of huge bulk ; 
 Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and heighth ; 
 Smear'd round with pitch; and in the side a door
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. 145 
 
 Contriv'd ; and of provisions laid in large, 
 For man and beast : when lo, a wonder strange! 
 Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, 
 Came sevens, and pairs ; and enter'd in as taught 
 Their order : last, the sire and his three sons. 
 With theirfour wives; and God made fast the door. 
 Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black 
 Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove [wings 
 From under Heaven ; the hills to their supply 
 Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist. 
 Sent up amain ; and now the thicken'd sky 
 Like a dark ceiling stood ; down rush'd the rain 
 Impetuous ; and continued, till the earth 
 No more was seen : the floating vessel swum 
 Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow 
 Rode tilting o'er the waves ; all dwellings else 
 Flood overwhelmd, and them with all their pomp 
 Deep under water roU'd ; sea cover'd sea. 
 Sea without shore ; and in their palaces. 
 Where luxury late reign'd, sea-monsters whelp'd 
 And stabled ; of mankind (so numerous late) 
 All left, in one small bottom swum imbark'd. 
 How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold 
 The end of ail thy oifspring, end so sad, 
 Depopulation! Thee another flood, 
 Of tears and sorrow' a flood, thee also drown'd, 
 And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reard 
 By the' Angel, on thy feet thou stood'st at last, 
 Though comfortless ; as when a father mourns 
 His children, all in view destroy'd at once ; 
 And scarce to the' Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint : 
 
 " O visions ill foreseen ! Better had I 
 Liv'd ignorant of future ! so had borne 
 My part of evil only, each day's lot
 
 146 PARADISE T.OST. Book 11. 
 
 Enough to bear j those now, that were dispens'd 
 
 The burden of many ages, on me light 
 
 At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth 
 
 Abortive, to torment me ere their being, 
 
 With thought that they must be. Let no man seek 
 
 Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall 
 
 Him or his children; evil he may be sure, 
 
 Which neither his foreknowing can prevent j 
 
 And he the future evil shall no less 
 
 In apprehension than in substance feel, 
 
 Grievous to bear : but that care now is past, 
 
 Man is not whom to warn : those few escap'd 
 
 Famine and anguish will at last consume, 
 
 Wandering that watery desart : I had hope, 
 
 When violence was ceas'd, and war on earth. 
 
 All would have then gone well; peace would have 
 
 With length of happy days the race of Man : [crown'd 
 
 But I was far deceiv'd ; for now I see 
 
 Peace to corrupt, no less than war to waste. 
 
 How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide ; 
 
 And whether here the race of Man will end." 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " Those, whom last thou 
 In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they [saw'st 
 First seen in acts of prowess eminent 
 And great exploits, but of true virtue void ; 
 Who, having spilt much blood,and done much waste 
 Subduing nations, and atchiev'd thereby 
 Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey, 
 Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, 
 Surfeit, and lust ; till wantonness and pride 
 Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. 
 The conqur'd also, and enslav'd by war. 
 Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose 
 And fear of God ; from whom their piety feign'd
 
 Book 11. PARADISE LOST. I'JT 
 
 In sharp contest of battle found no aid 
 Against invaders ; therefore, cool'd in zeal, 
 Thenceforth shall practise how to live secure, 
 Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords 
 Shall leave them to enjoy ; (for the' earth shall bear 
 More than enough, that temperance may be tried :) 
 So ali shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd ; 
 Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot ; 
 One man except, the only Son of Light 
 In a dark age, against example good, 
 Against alluvement, custom, and a world 
 Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn 
 Or violence, he of their wicked ways 
 Shall them admonish ; and before them set 
 The paths of righteousness, bow much more safe, 
 And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come 
 On their impenitence; and shall return 
 Of them derided: but of God observ'd 
 The one just man alive ; by his command 
 Shall build a wondrous ark, (as thou beheldst) 
 To save himself and household, from amidst 
 A world devote to universal wrack. 
 No sooner he, with them of man and beast 
 Select for hfe, shall in the ark be lodg'd. 
 And shelter'd round ; but all the cataracts 
 Of Heaven set open, on the Earth shall pour 
 Rain, day and night; all fountains 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 mov'd 
 Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood. 
 With all his verdure spoil d, and trees adrift,
 
 148 PARADISE LOST. Book 11, 
 
 Down the great river to the opening gulf, 
 And there take root; an island salt and bare, 
 The haunt of seals, and ores, and sea-mews' clang j 
 To teach thee that God attributes to place 
 No sanctity, if none be thither brought 
 By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. 
 And now, what further shall ensue, behold." 
 
