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PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 THK ARGUMENT. 
 
 This First Book proposes, first in brief, the whole 
 subject, Man's disobedience, and the loss thereupon 
 of Paradise wherein he was placed: then touches thi^ 
 prime cause of his fall, the Serpent, or rather Satan in 
 the serpent; who revolting* from God, and drawing to 
 
 I his side many leg-ions of Ang-els, was by the command 
 of God driven out of Heaven, with all his crew, into 
 
 I the great Deep. Which action passed over, the poem 
 hastens into the midst of things, presenting Satan 
 
 ' with his Angels now fallen into Hell, described here, 
 not in the Centre, (for heaven and earth may be 
 supposed as yet not made, certainly not j^et accursed,) 
 
 j bu. 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 certain space 
 recovers, as from confusion, calls up him who next in 
 
 i order and dignity lay by him; they confer of their 
 
 h 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 hopes yet of 
 regaining Heaven, but tells them lastly of a new 
 world and new kind of creature to be created, accord- 
 ing to an ancient prophecy or report m Heaven ; for 
 that Angels were long before this visible creation, was 
 the opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find out the 
 truth of this prophecy^ and what to determine there- 
 
2 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 on, he refers to a full council. What his associates 
 thence attempt. Pandemonium the palace of Satan 
 rises, suddenly built out of the Deep ; the infernal 
 Peers there sit in council. 
 
 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 Kden, till one greater Man 
 Restore us and regain the blissful seat, 
 Sing, heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top 
 Of Oreb or of Sinai, didst inspire 
 That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed 
 In the beginning how the heavens and earth 
 Rose out of Chaos. Or, if Sion hill lo [ 
 
 Delight the more, and Siloa's brook that flowed r 
 Fast by the oracle of God, I thence 
 Invoke thy aid to my adventrous song, ' 
 
 That with no middle flight intends to soar 
 Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues 
 Things unattempted yet in prose or rime. 
 
 And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer 
 Before all temples the upright heart and pure. 
 Instruct me, for thou knowest ; thou from the 
 
 first 
 Wast present, and, with mighty wings out- 
 spread, 20 
 Dovelike satest brooding on the vast Abyss, 
 And madest it pregnant. What in me is dark 
 
BOOK I. 3 
 
 Illumine, what is low raise and support ; 
 That, to the highth of this great argument, 
 I may assert eternal Providence, 
 And justif)^ the ways of <G-od to men. 
 
 Say first — for Heaven hides nothing from thy 
 
 view, 
 Nor the deep tract of Hell — say first what cause 
 Moved our grand parents, in that happy state. 
 Favored of Heaven so highly, to fall oiF 30 
 
 From their Creator, and transgress his will, 
 For one restraint lords of the world besides ; 
 Who first seduced them to that foiil revolt. — 
 The infernal Serpent ; he it was, whose guile, 
 Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived 
 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 equalled the Most High, 40 
 If he opposed ; and with ambitious aim 
 Against the throne and monarchy of God 
 Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, 
 With vain attempt. Him the almighty Powei 
 Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky. 
 With hideous ruin and combustion, down 
 To bottomless perdition ; there to dwells 
 In Adamantine chains and penal fire,. 
 
i^ PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Who durst defy the omnipotent to arms. 
 
 Nine times the space that measures day and 
 
 night 
 To mortal men, he with his horrid crew 5 1 
 
 Lay, vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf. 
 Confounded though immortal. But his doom 
 Reserved him to more wrath ; for now the 
 
 ' thought 
 Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 
 Torments him. Round he throws his baleful 
 
 eyes, 
 That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, 
 Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. 
 At once, as far as Angel's ken, he views 
 The dismal situation waste and wild. 60 
 
 A dungeon horrible on all sides round 
 As one great furnace flamed ; yet from those 
 
 flames 
 No light, but rather darkness visible 
 Served only to discover sights of woe, 
 Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where JJ^ac? 
 And rest can never dwell, hope never cctues 
 That comes to all ; but torture w'*/ .lOut ericl. 
 Still urges, and a fiery delug^.^ fed 
 With ever-burning sulph :.r anconsiime4. 
 Such place eternal J';.3'dc€ had prepared 70 
 
 For those reberious, here fnere prison ordained 
 In utter dar ess, and za%it portion set, 
 
BOOK I. 5 
 
 As far removed from God and light of Heaven 
 As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole. 
 Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell ! 
 There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed 
 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 named 80 
 
 Beelzebub: to whom the arch-eneni}^, 
 And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold 
 
 words 
 Breaking the horrid silence, thus began : 
 
 "If thou beest he, — but oh how fallen ! how 
 changed 
 From him, who, in the happy realms of light, 
 Clothed with transcendent brightness didst out- 
 shine 
 Myriads though bright ! — if he, whom mutual 
 
 league. 
 United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 
 And hazard in the glorious enterprise 
 Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 90 
 In equal ruin . . .' into what pit thou seest 
 From what highth fallen, so much the stronger 
 
 proved 
 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 
 
6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Can else inflict, do I repent or change, 
 Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed 
 
 mind. 
 And high disdain from sense of injured merit, 
 That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, 
 And to the fierce contention brought along loo 
 Innumerable force of Spirits armed, 
 That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 
 His utmost power with adverse power opposed, 
 In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 
 And shook his throne. What though the field 
 
 be lost, 
 AH is not lost ; the unconquerable will, 
 And study of revenge, immortal hate, 
 And courage never to submit or yield, 
 And what is else not to be overcome . . . 
 That glory never shall his wrath or might i lo 
 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, — thajt 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 advanced. 
 We may with more successful hope resolve 120 
 
BOOK I. 7 
 
 To wage by force or guile eternal war, 
 Irreconcilable to our grand foe, 
 Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy 
 Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven . . .'* 
 
 So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, 
 Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair ; 
 And him thus answered soon his bold compeer : 
 
 *'0 priftce, O chief of many throned Powers, 
 That led the embattled Seraphim to war 
 Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds, 130 
 Fearless endangered Heaven's perpetual King, 
 And put to proof his high supremac}^ 
 Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate ; 
 Too well I see and rue the dire event. 
 That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, 
 Hath lost us 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 vigor soon returns, 140 
 
 Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 
 Here swallowed 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'erpow'red such force as 
 
 ours — 
 Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 
 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, 
 
8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 ; 150 
 
 Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, 
 
 Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep ! 
 
 What can it then avail, though yet we feel 
 
 Strength undiminished, or eternal being 
 
 To undergo eternal punishment ?" 
 
 V/hereto with speedy words the Arch- Fiend 
 
 replied : 
 "Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable 
 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, 160 
 
 As being the contrary to his high will 
 Whom we resist. If then his providence 
 Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, 
 Our labor must be to pervert that end; 
 And out of good still to find means of evil ; 
 Which oft-times may succeed, so as perhaps 
 Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb 
 His inmost counsels from their destined aim.— 
 But see 1 the angry victor hath recalled 
 His ministers of vengeance and pursuit 170 
 
 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 
 
BOOK I. 9 
 
 Of Heaven received us falling ; and the thunder, 
 Winged 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 the occasion, whether scorn 
 Or satiate fury yield it from our foe. 
 Seest thou you dreary plain, forlorn and 
 wild, i8o 
 
 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 harbor there, 
 And, reassembling our afflicted powers, 
 Consult how we may henceforth most offend 
 Our enemy, our own loss how repair, 
 How overcome this dire calamity. 
 What reinforcement we may gain from hope, 1 90 
 If not what resolution from despair. ' ' 
 
 Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate. 
 With head up-lift above the wave, and eyes 
 That sparkling blazed ; 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 warred on Jove, 
 Briareos or Typhon, whom the den 
 By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea- beast 200 
 
lo PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Leviathan, which God of all his works 
 Created hughest that swim the ocean-stream — 
 Him, haply slumbering on the Norway-foam, 
 The pilot of some small night-foundered skiflf 
 Deeming some island, oft, as sea'men tell, 
 With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, 
 Moors by his side under the lee, while night 
 Invests the sea, and wished morn delays — 
 So stretched out huge in length the Arch-Fiend 
 
 lay, 
 Chained on the burning lake, nor even thence 210 
 Had risen or heaved 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 enraged might see 
 How all his malice served but to bring forth 
 Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn 
 On Man by him seduced, but on himself 
 Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance 
 
 poured 220 
 
 Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool 
 His mighty stature. On each hand the flames 
 Driven backward'slope their pointing spires, and, 
 
 rolled 
 In billows, leave in the midst a horrid vale. 
 Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 
 
BOOK I. If 
 
 Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, 
 
 That felt unusual weight, till on dry land 
 
 He lights ; if it were land that ever burned 
 
 With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, 
 
 And such appeared in hue, as when the force 230 
 
 Of subterranean wind transports a hill 
 
 Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side 
 
 Of thundering ^tna, whose conbustible 
 
 And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, 
 
 Sublimed with mineral fury aid the winds. 
 