 He look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood, 
 Which now abated ; for the clouds were fled, 
 Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, 
 Wrinkled the face of Deluge, as decay'd ; 
 And the clear Sun on his wide watery glass 
 Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, 
 As after thirst ; which made their flowing shrink 
 From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole 
 With soft foot towards the Deep; whonowbadstopt 
 His sluices, as the Heaven his windows shut. 
 The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, 
 Fast on the top of some high mountain fix'd. 
 And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; 
 With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, 
 Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. 
 Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, 
 And after him the surer messenger, 
 A dove sent forth once and again to spy 
 Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light : 
 The second time returning, in his bill 
 An olive-leaf he brings, pacific sign : 
 Anon, dry ground appears, and from his ark 
 The ancient Sire descends, with all his train. 
 Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout. 
 Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds 
 A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
 
 Book 11. PAUADISE LOST. 149 
 
 Conspicuous with three listed colours gay, 
 Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. 
 Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad, 
 Greatly rejoic'd ; and thus his joy broke forth :~ 
 
 " O thou, who future things canst represent 
 As present, heavenly Instructor ! I revive 
 At this last sight; assur'd that Man shall live, 
 With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. 
 Far less I now lament for one whole world 
 Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice 
 For one man found so perfect, and so just, 
 That God vouchsafes to raise another world 
 From him, and all his anger to forget. 
 But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in HeavcD 
 Distended, as the brow of God appeas'd? 
 Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind 
 The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, 
 Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth?" 
 
 To whom the' Arch-Angel : " Dextrously thon 
 So willingly dolh God remit his ire [aim'st; 
 
 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 their way ; yet, those remov'd, 
 Such grace shall one just man find in his sight. 
 That he relents, not to blot out mankind ; 
 And makes a covenant never to destroy 
 The earth again by flood ; nor let the sea 
 Surpass his bounds ; nor rain to drown the world, 
 With man therein or beast : but, when he brings 
 Over the earth a cloud, will therein set 
 His triple-colour'd bow, whereon to look, 
 And call to mind his covenant : day and uight, 
 
 VOL. II. t
 
 150 PARADISE LOST. Book 11. 
 
 Seed-time and harvest, beat and lioavy frost, 
 Shall bold their course; till fire purge all things new, 
 Both Heaven and Earth, wbereiji the just shall 
 dwell." 
 
 END OF BOOK SI.
 
 THE 
 
 TWELFTH BOOK 
 
 OP 
 
 PARADISE LOST
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Angel Michael continues, from the Flood, to relate what 
 shall succeed; then, in ihe mention of Abraham, comes by 
 dejirees to explain, who that Seed of the Woman shall be, 
 which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; his incar- 
 nation, death, resurrection, and ascension ; the slate of the 
 Church till his second coming. Adam, greatly satisfied and 
 recomtorted by these relations and promises, descends the hill 
 with Michael ; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but 
 with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and sub- 
 mission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, 
 the tiery sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim 
 taking their stations to guard the place.
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK XII. 
 
 As one who in his journey bates at noon, 
 Though bent on speed ; so here the' Arch-Angel 
 
 paus'd 
 Betwixt the world destroyd 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 j 
 And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. 
 Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive 
 Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine 
 Must needs impair and weary human sense : 
 Henceforth what is to come I will relate ; 
 Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. 
 
 " This second source of Men, while yet but few, 
 And while the dread of judgment past remains 
 Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, 
 With some regard to what is just and right 
 Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace ; 
 Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, 
 Com, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, 
 Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, 
 With large wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred feast,
 
 154 PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 Shall spend their days in joy unhlam'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 equality, fraternal state, 
 Will arrogate dominion undeserv'd 
 Over his brethren, and quite dispossess 
 Concord and law of nature from the earth ; 
 Hunting (and men, not beasts, shall be his game) 
 With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse 
 Subjection to his empire tyrannous : 
 A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd 
 Before the Lord ; as in despite of Heaven, 
 Or from Heaven, claiming second sov'ranty ; 
 And from rebellion shall derive his name, 
 Though of rebellion others he accuse. 
 He with a crew, whom like ambition joins 
 With him or under him to tyrannize, 
 Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find 
 The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge 
 Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell : 
 Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build 
 A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven ; 
 And get themselves a name ; lest, far dispers'd 
 In foreign lands, their memory be lost ; 
 Regardless whether good or evil fame. 
 But God, (who oft descends to visit men 
 Unseen, and through their habitations walks 
 To mark their doings,) them beholding soon, 
 Comes down to see their city, ere the tower 
 Obstruct Heaven-towers ; and in derision sets 
 Upon their tongues a various spirit, to raze 
 Quite out their native language ; and, instead, 
 To sow a jangling noise of words unknown.
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 155 
 
 Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, 
 
 Among the builders ; each to other calls 
 
 Not understood ; till hoarse, and all in rage, 
 
 As mock'd they storm: greatlaughterwas in Heaven, 
 
 And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, 
 
 And hear the din : thus was the building left 
 
 Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd." 
 
 Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeas'd : 
 *' O execrable son ! so to aspire 
 Above his brethren; to himself assuming 
 Authority usurp'd, from God not given: 
 He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, 
 Dominion absolute ; that right we hold 
 By liis donation ; but man over men 
 He made not Lord ; such title to himself 
 Reserving, human left from human free. 
 But this usurper his encroachment proud 
 Stays not on man ; to God his tower intends 
 Siege and defiance. VYretched man ! what food 
 Will he convey up thither, to sustain 
 Himself and his rash army ; where thin air 
 Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, 
 And famish him of breath, if not of bread?" 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " Justly thou abhorr'st 
 That son, who on the quiet state of men 
 Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue 
 Rational liberty ; yet know withal. 
 Since thy original lapse, true liberty 
 Is lost, which always with right reason dwells 
 Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being: 
 Reason in man obscnr d, or not obey'd, 
 Immediately inordinate desires, 
 And upstart passions, catch the government 
 From reason : and to servitude reduce
 
 156 PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits 
 
 Within himself unworthy powers to reign 
 
 Over free reason, God, in judgment just, 
 
 Subjects him from without to violent lords j 
 
 "Who oft as undeservedly enthral 
 
 His outward freedon» : tyranny must be ; 
 
 Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. 
 
 Yet sometimes nations will decline so low 
 
 From virtue, (which is reason) that no wrong, 
 
 But justice, and some fatal curse annex'd, 
 
 Deprives them of their outward liberty : 
 
 Their inward lost : witness the' irreverent son 
 
 Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame 
 
 Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, 
 
 Servant of servants, on his vicious 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 j resolving from thenceforth 
 
 To leave them to their own polluted ways; 
 
 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 patriarch liv'd, who 'scap'd the flood, 
 
 As to forsake the living God, and fall 
 
 To worship their own work in wood and stone 
 
 For gods ! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes 
 
 To call by vision, from his father's house, 
 
 His kindred, and false gods, into a land 
 
 Which he will show him; and from him will raise
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 15T 
 
 A mighty nation; and upon him shower 
 
 His benediction so, that in his seed 
 
 All nations shall be blest: he 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 soil, 
 
 Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford 
 
 To Haran ; after him a cumbrous train 
 
 Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude ; 
 
 Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth 
 
 With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown. 
 
 Canaan he now attains; I see his tents 
 
 Pitch'd about Sichem, and the neighbouring plain 
 
 Of Moreh; there by promise he receives 
 
 Gift to his progeny of all that land, 
 
 From Hamath northward to the Desart south; 
 
 (Things by their names I call, though yet unuam'd;) 
 
 From Hermon east to the great western Sea; 
 
 Mount Hermon, yonder sea; (each place behold 
 
 In prospect, as I point them;) on the shore 
 
 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 Serpent's head ; m hereof to thee anon 
 
 Plainlier shall be reveal'd. This patriarch blest, 
 
 {Whom faithful Abraham due time shall cah) 
 
 A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves ; 
 
 Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: 
 
 The grand-child, with twelve sons increas'd, departs 
 
 From Canaan, to a land licreafter call'd 
 
 Egypt, divided by the river Nile;
 
 158 PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths 
 Into the sea: to sojourn in that land 
 He comes, invited by a younger son 
 In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds 
 Raise him to be the second in that realm 
 Of Pharaoh : there he dies, and leaves his race 
 Growing into a nation ; and, now grown, 
 Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks 
 To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests 
 Too numerous ; whence of guests he makes them 
 Inhospitably, and kills their infant males : [slaves 
 Till by two brethren (these two brethren call 
 Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim 
 His people from enthralment, they return 
 With glory' and spoil, back to their promis'd land. 
 But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies 
 To know their God, or message to regard. 
 Must be compell'd by signs and judgments dire ; 
 To blood unshed the rivers must be turn'd ; 
 Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill 
 With loath'd intrusion, and fill all the land ; 
 His cattle must of rot and murrain die ; 
 Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, 
 And all his people ; thunder mix'd with hail, 
 Hail mix'd with fire, must rend the' Egyptian sky, 
 And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls ; 
 What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, 
 A darksome 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 days; 
 Last, with one midnight-stroke, all the first-born 
 Of Egypt must Ue dead. Thus with ten wounds 
 The river-dragon tam'd at length., submits
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 159 
 