 And leave a singed bottom all involved 
 
 With stench and smoke — such resting found the 
 
 sole 
 Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate. 
 Both glorying to have 'scaped the Stygian flood 
 As Gods, and by their own recovered strength, 240 
 Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 
 
 "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," 
 Said then the lost Archangel, ' ' this the seat, 
 That we must change for Heaven ? this mournful 
 
 gloom 
 For that celestial light? Be it so, since he, 
 Who now is sovran, can dispose and bid 
 What shall be right; furthest from him is beat, 
 Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made 
 
 supreme 
 Above his equals. Farewell happy fields, 
 Where joy for ever dwells! hail, horrors! hail, 250 
 
12 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hellj 
 Receive thy new possessor^ one who brings 
 A mind not to be changed by place or time. 
 The mind is its own place, and in itself 
 Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 
 What matter where if I be stilt 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; 260 
 Here we may reign secure, aird in my choice 
 To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell, — 
 Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. 
 But wherefore let me then our faithful friends, 
 The associates and copartners of our loss, 
 Lie thus astonished on the oblivious pool, 
 And call them not to share with us their part 
 In this unhappy mansion, or once more 
 With rallied arms to try what may be yet 
 Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell? " 
 So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub 271 
 
 Thus answered: * ' Leader of those armies bright, 
 Which but the Omnij)otent none could have 
 
 foiled. 
 If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge 
 Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 
 In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge 
 Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults 
 
BOOK I. 13 
 
 Their surest signal, they will soon resume 
 New courage and revive, though now they lie 
 Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 280 
 As we erewhile, astounded and amazed,— 
 No wonder, fallen such a pernicious highth." 
 
 He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend 
 Was moving toward the shore, his ponderous 
 
 shield. 
 Ethereal temper, mass}^ large, and round, 
 Behind him cast. The broad circumference 
 Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb 
 Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views 
 At evening, from the top of Fesole, 
 Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 290 
 
 Rivers or mountains in her spotty globe. 
 His spear — to equal which the tallest pine 
 Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 
 Of some great ammiral, were but a wand — 
 He walked 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 endured, till on the beach 
 Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called 300 
 His legions, Angel-forms, who lay entranced. 
 Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks 
 In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades 
 High ever-arched embower; or scattered sedge 
 
14 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Afloat, when with fierce w^nds Orion armed 
 Hath vexed the Red-sea coast, whose waves 
 
 o'er threw 
 Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, 
 While with perfidious hatred they pursued 
 The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld 
 From the safe shore their floating carcases 310 
 And broken chariot-wheels; so thick bestrown, 
 Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, 
 Under amazement of their hideous change. 
 He called so loud that all the hollow deep 
 Of Hell resounded: "Princes, Potentates, 
 Warriors, the flower of Heaven, once yours, now 
 
 lost, 
 If such astonishment as this can seize 
 Eternal Spirits. Or have ye chosen this place 
 After the toil of battle to repose 
 Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 320 
 To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? 
 Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 
 To adore the conqueror — who now beholds 
 Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood. 
 With scattered arms and ensigns — tilt 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 fallen." 330 
 
BOOK I. 15 
 
 They heard and were abashed, 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 
 Xn which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; 
 Yet to their general's voice they soon obeyed, 
 Innumerable. As when the potent rod 
 Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 
 Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy 
 
 cloud 340 
 
 Of locusts,, warping on the eastern wind. 
 That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung 
 lyike night, and darkened 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 uplifted 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; 350 
 A multitude, like which the populous North 
 Poured 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 lyibyan sands. 
 Forthwith, from every squadron and each band, 
 
'ie PARAlflSE LOST. 
 
 The heads and leaders thither haste where stood 
 Their great commander, godlike shapes, and 
 
 forms 
 Excelling human, princely dignities. 
 And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones; 360 
 Though of their names in heavenly records now 
 Be no memorial, blot\ed out and razed 
 Bj^ their rebellion from the books of life. 
 Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 
 Got them new names, 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 370 
 Oft to the image of a brute, adorned 
 With gay religions full of pomp and gold. 
 And devils to adore for deities. 
 Then were they known to men by various names 
 And various idols, through the heathen world. 
 Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, 
 
 who last. 
 Roused 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. 380 
 
BOOK!. 17^ 
 
 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 adored 
 Among the nations round, and durst abide 
 Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned 
 Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed 
 Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, 
 Abominations; and with cursed things 
 His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, 390 
 And with their darkness durst affront his light. 
 First Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with 
 
 blood 
 Of human sacrifice and parents' tears, 
 Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels 
 
 loud. 
 Their children's cries unheard, that passed 
 
 through fire 
 To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite 
 Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain, 
 In Argob and in Basan, to the stream 
 Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such 
 Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 400 
 Of Solomon he led by fraud to build 
 His temple right against the temple of God, 
 On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove 
 The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence 
 And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. 
 
i8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Next Chemos, the obscene dread of Moab's sons, 
 
 From Aroar to Nebo and the wild 
 
 Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon 
 
 And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond 
 
 The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, 410 
 
 And Bleale to the Asphaltic pool. 
 
 Peor his other name, when he enticed 
 
 Israel, in Sittim on their march from Nile, 
 
 To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 
 
 Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged 
 
 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 
 
 flood 
 Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 420 
 
 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names 
 Of Baalim and Ashtaroth, those male, 
 These feminine: for Spirits when they please 
 Can either sex assume, or both; so soft 
 And uncompounded is their essence pure, 
 Not tied or manacled with joint or limb, 
 Non founded on the brittle strength of bones, 
 I^ike cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they 
 
 choose, 
 Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, 
 Can execute their aery purposes, 430 
 
 And works of love or enmity fulfil. 
 