 To let his sojourners depart, and oft 
 Humbles his stubborn heart ; but still, as ice 
 More harden'd after thaw ; till, in his rage 
 Pursuing whom he late dismiss'd, the sea 
 Swallows him with his host ; but them lets pass, 
 As on diy land, between two crystal walls ; 
 Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to stand 
 Divided, till his rescued gain their shore. 
 8uch wondrous power God to his saint will lend, 
 Though present in his Angel ; who shall go 
 Before them in a cloud, and pillar of tire ; 
 By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire; • 
 To guide them in their journey, and remove 
 Behind them, while the' obdurate king pursues : 
 All night he will pursue; but his approach 
 Darkness defends between till morning watch ; 
 Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, 
 God looking forth will trouble all his host. 
 And craze their chariot wheels: when by command 
 Moses once more his potent rod extends 
 Over the sea ; the sea his rod obeys ; 
 On their embattled ranks the waves return, 
 And overwhelm their war : the race elect 
 Safe towards Canaan from the shore advance 
 Through the wild Desert, not the readiest way ; 
 Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarm'd, 
 War terrify them inexpert, and fear 
 Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather 
 Inglorious life with servitude; for life 
 To noble and ignoble is more sweet 
 Untrain'd in arms, where rashness leads not on. 
 This also shall they gain by their delay 
 In the wide wilderness ; there they shall found 
 Their government, and their great senate choose
 
 160 PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordaind : 
 
 God from tlie mount of Sinai, whose gray top 
 
 Shall tremble, he descending, will himself 
 
 In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpet's sound, 
 
 Ordain them laws ; part, such as appertain 
 
 To civil justice; part, religious rites 
 
 Of sacrifice ; informing them, by types 
 
 And shadows, of that destin'd Seed to bruise 
 
 The Serpent, by what means he shall atchieve 
 
 Mankind's deliverance. But the voice of God 
 
 To mortal ear is dreadful : they beseech 
 
 That Moses might report to them his will. 
 
 And terror cease ; he grants what they besought, 
 
 Instructed that to God is no access 
 
 Without Mediator, whose high office now 
 
 Moses in figure bears ; to introduce 
 
 One greatei', of whose day he shall foretel. 
 
 And all theii Prophets in their age the times 
 
 Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites 
 
 Establish'd, such delight hath God in Men 
 
 Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes 
 
 Among them to set up his tabernacle j 
 
 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. 
 
 The records of his covenant ; over these 
 
 A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings 
 
 Of two bright Cherubim ; before him burn 
 
 Seven la.nps as in a zodiac representing 
 
 The heavenly fires ; over the tent a cloud 
 
 Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night ; 
 
 Save when they journey, and at length they come, 
 
 Conducted by his Angel, to the land 
 
 1
 
 Bookie. PARADISE LOST. 161 
 
 Promis'd to Abraham and his seed. — The rest 
 Were long to tell; how many battles fought ; 
 How many kings destroyed ; and kingdoms won ; 
 Or how the Sun shall in mid Heaven stand still 
 A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, 
 Man's voice commanding, ' Sun, in Gibeon stand. 
 And thou moon in the vale of AjaLn, 
 Till Israel overcome !' so call the tliird 
 From xAbraham, son of Isaac; and from him 
 His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win." 
 
 Here Adam interposed : " O sent from Heaven, 
 Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things 
 Thou hast reveal'd ; those chiefly, which concern 
 Just Abraham and his seed : now first I find 
 Mine eyes true opening, and my heart much eas'd ; 
 Erewhile perplex'd with thoughts, what would be- 
 Of me and all mankind : but now I see [come 
 His day, in whom all nations shall be blest ; 
 Favour unmerited by me, who sought 
 Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. 
 This yet I apprehend not, why to those 
 Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth 
 So many and so various laws are given ; 
 So many laws argue so many sins 
 Among them ; how can God with such reside ?" 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " Doubt not but that Sia 
 AVill reign among tliem, as of thee begot; 
 And therefore was Law given them to evince 
 Their natural pravity, by stirring up 
 Sin against law to fight : that when they see 
 Law can discover sin, but not remove. 
 Save by those shadowy expiations weak, 
 The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude 
 Some bleod more precious must be paid for Man ;
 
 162 PARADISE LOST. Bvuk \'3. 
 
 Just for UDJast ; that, in such righteousness 
 
 To them by faith imputed, they may find 
 
 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 imperfect ; and but given 
 
 With purpose to resign them, in full time, 
 
 Up to a better covenant j discipHn'd 
 
 From shadowy types to truth ; from flesh to spirit ; 
 
 From imposition of strict laws to free 
 
 Acceptance of large grace ; from servile 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 leadj 
 
 But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, 
 
 His name and office bearing, who shall quoil 
 
 The adversary-Serpent, and bring back 
 
 Tlirough the worlds wilderness long-wauderd Man 
 
 Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. 
 
 Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan plac'd, 
 
 Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins 
 
 National interrupt their 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 piety renowu'd 
 
 And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive 
 
 Irrevocable, that his regal throne 
 
 For ever shall endure ; the like shall sing 
 
 All Prophecy, that of the royal stock 
 
 Of David (so I name this king) shall rise 
 
 A Sod, the Woman's seed to thee foretold,
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 163 
 
 Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust 
 
 All nations ; and to kings foretold, of kings 
 
 The last; for of his reign sliall be no end. 
 
 But first, a long succession must ensue ; 
 
 And his next son, for wealth and w isdom famd, 
 
 The clouded ark of God, till then in tents 
 
 Wandering, shall in a glorious temple' enshrine. 
 
 Such follow him, as shall be register'd 
 
 Part good, part bad ; of bad the longer scroll ; 
 
 Whose foul idolatries, and other faults 
 
 Heap'd to the popular sum, will so incense 
 
 God, as to leave them, and expose their land. 
 
 Their city, his temple, and his holy ark. 
 
 With oil his sacred things, a scorn and prey 
 
 To that proud city, whose high walls thou saw'st 
 
 Left in confusion ; Babylon thence call'd. 
 
 There in captivity he lets them dwell 
 
 The space of seventy years j then brings them back, 
 
 Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn 
 
 To David, stablish'd as the days of Heaven. 
 
 Return'd from Babylon by leave of kings 
 
 Their lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God 
 
 They first re-edify; and for a while 
 
 In mean estate live moderate; till, grown 
 
 In wealth and multitude, factious they grow. 
 
 But first among the priests dissention springs ; 
 
 Men who attend the altar, and should most 
 
 Endeavour peace : their strife pollution brings 
 
 Upon the temple' itself: at last they seize 
 
 The sceptre, and regard not David's sons ; 
 
 Then lose it to a stranger, that the true 
 
 Anointed King Messiah might be born 
 
 Barr'd of his right ; yet at his birth a star, 
 
 Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come j
 
 164 PARADISE LOST. Book i>. 
 
 And guides the eastern sages, who inquire 
 
 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 squadron'd Angels hear his carol sung. 
 
 A Virgin is his mother, but his Sire 
 
 The power of the Most High ; he shall ascend 
 
 The throne hereditary, and bound his reign 
 
 WithEarth'swidebounds,hi8glorywiththeKeavens." 
 
 He ceas'd, discerning Adam with such joy 
 Surcharg'd, as had like grief been dewd in tears. 
 Without the vent of words ; which these he breath'd. 
 
 " O prophet of glad tidings, finisher 
 Of utmost hope! now clear I understand 
 What oft my steadiest thoughts have search'd in vain ; 
 Why our great Expectation should be call'd 
 The seed of Woman : Virgin-Mother, hail. 
 High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins 
 Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son 
 Of God Most High ; so God w ith Man unites. 
 Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise 
 Expect with mortal pain : say where and when 
 Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's 
 heel?" [fight, 
 
 To whom thus Michael : " Dream not of their 
 As of a duel, or the local wounds 
 Of head or heel : not therefore joins the Son 
 Manhood to Godhead, witli more strength to foil 
 Thy enemy ; nor so is overcome 
 Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, 
 Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound : 
 Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, 
 Not by destroying Satao; but bis works
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 165 
 
 In thee, and in thy seed : nor can this be, 
 
 But by fulfilling (that which thou didst want) 
 
 Obedience to the law of God, irapos'd 
 
 On penalty of death, and suffering death j 
 
 The penalty to thy transgression due, 
 
 And due to theirs which out of thine will grow : 
 
 So only can high Justice rest appaid. 
 
 The law of God exact he shall fulfil 
 
 Both by obedience and by love, though love 
 
 Alone fulfil 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 their own (though legal) works. 
 
 For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, 
 
 Seiz'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemn'd 
 
 A shameful and accurs'd ; nail'd to the cross 
 
 By his own nation ; slain for bringing life : 
 
 Rut to the cross he nails thy enemies. 
 
 The law that is against thee, and the sins 
 
 Of all mankind, with him there crucified, 
 
 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 
 
 Return, the stars 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 offer'd life 
 
 Neglect not, and the benefit embrace 
 
 By faith not void of works : this God-like act 
 
 Annuls thy doom, the death thou should'st have died, 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 166 PARADISE LOST. Book 1^. 
 
 In sin for ever lost from life ; this act 
 
 Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, 
 
 Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arras j 
 
 And fix far deeper in his head their stings, 
 
 Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, 
 
 Or theirs whom he redeems ; a death, like sleep, 
 
 A gentle wafting to immortal Ufe. 
 
 Nor after resurrection shall he stay 
 
 Longer on earth, than certain times to' appear 
 
 To his disciples, men who in his life 
 
 Still foUow'd him ; to them shall leave in charge 
 
 To teach all nations what of him they learn'd 
 
 And his salvation ; them who shall believe 
 
 Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign 
 
 Of washing them from guilt of sin to life 
 
 Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall, 
 
 For death, like that which tlie Redeemer died. 
 
 All nations they shall teach; foj", from tliat day, 
 
 Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins 
 
 Salvation shall be preach'd, but to the sons 
 
 Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world ; 
 
 So in his seed all nations shall be blest. 
 
 Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend 
 
 With victory, triumphing through the air 
 
 Over his foes and thine ; there shall surprise 
 
 The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains 
 
 Through all his realm, and there confounded leave ; 
 
 Then enter into glory, and resume 
 
 His seat at God's right hand, exalted high 
 
 Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, 
 
 When this worlds dissolution shall be ripe, 
 
 With glory' and power to judge both quick and dead ; 
 
 To judge the' unfaithful dead, but to reward 
 
 His faithful, and receive them into bliss,
 
 Booki2, PARADISE LOST. 167 
 
 Whether in Heaven or Earth ; for then the Earth 
 Shall all be Paradise, far happier place 
 Than this of Eden, and far happier days." 
 
 So spake the' Arch-angel Michael ; then paus'd, 
 As at the world's great period ; and our sire, 
 Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied : 
 
 " O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense ! 
 That all this good of evil shall produce, 
 And evil turn to good ; more wonderful 
 Than 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 me done, and occasion'd ; or rejoice [spring ; 
 Much more, that much more good thereof shall 
 To God more glory, more good-will to Men 
 From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. 
 But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven 
 Must re-ascend, what will betide the few 
 His faithful, left among tlie' unfaithful herd, 
 The enemies of truth? Wlio then shall guide 
 His people, who defend ? Will they not deal 
 Worse with his followers than with him they dealt ?" 
 
 '• Be sure they will, (said the' Angel) but from 
 He to his own a comforter will send, [Heaven 
 The promi<-e of the Fatlier, who shall dwell 
 His Spirit within them ; and the law of faith, 
 Working through love, upon their liearts shall write, 
 To guide them in all truth ; and also arm 
 With spiritual armour, able to resist 
 Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts ; 
 What man can do against them, not afraid, 
 Though to the death ; against such cruelties 
 With inward consolations recompens'd. 
 And oft supported so as shall amaze
 
 16G PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 Their proudest persecutors : for tJie Spirit 
 (Pour'd 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, 
 As did their Lord before them. Thus they win 
 Great numbers of each nation, to receive 
 With joy the tidings broughtfrora Heaven : at length 
 Their ministry perform'd, and race well run, 
 Their doctrine and their story written left, 
 They die ; but in their room, as they forewarn, 
 Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, 
 Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven 
 To their own vile advantages shall turn 
 Of lucre and ambition ; and the truth 
 With superstitions and traditions taint. 
 Left only 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 join 
 Secular power ; though feigning still to act 
 By spiritual, to themselves appropriating 
 The Spirit of God, promis'd alike and given 
 To all believers ; and, from that pretence. 
 Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force 
 On every conscience ; laws which none shall find 
 Left them inroUd, or what the Spirit within 
 Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then 
 But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind 
 His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild 
 His living temples, built by faith to stand, 
 Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth, 
 Who against faith and conscience can be heard 
 Infallible ? yet many will presume :
 
 Book 1?. PARADISE LOST, 1(59 
 
 Whence heavy persecution shall arise 
 
 On all, who in the worship persevere 
 
 Of spirit and truth ; the rest, far greater part, 
 
 Will deem in outward rites and spacious forms 
 
 Religion satisfied ; truth shall retire 
 
 Eestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith 
 
 Rarely be found : so shall the world go on. 
 
 To good malignant, to bad men benign ; 
 
 Under her own weight groaning; till the day 
 
 Appear of respiration to the just, 
 
 And vengeance to the wicked ; at return 
 
 Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid, 
 
 The Woman's Seed ; obscurely then foretold, 
 
 Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord: 
 
 Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be reveal'd 
 
 In glory of the Father, to dissolve 
 
 Satan with his perverted world ; then raise 
 
 From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, 
 
 New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, 
 
 Founded in lighteousness, and peace, and love; 
 
 To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss !" 
 