BOOK I. 19 
 
 M)r 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 
 Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear 
 Of despicable foes. With these in troop 
 Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called. 
 Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns ; 
 To whose bright image, nightly by the moon, 440 
 Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; 
 In Sion also not unsung, where stood 
 Her temple on the offensive mountain, built 
 By that uxorious king, whose heart, though 
 
 large. 
 Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell 
 To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, 
 Whose annual wound in Xebanon allured 
 The Syrian damsels to lament his fate, 
 in amorous ditties all a summer's daj^, 
 While smooth Adonis from his native rock 450 
 Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood 
 Of Thammuz yearly wounded. The love-tale 
 Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, 
 Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch 
 Kzekiel saw, when, by the vision led. 
 His eye surveyed the dark idolatries 
 Of alienated Judah. Next came one 
 Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark 
 
20 , PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, 
 In his own temple, on the gruusel edge, 460 
 
 Where he fell flat and shamed his worshipers, 
 ^agon his name, sea monster, upward man 
 And downward fish ; y^X. had his temple high 
 Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast 
 Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, 
 And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. 
 Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat 
 Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks 
 Of Abana and Pharphar, lucid streams. 
 He also against the house of God was bold ; 470 
 A leper once he lost and gained a king, 
 Ahaz his sottish conqueror, whom he drew 
 God's altar to disparage and displace 
 For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn 
 His odious offerings, and adore the Gods 
 Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared 
 A crew, who, under names of old renown, 
 Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train, 
 With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused 
 Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek 480 
 
 Their wandering Gods disguised in brutish forms 
 Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape 
 The infection, when their borrowed gold com- 
 posed 
 The calf in Oreb, and the rebel king 
 Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 
 
BOOK I. 2X 
 
 Likening his Maker to the grazed b:2<:, 
 Jehovah, who, in one night when he passed 
 From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke 
 Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. 
 Belial came last, than whom a Spirit more lewd 
 Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 491 
 Vice for itself. To him no temple stood 
 Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he 
 In temples and at altars, when the priest 
 Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled 
 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 outrage; and when night 50b 
 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 
 Exposed a matron to avoid worse rape. 
 
 These were the prime in order and in might ; 
 The rest were long to tell, though far renowned, 
 The Ionian gods, of Javan's issue held 
 Gods, yet confessed later than Hea-ven and Earth, 
 Their boasted parents ; Titan, Heaven's first- 
 born. 
 With his enormous brood, and birthright 
 seized 511 
 
22 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 By younger Saturn ; he from mightier Jove, 
 His own add Rhea's son, like measure found ; 
 So Jove usurping reigned. These first in Crete 
 And Ida known, thence on the snowy top 
 Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, 
 Their highest heaven ; or on the Delphian cliflf, 
 Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds 
 Of Doric land ; or who with Saturn old 
 Fled over Adria to the Hesperian fields, 520 
 
 And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost isles. 
 All these and more came flocking ; but with 
 
 looks 
 Downcast and damp, yet such wherein appeared 
 Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their 
 
 chief 
 Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 
 In loss itself ; which on his countenance cast 
 I^ike doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride 
 Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore 
 Semblance of worth not substance, gently raised 
 Their fainting courage, and dispelled their 
 
 fears ; 530 
 
 Then straight commands that, at the warlike 
 
 sound 
 Of trumpets loud and clarions, be up-reared 
 His mighty standard. That proud honour 
 
 claimed 
 Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall ; 
 
BOOK L 23 
 
 Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurfed 
 The imperial ensign, which, full high advanced, 
 Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, 
 With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, 
 Seraphic arms and trophies ; all the while 
 Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds : 540 
 
 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 th^m rose 
 A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms 
 Appeared, and serried sheilds in thick array 
 Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move 
 In perfect phalanx, to the Dorian mood 550 
 
 Of flutes and soft recorders; such as raised 
 To highth of noblest temper heroes old, 
 Arming to battle, and instead of rage 
 Deliberate valour breathed, firrn and unmoved 
 With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; 
 For 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. 
 Breathing united force with fixed thought, 560 
 Moved on in silence, to soft pipes that charmed 
 
24 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil; and now 
 Advanced in view they stand, a horiid front 
 Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise 
 Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, 
 Awaiting what command their mighty chief 
 Had to impose. He through the armed files 
 Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse 
 The whole battalion views, their order due, 
 Their visages and statures as of Gods; 570 
 
 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 embodied force as named with these 
 Could merit more than that small infantry 
 Warred on by cranes: though all the giant-brood 
 Of Phlegra with the heroic race were joined 
 That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side 
 Mixed with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds 
 In fable or romance of Uther's son, 580 
 
 Begirt with British and Armoric knights; 
 And all who since, baptized or infidel, 
 Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban, 
 Dam as CO or Marocco or Trebisond, 
 Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore. 
 When Charlemain with all his peerage fell 
 By Foutarabbia. Thus far these beyond 
 Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed 
 
BOOK L 25 
 
 Their dread commander. He, above the rest 
 In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 59G 
 
 Stood like a tower; his form had yet not lost 
 All her original brightness, nor appeared 
 Less than Archangel ruined, and the excess 
 Of glory obscured. As when the sun new-risen 
 lyooks through the horizontal misty air 
 Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon. 
 In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds 
 On half the nations, and with fear of change 
 Perplexes monarchs: darkened so yet shone 
 Above them all the Archangel; but his face 600 
 Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care 
 Set 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 — condemned 
 For ever now to have their lot in pain; 
 Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced 
 Of Heaven, and from eternal spendours flung 610 
 For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood, 
 Tneir glory withered: as, when heaven's fire 
 Hath scathed the forest- oaks or mountain-pines, 
 With signed top their stately growth though bare 
 Stands on the blastea heath. He now prepared 
 To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend 
 
26 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 From wing to wing, and half enclose him round 
 With all his peers; attention held them mute. 
 Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, 
 Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth; at 
 last 620 
 
 Words interwove with sighs found out their way. 
 
 ' 'O myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers 
 Matchless, but with the Almighty; and that 
 
 ■ strife 
 Was n6t 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 feared 
 How such united force of Gods, how such 
 As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 630 
 For who can yet believe, though after loss, 
 That all these puissant legions, whose exile 
 Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, 
 Self-raised, and repossess their native seat ? 
 For me be witness all the host of Heaven 
 If counsels different, or danger shunned 
 By me, have lost our hopes. But he, who reigns 
 Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure 
 Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, 
 Consent or custom, and his regal state 640 
 
 Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed, 
 
BOOK I. 27 
 
 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 provoked; our better part remains 
 To work in close design, by fraud or guile, 
 What force affected not; that he no less 
 At length from us may find, who overcomes 
 By force hath overcome but half his foe. 
 Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife 650 
 There w^ent a fame in Heaven that he ere long 
 Intended to create, and therein plant 
 A generation, whom his choice regard 
 Should favor 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 despaired — 
 For who can think submission ? — war then, 
 
 war, 661 
 
 Open or understood, must be resolved." 
 
 He spake, and to confirm his words out-flew 
 Millions of flaming swoids, drawn from the thighs 
 Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 
 Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged 
 
28 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Against the Highest, and fierce, with grasped 
 
 arms, 
 Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, 
 Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. 
 
 There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 670 
 Belched 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, winged with 
 
 speed, 
 A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands 
 Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, 
 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 even in Heaven his looks and 
 
 thoughts 680 
 
 Were always downward bent, admiring more 
 The riches of Heaven's pavement, trodden gold, 
 Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed 
 In vision beatific. By him first 
 Men also, and b}^ his suggestion taught. 
 Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands 
 Rifled the bowels of their mother-earth 
 For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 
 Opened into the hill a spacious wound. 
 And digged out ribs of gold. Let none 
 
 admire 6go 
 
BOOK L J9 
 
 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 strength and art are easily outdone 
 By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour 
 What in an age they, with incessant toil 
 And hands innumerable, scarce perform. 
 Nigh on the plain in many cells prepared, 700 
 That underneath had veins of liquid fire 
 Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude 
 With wondrous art founded the massy ore, 
 Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion 
 
 dross; 
 A third as soon had formed within the ground 
 A various mould and from the boiling cells 
 By strange conveyance filled 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 710 
 
 Rose, like an exhalation, with the sound 
 Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet. 
 Built like a temple, where pilasters r-iund 
 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 
 
30 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Nor great Alcairo such magnificence 
 Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine 
 Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat 720 
 
 Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove 
 In wealth and luxurj^ The ascending pile 
 Stood, fixed her stately highth, and straight the 
 
 doors 
 Opening their brazen folds discover wide 
 Within her ample spaces, o'er the smooth 
 And level pavement. From the arched roof 
 Pendent, by subtle magic, many a row 
 Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed 
 With naphtha and asphaltus, yielded light 
 As from a sky. The hasty multitude 730 
 
 Admiring entered, and the work some praise 
 And some the architect. His hand w^as known 
 In Heaven by many a towered structure high, 
 Where sceptred Angels held their residence. 
 And sat as princes, whom the supreme King 
 Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, 
 Each in his hierarchy, the orders bright: 
 Nor was his name unheard or unadored 
 In ancient Greese ; and in Ausonian land 
 Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell 740 
 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 
 
BOOK I. 31 
 
 Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, 
 
 On Lemnos, the ^gsean isle. Thus they relate, 
 
 Erring, for he with this rebellious rout 
 
 Fell long before: nor aught availed him now 
 
 To have built in Heaven high towers, nor did he 
 
 'scape 
 By all his engines, but was headlong sent 750 
 With his industrious crew to build in Hell. 
 
 Meanw^hile the winged haralds, by command 
 Of sovran power, with awful ceremony 
 And trumpet's sound, throughout the host pro- 
 claim 
 A solemn council forthwith to be held 
 At Pandemonium, the high capital 
 Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called, 
 From every band and squared regiment, 
 By place or choice the worthiest; they anon 
 With hundreds and with thousands trooping 
 
 came 
 Attended. All access was thronged, the gates 761 
 And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall — 
 Though like a covered field,- where champions 
 
 bold 
 Wont ride in armed, and, at the Soldan's chair, 
 Defied the best of Panim chivalry 
 To mortal combat, or career with lance — 
 Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the 
 air, 
 
32 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As 
 
 bees, 
 In spring-time when the sun with Taurus rides, 
 Pour forth their populous youth about the 
 
 hive 770 
 
 In clusters; they, among fresh dews and flowers, 
 Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank. 
 The suburb of their straw-built citadel. 
 New rubbed with balm, expatiate and confer 
 Their state-affairs: so thick the aery crowd • 
 Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal 
 
 given, 
 Behold a wonder I They but now who seemed 
 In bigness to surpass earth's giant-sons, 
 Now less than smallest dwarfs in narrow room 
 Throng numberless, like that pygmean race 780 
 Bej^ond the Indian mount, or faery elves, 
 Whose midnight revels, by a forest- side 
 Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, 
 Or dreams he sees, while overhead 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 
 Reduced their shapes immense, and were at 
 
 large. 
 
BOOK /.. 33 
 
 Though without number still, amidst the hall 791 
 Of that infernal court. But far within, 
 And in their own dimensions like themselves, 
 The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim 
 tn close recess and secret conclave sat, 
 A. thousand demi-gods on golden seats, 
 Frequent and full. After short silence then 
 A.nd summons read the great consult began. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 THE VjlGUMENT. 
 
 The consultation begun, Satan debates whether 
 another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of 
 Heaven; some advise it, others dissuade: a third pro- 
 posal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan, to 
 search the truth of that prophecy or tradition 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 cliief 
 undertakes alone the voyage, is honoured and 
 applauded. The council 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 there 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 sigh'*" of this new World 
 which he sought. 
 
 HiGiron a throne of royal state — which far 
 Outshone the wealth of Ormuz and of Ind, 
 Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 
 Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold — 
 
BOOK IL 35 
 
 Satan exalted sat, by merit raised 
 To that bad eminence; and, from despair 
 Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 
 Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 
 Vain war with Heaven, and, by success untaught, 
 He proud imaginations thus displayed. lo 
 
 ' 'Powers and Dominions, deities of Heaven — 
 For since no Deep within her gulf can hold 
 Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, 
 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 therhselves to fear no second fate — 
 Me though just right, and the fixed laws of 
 
 Heaven, 
 Did first create your leader, next free choice, 
 With what besides, in counsel or in fight, 20 
 
 Hath been achieved of merit, yet this loss 
 Thus far at least recovered hath much more 
 Established in a safe unenvied throne, 
 Yielded with full 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 30 
 For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 
 
36 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 assured us; and by What best way 40 
 
 Whether of open war or covert guile. 
 
 We now debate; who can advise may speak." 
 
 He ceased, and next him Moloch, sceptred 
 king, 
 Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit 
 That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despaiv. 
 His trust was with the Eternal to be deemed 
 Equal in strength, and rather than be less 
 Cared not to be at all. With that care lost 
 Went all his fear; of God, or Hell, or worse 
 He recked not, and these words thereafter spake*. 
 
 * 'My sentence is for open war. Of wiles, 5 l 
 More unexpert, t boast not; them let those 
 Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. 
 For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest, 
 Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait 
 Th^ signal to ascend, sit lingering here, 
 Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-placs: 
 Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, 
 
BOOK 11. 37 
 
 The prison of his tyranny who reigns 
 By our delay ? No, let us rather choose, 60 
 
 Armed with 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 the noise 
 Of his almighty engiile he shall hear 
 Infernal thunder, and for lightning see 
 Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 
 Among his Angles, and his throne itself 
 Mixed with Tartarean suphur and strange fire, 
 His own invented torments. But perhaps 70 
 The way seems difficult and steep to scale 
 With upright wing against a higher foe — 
 Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench 
 Of that forgetful lake 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 
 tnsulting, and pursued us through the Deep, 
 With what compulsion and laborious flight 80 
 We sunk thus low ? The ascent is easy then ; 
 The event is feared. 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 destroyed. What can be worse 
 
38 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, con- 
 demned 
 In this abhorred Deep to utter woe ? 
 Where pain of unextinguishable fire 
 Must exercise us, without hope of end, 
 The vassals of his anger, when the scourge 90 
 Inexorably, and the torturing hour 
 Calls us to penance. More destroyed than thus 
 We should be quite abolished and expire. 
 What fear we then? what doubt we do incense 
 His utmost ire? which, to the highth enraged. 
 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 100 
 
 On this side nothing ; and by proof we feel 
 Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, 
 And with perpetual inroads to alarm, 
 Though inaccessible, his fatal throne ; 
 Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 
 
 He ended frowning, and his look denounced 
 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 seemed 1 10 
 For dignity composed and high exploit. 
 
BOOK II. 39 
 
 But all was false and hollow — though his 
 
 tongue 
 Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear 
 The better reason, to perplex and dash 
 Maturest counsels— for his thoughts were low; 
 To vice industrious, but to noble deeds 
 Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, 
 And with persuasive accent thus began: 
 
 "I should be much for open w^ar, O Peers, 
 As not behind in hate, if what was urged 1 20 
 Main reason to persuade immediate war 
 Did not dissude me most, and seem to cast 
 Ominous conjecture on the whole success; 
 When he, who most excels in fact of arms. 
 In what he counsels and in what excels 
 Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair 
 And utter dissolution, as the scope 
 Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 
 First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are 
 
 filled 
 With armed watch, that render all access 130 
 Impregnable; oft on the bordering Deep 
 Encamped their legions, or, with obscure 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, 
 With blackest insurrection to confound 
 Heaven's purest light, yet our great enemy 
 
40 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 All incorruptible would on his throne 
 Sit unpolluted, and the ethereal mould, 
 Incapable of stain, would soon expel 14C 
 
 Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, 
 Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope 
 Is flat despair; we must exasperate 
 The almighty victor to spend all his rage, 
 And that must end us; that must be our cure, 
 To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, 
 Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 
 Those tiioughts that wander through eternity? 
 To perish rather, swallowed up and lost 
 In the wide womb of uncreated night, 15c 
 
 Devoid of sense and motion. And who knows, 
 Let this be good, whether our angry foe 
 Can give it, or will ever? How he can 
 Is doubtful; that he never will, is sure. 
 Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, 
 — Belike through impotence or unaware — 
 To give his enemies their wish, and end 
 Them in his anger, whom his anger saves 
 To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we then?' 
 Say the}^ who counsel war; 'we are decreed, i6c 
 Reserved, and destined 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 
 
BOOK 11. 41 
 
 With heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought 
 The Deep to shelter us . . . This Hell then 
 
 seemed 
 A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay 
 Chained on the burning lake? . . . that sure 
 
 was worse. 
 What if the breath that kindled those grim 
 
 fires, ^ 170 
 
 Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold 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 opened, and this firmamenf 
 Of Hell should sprout 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 hurled, 180 
 Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey 
 Of racking whirlwinds, or forever sunk 
 Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains; 
 There to converse with everlasting groans, 
 Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, 
 Ages of hopeless end. This would be worse. 
 War therefore, open or concealed alike, 
 My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile 
 With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 
 
42 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's 
 highth 190 
 
 All these our motions vain sees and derides; 
 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 expelled to suffer here 
 Chains and these torments? Better these than 
 
 worse, 
 By m}^ 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 200 
 That so ordains. This was at first resolved 
 If we were wise, against so great a foe 
 Contending and so doubtful what might fall. 
 I laugh, wdien those who at the spear are bold 
 And venturous, if that fail them, shrink and 
 
 fear 
 What yet they know must follow, to endure 
 Kxile, 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 removed, 
 Not mind us, not offending, satisfied 
 With what is punished; whence these raging fires 
 Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. 
 