 He ended ; and thus Adam last replied: 
 " How soon hath thy prediction. Seer blest, 
 Measur'd this transient world, the race of time, 
 Till time stand fix'd ? beyond is all abyss, 
 Eternity, 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 contain ; 
 Beyond which was my folly to aspire. 
 Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, 
 And love with fear the only God ; to walk 
 As in His presence ; ever to observe 
 His providence ; and on Him sole depend,
 
 170 PARADISE LOST. Book 12. 
 
 Merciful over all His works, with good 
 Still overcoming evil, and by small 
 Accomplishing great things; by things deem'd weak 
 Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise 
 By simply meek : that suffering for truth's sake 
 Is fortitude to highest victory, 
 And, to the faithful, death the gate of life ; 
 Taught this by His example, whom I now 
 Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest." 
 
 To whom thus also the' Angel last replied: 
 " This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum 
 Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars 
 Thou knew'st by name, and all the' ethereal powers. 
 All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works. 
 Or works of God in heaven, air, earth, or sea, 
 And all the riches of this world enjoy'ilst. 
 And all the rule, one empire; only add 
 Deeds to thy knowledge answerable ; add faith, 
 Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, 
 (By name to come call'd charity) the soul 
 Of all the rest : then wilt thou not be loth 
 To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess 
 A Paradise within thee, happier far. — 
 Let us descend now therefore from this top 
 Of speculation ; for the hour precise 
 Exacts our parting hence ; and see ! the guards. 
 By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect 
 Their motion ; at whose front a flaming sword, 
 In signal of remove, waves fiercely round : 
 We may no longer stay : go, waken Eve ; 
 Her also f with gentle dreams have calm'd 
 Portending good, and all her spirits couipos'd 
 To meek submission : thou, at season fit. 
 Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard ;
 
 Book 12. PARADISE LOST. 171 
 
 Chiefly, what may concern her faith to know, 
 The great deliverance by her seed to come 
 (For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind : 
 That ye may live, which will be many days, 
 Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, 
 With cause, for evils past ; yet much more cheer'd 
 With meditation on the happy end " 
 
 He ended, and they both descend the hill : 
 Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve 
 Lay sleeping, ran before ; but found her wak'd ; 
 And thus with words not sad she him received : — 
 
 " AVlience thou return'st, and whither weiit'st, I 
 know: 
 For God is also' in sleep ; and dreams advise. 
 Which he hath sent propitious, some great good 
 Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress 
 Wearied 1 fell asleep: but now lead on; 
 In nie is no delay ; with thee to go. 
 Is to stay here ; without thee here to stay, 
 Is to go hence unwilling ; thou to me 
 Art all things under Heaven, all places thou, 
 Who for my wilful crime art banish'd hence. 
 This further consolation yet secure 
 I can y hence ; though all by me is lost, 
 Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaf 'd. 
 By nie 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 
 The' Arch-angel stood ; and from the other hill 
 To their fix'd station, all in bright array 
 The Cherubim descended ; on the ground 
 Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist 
 Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, 
 And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel
 
 17 2 PARADISE LOST. Book VZ. 
 
 Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd, 
 The brandish'd sword of Go'd 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 hastening Angel caught 
 Our lingering parents, and to the' eastern gate 
 Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast 
 To the subjected plain ; then disappear'd. 
 
 They, looking back, all the' eastern side beheld 
 Of Paradise, so late their happy,seat, 
 Wav'd over by that flaming brand ; the gate 
 With dreadful faces throng'd, and fiery arms. 
 Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them soon : 
 The world was all before them, where to choose 
 Their place of rest, and Providence their guide ! 
 They,handin hand, with wandering steps and slow, 
 Through Eden took theii- solitary way. 
 
 END OF TPIE SECOND VOLLML'. 
 
 Whittin^iiaiii aud Rowland, Printers, Goswell Strceti London.
 