BOOK 11. 43 
 
 Our purer essence then will overcome 
 
 Their noxious vapour, or inured not feel, 
 
 Or, changed at length and to the place conformed 
 
 In temper and in nature, will receive 
 
 Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 
 
 This horror will grow mild, this darkness light: 220 
 
 Besides what hope the never ending flight 
 
 Of future days may bring, what chance, what 
 
 change 
 Worth waiting, since our present lot appears 
 For happy though but ill, for ill not worst; 
 If we procure not to ourselves more woe." 
 
 Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's 
 
 garb. 
 Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, 
 Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake: 
 
 * 'Either to disenthrone the king of Heaven 
 We war, if war be best, or to regain 230 
 
 Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then 
 May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield 
 To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. 
 Tne 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 e3^es could we 
 
44 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Stand in his presence humble, and receive 240 
 
 Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne 
 
 With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing 
 
 Forced Halleluiahs; while he lordly sits 
 
 Our envied sovran, and his altar breathes 
 
 Ambrosial odors and ambrosial flowers, 
 
 Our servile offerings? This must be our task 
 
 In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome 
 
 Eternit}^ so spent, in worship paid 
 
 To wdiom w^e hate ! Let us not then pursue 
 
 By force impossible, by leave obtained 250 
 
 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 adverse 
 We can create, and in w^hat place soe'er -260 
 
 Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain. 
 Through labor 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 unobscured, 
 
BOOK II. 45 
 
 And with the majesty of darkness round 
 Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders 
 
 roar 
 Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell ! 
 As he our darkness, cannot we his light 
 Imitate when we please ? This desert so 270 
 Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold, 
 Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise 
 Magnificence; and what can Heaven shew more 
 Our torments also may in length of time 
 Become our elements, these piercing fires 
 As soft as now severe, our temper changed 
 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 280 
 
 Compose our present evils, with regard 
 Of what we are and where, dismissing quite 
 All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." 
 He scarce had finished, when such murmur 
 
 filled 
 The assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 
 The sound of blustering winds, which all night 
 
 long 
 Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence 
 
 lull 
 Seafaring men o'erwatched, wh^se bark by 
 
 chance, 
 
4b PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay 
 After the tempest: such applause was heard 290 
 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, 
 Advising peace, for such another field 
 They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear 
 Of thunder and the sword of Michael 
 Wrought still within them; and no less desire 
 To found this nether empire, which might rise. 
 By policy and long process of time, 
 In emulation opposite to Heaven. 
 Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom, 
 Satan except, none higher sat, with grave 300 
 Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed 
 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 Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear 
 The w'eight of mightiest monarchies; his look 
 Drew audience and attention still as night 
 Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake: 
 "Thrones and imperial Powers, Offspring of 
 Heaven, 
 Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now 311 
 
 Must we renounce, and changing style be called 
 Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote 
 Inclines, hereto continue, and build up here 
 A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, 
 
BOOK II. 47 
 
 And know not that the King of Heaven hath 
 
 doomed 
 This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 
 Bej^ond his potent arm, to live exempt 
 From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 
 Banded against his throne, but to remain 320 
 In strictest bondage, though thus far removed 
 Under the inevitable curb, reserved 
 His captive multitude; for he, be sure. 
 In highth or depth, still first and last will reigtj 
 Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 
 By our revolt, but over Hell extend 
 His empire, and with iron sceptre rule 
 Us here, as with his golden those in ileaven. 
 What sit we then projecting peace and war? 
 War hath determined us, and foiled with 
 
 loss 330 
 
 Irreparable; terms of peace yet none 
 Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be 
 
 given 
 To us enslaved, but custody severe, 
 And stripes, and arbitrary punishment 
 Inflicted? and what peace can we return, 
 But to our power hostility and hate. 
 Untamed 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 ? 340 
 
48 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 
 
 With dangerous expedition to invade 
 
 Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault oj 
 
 seige 
 Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find 
 Some easier enterprise! There is a place — 
 If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven 
 Krr not — another world, the happ}^ seat 
 Of some new race called Man, about this time 
 To be created like to us, though less 
 In power and excellence, but favoured more 350 
 Of him who rules above; so was his will 
 Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath, 
 That shook Heaven's whole circumference, con- 
 firmed. 
 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 lie 
 exposed, 360 
 
 The utmost border of his kingdom, left 
 To their defence who hold it. Here perhaps 
 Some advantageous actrmay be achieved 
 By sudden onset; either with Hell-fire 
 
BGOK II, 49 
 
 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 their foe, and with repenting hand 
 Abolish his own works. This would surpass 370 
 Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 
 In our confusion, and our joy up-raise 
 In his disturbance; when his darling sons, 
 Hurled 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 devised 
 By Satan, and in part proposed; for whence, 380 
 But from the author of all ill, could spring 
 So deep a malice, to confound the race 
 Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell 
 To mingle and involve, done all to spite 
 The great Creator ? but their spite still serves 
 His glory to augment. The bold design 
 Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy 
 Sparkled in all their eyes. With full assent 
 They vote; whereat his speech he thus renews: 
 "Well have ye judged, well ended long 
 debate, 390 
 
 Synod of Gods! and, like to what ye are, 
 
50 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Great things resolved, which from the lowest 
 
 Deep 
 Will once more lift us up, in spite of Fate. 
 Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view 
 Of those bright confines, whence, with neigh- 
 boring 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, 400 
 To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, 
 Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we 
 
 send 
 In search of this new world ? whom shall we find 
 Sufiicient ? who shall tempt, with wandering feet, 
 The dark unbottomed 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 aft, can 
 
 then 
 Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe 410 
 
 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 
 
BOOK IL 51 
 
 The weight ot all, and our last hope, relies." 
 