 INDEX OF AUTHORS, 
 
 IN 
 
 OF 
 
 THE POETS. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Akenside's Poems 19 
 
 Anacreon, translated by Fawkes 50 
 
 Bampfylde's Poems 31 
 
 Beattie's Poems ti5 
 
 Bion, translated by Polwhele 43 
 
 Blacklock's Poems 36 
 
 Blackmore's Poems 33 
 
 Blair's Poems 30 
 
 Boyse's Poems 30 
 
 Broome's Poems 34 
 
 Brown's Poems 35 
 
 Bruce's Poems 27 
 
 Buckingham's Poems 33 
 
 Burn's Poems ^8 
 
 Butler's Poems 4, 5 
 
 Cawthorne's Poems 35 
 
 CoUins's Poems i.'l
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Congreve's Poems 33 
 
 Cooper's (J. Gilbert) Poems 35 
 
 Cotton's Poems 23 
 
 Cowper's Poems 29,30 
 
 Coluthus, translated by Meen 41 
 
 Cunningham's Poems 23 
 
 Day's Poems 21 
 
 Dodsley's Poems 36 
 
 Dorset's Poems 32 
 
 Dryden's Fables 7 
 
 Dryden's Poems 5,6 
 
 Duke's Poems 32 
 
 Eupolis's Hymn to the Creator, translated by 
 
 Wesley 41 
 
 Falconer's Poems 21 
 
 Fenton's Poems 33 
 
 Garth's Poems 8 
 
 Gay's Potms 8, 9 
 
 Glover's Poems 26 
 
 Glynn's Poems 30 
 
 Goldsmith's Poems 25 
 
 Graeme's Poems 36 
 
 Granville's ( Lord Lansdowne) Poems 34 
 
 Grainger's Poems 35 
 
 Gray's Poems 21 
 
 Halifax's Poems 3'i
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Hararaond's Poems 20 
 
 Harte's Poems 53 
 
 Headley's Poems 31 
 
 Hesiod, translated by Cooke 41 
 
 Hill's Poems 34 
 
 Homers IliaJ, translated by Pope 37, 38 
 
 Homer's Odyssey, by ditto S9, 40 
 
 Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice, Hymns 
 
 and Epigrams 40 
 
 Horace, translated by Francis and Pye 48 
 
 Hoylaud's Poems .31 
 
 Hughes's Poems 33 
 
 Johnson's Poems 25 
 
 Juvenal, translated by Dryden * 52 
 
 King's Poems S'H 
 
 Langhorne's Poems 24 
 
 Lloyd's Poems 35 
 
 Logan's Poems 27 
 
 Lovell's Poems 31 
 
 Lovibond's Poems 22 
 
 Lucan's Pharsalia, translated by Rowe . . 53, 54 
 Lyttleton's Poems 20 
 
 Mallet's Poems 20 
 
 Mickle's Poems 22 
 
 Milton's Paradise Lost 1 
 
 Milton's Paradise Regained, and other Poems 2 
 Moore's (J. H.) Poems 31
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Moschus, translated by Polwhele 43 
 
 Musceus, trranslated by Fawkes 50 
 
 Oram's Poems SI 
 
 Otway's Poems 32 
 
 Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Garth 49, 50 
 
 Pattison's Poems 34 
 
 Penrose's Poems ti'i 
 
 Persius, translated by Dryden 52 
 
 Philips's (A.) Poems 34 
 
 Pindar's Odes, translated by West, Green, 
 
 and Pye 42 
 
 Pitt's Poems 34 
 
 Pomfret's Poems 3SJ 
 
 Pope's Poems 13, 14 
 
 Porteus 30 
 
 Rhodins AppoUonius, translated by Preston 44, 45 
 
 Rochester's Poems 32 
 
 Roscommon's Poems 3^ 
 
 Rowe's Poems 32 
 
 Russell's Poems 31 
 
 Sappho, translated by Fawkes 50 
 
 Shaw's Poems 22 
 
 Shenstone's Poems 16 
 
 Smari''^ Poems S6 
 
 Smith's Poems 32 
 
 Smollett's Poems 27 
 
 Somervile's Poems 10
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 Sprat's Poems 32 
 
 Stepney's Poems 32 
 
 Salpicia, translated by Grainger 51 
 
 Swift's Poems 11, 12 
 
 Theocritus, translated by Polwhele 43 
 
 Thomson's Poems . . . 15 
 
 Tibullus, translated by Grainger 51 
 
 Tyrtseus, translated by Polwhele 43 
 
 Vidas' Art of Poetry, translated by Pitt. ... 54 
 
 Virgil, translated by Dryden 46, 47 
 
 Waller's Poems 3 
 
 Walsh's Poems 32 
 
 West's (Gilbert) Poems 34 
 
 West's (R.) Poems 35 
 
 Warton's (J.) Poems 25 
 
 Warton's (T.) Poems 27 
 
 Whitehead's (P.) Poems 35 
 
 VV^hitehead's (W.) Poems 36 
 
 Wilkie's Poems 36 
 
 Yalden's Poems 34 
 
 Young's Night Thoughts 17 
 
 Poems 18
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below 
 
 
 t H 
 
 NOV iO 1981 
 
 
 
 aC 
 
 
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 ' 3 1158 00643 3808 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
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