 This said, he sat; and expectation held 
 His look suspense, awaiting who appeared 
 To second, or oppose, or undertake 
 The perilous attempt; but all sat mute, 420 
 
 Pondering the danger with deep thoughts, and 
 
 each 
 In other's countenance read his own dismay, 
 Astonished. None, among the choice and prime 
 Of those Heaven-warring champions, could be 
 
 found 
 So hardy as to proffer or accept 
 Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last 
 Satan, whom now transcendent glorj^ raised 
 Above his fellows, with monarchal pride. 
 Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake: 
 "0 Progeny of Heaven, ernpyreal Thrones ! 430 
 With reason hath deep silence and demur 
 Seized us, though undismayed. 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 
 Barred over us prohibit all egress. 
 These passed, if any pass, the void profound 
 Of unessential Night receives him next. 
 Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being 440 
 
52 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gull 
 If chence he 'scape, into whatever v/orld 
 Or unknown region, what remains him less 
 Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape ? 
 But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 
 And this imperial sovranty, adorned 
 With splendor, armed with power, if aught pro- 
 posed 
 And judged of public moment, in the shape 
 Of difficulty or danger, could deter 
 Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 450 
 These royalties, and not refuse to reign, 
 Refusing to accept as great a vShare 
 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 honored sits? Go therefore, mighty 
 
 Powers, 
 Terror of Heaven, though fallen ! 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 460 
 
 To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain 
 Of this ill mansion. Intermit no watch 
 Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad 
 Through all the coast of dark destruction seek 
 Deliverance for us all. This enterprise 
 
BOOKil. S- 
 
 None shall partake with me. "—Thus saying rose 
 The monarch and prevented all reply, 
 Prudent, lest from his resolution raised, 
 Others among the chief might offer now — 
 Certain to be refused — what erst they feared; 470 
 And, so refused, might in opinion stand 
 His rivals, winning cheap the high repute 
 Which he through hazard huge must earn. But 
 
 they 
 Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice 
 Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. 
 Th«ir rising all at once was as the sound 
 Of thunder heard remote. Toward him they 
 
 bend 
 With awful reverence prone; and as a God 
 Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. 
 Nor failed they to express how much they 
 praised 480 
 
 That for the general safety he despised 
 His own; for neither do the Spirits damned 
 Ivose all their virtue, lest men should boast 
 Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites 
 Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. 
 
 Thus they 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' re- 
 spread "^ 
 
54 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Heaven's cheerful face, the lowering element 490 
 Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow, or 
 
 shower, 
 If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet 
 Extend his evening beam, the fields revive. 
 The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds 
 Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. 
 Oh, shame to men! Devil with devil damned 
 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 500 
 
 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 dissolved; and forth 
 In order came the grand infernal peers; 
 Midst came their mighty paramount, and seemed 
 Alone the antagonist of Heaven, nor less 
 Than Hell's dread emperor, with pomp su- 
 preme 510 
 And godlike imitated state. Him round 
 A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed, 
 With bright emblazonry and horrent arms. 
 Then of their session ended they bid cry, 
 With trumpets' regal sound, the great result. 
 
BOOK II. 55 
 
 Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 
 Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy 
 By haralds' voice explained; the hollow Abyss 
 Heard far atid wide, and all the host of Hell 
 With deafening shout returned them loud ac- 
 claim, 520 
 Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat 
 raised 
 Bj^ false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers 
 Disband, and, wandering, each his several way 
 Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 
 Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find 
 Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 
 The irksome hours till his great chief return. 
 Part, on the plain or in the air sublime, 
 Upon the wing or in swift race contend. 
 As at the Olympian games or Pythian 
 • fields; 530 
 Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal 
 With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form: 
 As when, to warn proud cities, war appears 
 Waged in the troubled' sky, and armies rush 
 To battle in the clouds; before each van 
 Prick forth the aery knights, and couch theii 
 
 spears 
 Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms 
 From either end of heaven the welkin burns. 
 Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell 
 
56 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the 
 air 54c 
 
 In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. 
 As when Alcides, from CEchalia crowned 
 With conquest, felt the envenomed robe, and 
 
 tore 
 Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pin^s, 
 And Lichas from the top of CBta threw 
 Into the Kuboic sea. Others more mild, v 
 
 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 550 
 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 retired. 
 In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high 
 Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate; 
 Fixed faith, free will, foreknowledge abso- 
 lute, 560 
 And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. 
 
BOOK IL 57 
 
 Of good and evil much the}^ argued then. 
 Of happiness and final misery, 
 Passion and apathy, and glory and shame — 
 Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy! 
 Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm 
 Pain for awhile or anguish, and excite 
 Fallacious hope, or arm the obdured breast 
 With stubborn pat,ience as with triple steel. 
 Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, 570 
 On bold adventure to discover wide 
 That dismal world, if any clime perhaps 
 Might 3deld them easier habitation, bend 
 Four ways their flying march, along the banks 
 Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge 
 Into the burning lake their baleful streams; , 
 Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; 
 Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; 
 Cocytus, named of lamentation loud 
 Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlege- 
 ton 580 
 
 Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 
 Far ofl"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 
 lyies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms 
 
58 PARADISE LOSl . 
 
 Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land 
 Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin 
 
 seems 590 
 
 Of ancient pile, all else deep snow and ice; 
 A gulf profound, as that^Serbonian bog 
 Betwixt Damiata and mount Casius old, 
 Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air 
 Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire. 
 Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, 
 At certain revolutions, all the damned 
 Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change 
 Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more 
 
 fierce, 
 From beds of raging fire, to starve in ice 600 
 
 Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine, 
 Immovable, infixed, and frozen round, 
 Periods of time; thence hurried back to fire. 
 They ferry over this Lethear 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, 
 Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards 611 
 
 The ford, and of itself the water flies 
 All taste of living wight, as once it fled 
 
BOOK II. 59 
 
 The lips of Tantalus. Thus roving on, 
 
 In confused march forlorn, the adventurous 
 
 bands, 
 With shuddering horror pale and eyes aghast, 
 Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found 
 No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale 
 They passed, and many a region dolorous. 
 O'er many a frozen, man}^ a fiery Alp, 620 
 
 Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades 
 
 of death; 
 A universe of death, which God by curse 
 Created evil, for evil only good, 
 Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature 
 
 breeds, 
 Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 
 Abominable, inutterable, and worse 
 Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, 
 Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimaeras dire. 
 
 Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, 
 Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest 
 
 design, 630 
 
 Puts on swift wings,' and toward 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 
 TTp to the fiery concave, towering high. 
 
6o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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, 640 
 
 Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, 
 
 Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed 
 
 Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear 
 
 Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, 
 
 And thrice threefold, the gates; threefolds were 
 
 brass, 
 Three iron, three of adamantine rock, 
 Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire. 
 Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat 
 On either side a formidable shape; 
 The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, ^"^50 
 But ended foul in many a scaly fold, 
 Voluminous and vast, a serpent armed 
 With mortal sting. About her middle round 
 A cry of hell hounds never ceasing barked 
 With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung 
 A hideous peal; 3^et, w^hen they list, would creep, 
 If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, 
 And kennel there, yet there still barked and 
 
 howled 
 Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these 
 Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts 660 
 Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; > 
 
BOOK IL 61 
 
 Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called 
 In secret, riding through the air she comes, 
 lyUred with the smell of infant blood, to dance 
 With lyapland witches, while the labouring moon 
 Eclipses at their charms. The other shape — 
 If shape it might be called that shape had none 
 Distinguishable in member, joint or limb. 
 Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, 
 For each seemed either — black it stood as 
 
 Night, 670 
 
 Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 
 And shook a dreadful dart; what seemed his head 
 The likeness of a kingly crown had on. 
 Satan was now at hand, and from his seat 
 The monster moving onward came as fast 
 With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. 
 The undaunted Fiend what this might be 
 
 admired. 
 Admired, not feared — God and his Son except, 
 Created thing nought valued he nor shunned — 
 And with disdainful look thus first began: 68c 
 "Whence and what art thou, execrable shape.' 
 That darest, though grim and terrible, advance 
 Thy miscreated front athwart my way 
 To yonder gate? Through them I mean to 
 
 pass — 
 That be assured — without leave asked of thee/ 
 Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 
 
62 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Hell-born! not to contend with Spirits of 
 Heaven." 
 To whom the Goblin full of wrath replied: 
 ''Art thou that traitor Angel ? art thou he, 
 Who first broke peace in Heaven, and faith till 
 
 then 
 Unbroken, and, in proud rebellious arms, 691 
 Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, 
 Conjured against the Highest? for which both 
 
 thou 
 And they, outcast from God, are here condemned 
 To waste eternal days in woe and pain. 
 And reckonest thou thyself with Spirits of 
 
 Heaven, 
 Hell -doomed! and breathest defiance here and 
 
 scorn. 
 Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, 
 Thy king and lord ? Back to thy punishment 
 False fugitive! and, to thy speed add wings, 70a 
 I^est with a whip of scorpions I pursue 
 Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart 
 Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt be- 
 fore." 
 So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape 
 So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold 
 More dreadful and deform. On the other side, 
 Incensed with indignation, Satan stood 
 llaterrified, and like a comet burned, 
 
BOOK II. 63 
 
 That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge, 
 In the artic sky, und from his horiid hair 710 
 Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head 
 Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands 
 No second stroke intend; and such a frown 
 Each cast at the other, as when the 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 frowned the mighty combatants, that Hell 
 Grew darker at their frown; so matched they 
 
 stood: 
 For never but once more was either like 721 
 
 To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds 
 Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, 
 Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat 
 Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key, 
 Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. 
 "O father, what intends thy hand, she cried, 
 Against thy only son ? What fury, O son, 
 Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart 
 Against thy father's head? and knowest for 
 
 whom; 
 For him who sits above, and laughs the 
 
 while 731 
 
 At thee ordained his drudge, to execute 
 
64 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, 
 
 bids; — 
 His wrath, which one day will destroy 3^eboth!'* 
 
 He spake, and at her words the hellish Pest 
 Forbore, then these to her Satan returned: 
 
 "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so 
 
 strange 
 Thou interposest, that my sudden hand, 
 Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds 
 What it intends, till first I know of thee 740 
 
 What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and 
 
 why, 
 In this infernal vale first met, thou callest 
 Me father, and that phantasm callest my son. 
 I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 
 Sight more detestable than him and thee." 
 
 To whom thus the portress of Hell-gate re* 
 
 plied: 
 * 'Hast thou forgotten me then ? and do I seem 
 Now in thine eye so foul ? once deemed so fair 
 In Heaven; when at the assembly, and in sight 
 Of all the Seraphim, with thee combined 750 
 In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, 
 All on a sudden miserable pain 
 Surprised 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, 
 lyikest to thee in shape and countenance bright, 
 
BOOK II. 65 
 
 Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, 
 Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized 
 All the host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid 
 At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign 760 
 Portentous held me; but familiar grown 
 I pleased, and with attractive graces won 
 The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft 
 Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing 
 Becamest enamoured, and such joy thou tookest 
 With me in secret, that my womb conceived 
 A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, 
 And fields were fought in Heaven, wherein 
 
 remained 
 — For what could else ? — to our almighty Foe 
 Clear victory, to our part loss and rout 770 
 
 Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell. 
 Driven 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, till my womb. 
 Pregnant by thee and now excessive grown, ' 
 Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 780 
 At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, 
 Thine own begotten, breaking violent avvay» 
 
66 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and 
 
 pain 
 Distortedrall my nether shape thus grew 
 Transformed: 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 sighed/ 
 From all her caves, and back resounded Death! 
 I fled, but he pursued — though more, it 
 
 seems, 790 
 
 Inflamed with lust than rage — and, swifter far, 
 Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, 
 And, in embraces forcible and foul 
 Ingendering with me, of that rape begot 
 These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 
 Surround me, as thou sawest, hourly conceived 
 And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 
 To me; for, when they list, into the, womb 
 That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw 
 My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth 800 
 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 oUj 
 And me his parent would full soon devour, 
 P'or want of other prey, but that he knows 
 His end with mine involved, and knows that I 
 Should prove a bitter morsel and his bane, 
 
BOOK 11. 67 
 
 \S Aenever that shall be; so Fate pronounced. 
 But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun 810 
 His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope 
 To be invulrerable in those bright arms, 
 Though tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint. 
 Save he who reigns above, none can resist." 
 She finished, and the subtle Fiend his lore 
 Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered 
 
 smooth: 
 "Dear daughter — since thou claimest me for thy 
 
 sire, 
 A.nd my fair son here shewest me, the dear 
 
 pledge 
 Of Dalliance had wnth thee in Heaven, and joys 
 Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire 
 
 change 
 Befallen us, unforseen, unthought of — know^ 821 
 I come no enemy, but to set free 
 From out this dark and dismal house of pain, 
 Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host 
 Of Spirits, that, in our just pretences armed, 
 Fell with us from on high. From them I go 
 This uncouth 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 quest a place fore- 
 told 8,^0 
 
68 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Should be, and, b}^ concurring signs, ere now 
 Created vast and round, a place of bliss 
 In the purlieus of Heaven, and therein placed 
 A race of upstart creatures, to supply 
 Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, 
 Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, 
 Might hap to move new broils. Be this or aught 
 Than this more secret now designed, I haste 
 To know; and, this once known, shall soon re- 
 turn 
 And bring ye to the place where thou and Death 
 Shall dwell at ease, and up and down un- 
 seen 841 
 Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed 
 With odours. There 3^e shall be fed and filled 
 Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." 
 He ceased, for both seemed highly pleased, and 
 Death 
 Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 
 His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw 
 Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced 
 His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire: 
 
 "The key of this infernal pit, by due 850 
 
 And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, 
 I keep, b^^ him forbidden to unlock 
 These adamantine gates; against all force 
 Death read}^ stands to interpose his dart, 
 Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. 
 
I^OOK IL 6a 
 
 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 office here confined, 
 
 Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born, 860 
 
 Here in perpetual agony and pain, 
 
 With terrors and with clamours compassed round 
 
 Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? 
 
 Thou art my father, thou my author, thou 
 
 My being gavest me; whom should I obey 
 
 But thee ? whom follow ? Thou wilt bring me 
 
 soon 
 To that new world of light and bliss, among 
 The Gods who live at ease, where I shall reign 
 At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 
 Thy daughter and thy darling, without 
 
 end." 870 
 
 Thus saying, from her side the fatal key. 
 Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; 
 And, toward the gate rolling her bestial train, 
 Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, 
 Which but herself not all the Stygian Powers 
 Could once have moved; then in the keyhole 
 
 turns 
 The intricate wards, and every bolt and bar 
 Of massy iron or solid rock with ease 
 Unfastens. On a sudden open flj^, 
 With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, 880 
 
70 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 
 Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 
 Of Erebus. She opened, but to shut 
 Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood, 
 That with extended wings a bannered host, 
 Under spread ensigns marching, might pass 
 
 through 
 With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; 
 So wide they stood, and like a furnace mouth 
 Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 
 
 Before their eyes in sudden view appear 890 
 The secrets of the hoary Deep, a dark, 
 Illimitable ocean, without bound, 
 Without dimension, where length, breadth, and 
 
 highth, 
 And time and place, are lost; where eldest Night 
 And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold 
 Eternal anarchy, amidst the 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 
 Their embryon atoms: they around the flag 900 
 Of each his faction, in their several clans, 
 lyight-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or 
 
 slow, 
 Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands 
 Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil. 
 
BOOK 11. 11 
 
 I^evied to side with warring winds, and poise 
 Their lighter wings. To whom these mos^ 
 
 adhere 
 He rules a moment; Chaos umpire sits, 
 And by decision more embroils the fray, 
 By which he reigns; next him high arbiter 
 Chance govern all. Into this wild Abyss 910 
 — The womb of Nature and perhaps her grave, 
 Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, ^ 
 But all these in their pregnant causes mixed 
 Confusedly, 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 looked awhile, 
 Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith 
 He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed 920 
 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 steadfast earth. At last his sail-broad vans 
 He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke 
 Up-lifted spurns the ground; thence many a 
 
 league, 
 
7-2 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides 930 
 
 Audacious; but, the seat soon failing, meets 
 A vast vacuity. All unawares, 
 Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he 
 
 drops 
 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 stayed — 
 Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea 
 Nor good dry land — nigh foundered on he 
 
 fares, 940 
 
 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'r hill or mooi^ dale, 
 Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth 
 Had from his wakeful custody purloined 
 The guarded gold: so eagerly the Fiend 
 O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, 
 
 or rare. 
 With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his 
 
 way, 
 And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. 
 At length a universal Hubbub wild 951 
 
 Of stunning sounds and voices all confused. 
 Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear 
 
BOOK IL 73 
 
 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 960 
 
 Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned 
 Set Sable- vested Night, eldest of things, 
 The consort of his reign; and by them stood 
 Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name 
 Of Demogorgon; Rumor next and Chance, 
 And Tumult and Confusion all embroiled. 
 And Discord with a thousand various mouths. 
 To whom Satan turning boldly, thus: *'Ye 
 
 Powers 
 And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss, 
 Chaos and ancient Night! I come no spy, 970 
 With purpose to explore or to disturb 
 The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint, 
 Wandering this darksome desert, 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 
 
74 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Possesses lately, thither to arrive 
 
 I travel this profound. Direct my course. 980 
 
 Directed no mean recompense it brings 
 
 To your behoof: if I that region lost, 
 
 All usurpation thence expelled, reduce 
 
 To her original darkness and your sway — 
 
 Which is my present journey — and once more 
 
 Krect the standard there of ancient Night, 
 
 Yours be the advantage all, mine the revenge! '* 
 
 Thus Satan, and him thus the Anarch old, 
 With faltering speech and visage incomposed, 
 Answered: ''I know thee, stranger, who thou 
 
 art, 
 That mighty leading Angel, who of late 991 
 
 Made head against Heaven's King, though over- 
 thrown. 
 I saw and heard; for such a numerous host 
 Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, 
 With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, 
 Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates 
 Poured out b}^ millions her victorious bands 
 Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here 
 Keep residence; if all I can will serve, 
 That little which is left so to defend, 1000 
 
 Kncroached on still through your intestine broils, 
 Weakening the sceptre of old Night. First Hell, 
 Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; 
 Now lately heaven and earth, another world, 
 
BOOK II. 7S 
 
 Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain 
 To that side Heaven from whence your legions 
 
 fell. 
 If that way be 5'our walk, you have not far; 
 So much the nearer danger. Go and speed! 
 Havoc, and spoil, and ruin are my gain." 
 
 He ceased, and Satan staj^ed not to reply, loio 
 But, glad that now his sea should find a shore. 
 With fresh alacrity and force renewed, 
 Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire. 
 Into the wdld expanse, and through the shock 
 Of fighting elements, on all sides round 
 Environed, wins his way; harder beset 
 And more endangered, than when Argo passed 
 Through Bosporus, betwixt the justling Rocks; 
 Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned 
 Charybdis, and by the other Whirlpool 
 steered. 1020 
 
 So he with difiiculty and labour hard 
 Moved on: with difficulty and labour he; 
 But, he once past, soon after when Man fell — 
 Strange alteration! — Sin and Death amain 
 Following his track, such was the will of Heaven, 
 Paved after him a broad and beaten way 
 Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf 
 Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length. 
 From Hell continued, reaching the utmost orb 
 
76 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of this frail World; by which the Spirits 
 
 perverse, 
 With easy intercourse, pass to and fro 1031 
 
 To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 
 God and good Angels guard by special grace. 
 
 But now at last the sacred influence 
 Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven 
 Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night 
 A glimmering dawn. Here Nature 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; 1040 
 That Satan, with less toil, and now with ease, 
 Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light; 
 And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds 
 Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn. 
 Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, 
 Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold 
 Far off the empyreal Heaven, extended wide 
 In circuit, undetermined square or round, 
 With opal towers and battlements adorned 
 Of living sapphire, once his native seat; 
 And fast by, hanging in a golden chain, 
 This pendent World, in bigness as a star 
 Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. 
 Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, 
 Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 i 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 THE ARGUxMKNT. 
 
 God, sitting- on his throne, sees Satan flying toward 
 this World, then newly created: shews him to the Son, 
 who sat at his right hand; foretells the success of 
 Satan in perverting- mankind; clears his ov/n justice 
 and wisdom from all imputation, having created man 
 free and able enough to have withstood his tempter; 
 yet declares his purpose of grace toAvard him, in 
 regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but 
 by him seduced. The Son of God renders praises to 
 his Father for the manifestation of his gracious 
 purpose toward man; but God again declares, that 
 grace cannot be extended toward man without the 
 satisfaction of Divine justice; man hath offended the 
 majesty of God by aspiring to Godhead, and therefore 
 with all his progeny devoted to death must die, unless 
 some one can be found sufficient to answer for his 
 offence, and undergo his punishment. The Son of 
 God freely offers himself a ransom for man: the Father 
 accepts him, ordains his Incarnation, pronounces his 
 exaltation above all 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. Meanwhile Satan alights upon 
 the bare convex of this World's uttermost orb; where 
 wandering he first finds a place, since called the 
 Limbo of Vanity; what persons and things fly up 
 thither; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, described 
 ascending by stairs, and the waters above the firma- 
 ment that flow about it: his passage thence to the orb 
 
^8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 of the sun; he finds there Uriel the reg-ent of that orb, 
 but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner 
 angel; and pretending a zealous desire to behold the 
 new creation, and Man whom God had placed here, 
 inquires of him the place of his habitation, and is 
 directed; alights first on mount Niphates. 
 
 HaiIv, holy Liglit, offspring of Heaven first- 
 born ! 
 Or of the Eternal coeternal beam 
 May I express thee unblamed ? since God is 
 
 light, 
 And never but in iinapproached light 
 Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, 
 Bright effluence of bright essence, increate! 
 Or hearest thou rather pure ethereal stream, 
 Whose fountain who shall tell ? before the sun, 
 Before the heaven thou wert, and at the voice 
 Of God, as with a mantle didst invest lO 
 
 The rising World of waters dark and deep. 
 Won from the void and formless Infinite. — 
 Thee I revisit now with bolder wing, 
 Escaped the Stygian pool, though long detained 
 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, 20 
 
BOOK III. 79 
 
 Though bard and rare; — thee I revisit safe, 
 And feel f ^y sovran vital lamp; but thou 
 Revisitest not these eyes, that roll in vain 
 To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; 
 So thick a drop serene hath quenched their orbs, 
 Or dim suffusion veiled. 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, 30 
 That wash thy hallowed feet, and warbling flow, 
 Nightly I visit; nor sometimes forget 
 Those other two equalled with me in fate, 
 3o were I equalled with them in renown, 
 Blind Thamyris and blind Mseonides, 
 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. 40 
 
 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, 
 
8o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Presented with a universal blank 
 
 Of Nature's works, to me expunged and raised, 
 
 And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. 50 
 
 So much the rather thou, celestial Light, 
 
 Shine inward, and the mind through all her 
 
 powers 
 Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence 
 Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 
 Of things invisible to mortal sight. 
 
 Now had the Almighty Father from above, 
 From the pure Empyrean where he sits. 
 High throned above all highth, bent down his 
 
 eye, 
 His own works and their works at once to view. 
 About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 60 
 
 Stood thick as stars, and from his sight received 
 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 placed, 
 Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love. 
 Uninterrupted joy, unrivalled love. 
 In blissful solitude. He then surveyed 
 Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there 70 
 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. 
 
BOOK III. 8 1 
 
 On the bare outside of this World, that seemed 
 Firm land embosomed, 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 80 
 Transports our Adversary ? whom no bounds 
 Prescribed, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains 
 Heaped 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, 
 Directl}^ toward the new-created World, 
 And Man there placed, with purpose to 
 
 assay 90 
 
 If him by force he can destroy, or worse. 
 By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; 
 For man will hearken to his glozing lies, 
 And easil}^ transgress the soul 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. 
 
82 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Such I created all the ethereal Powers loo 
 
 And Spirits, both them who stood and them who 
 
 failed; 
 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 appeared, 
 Not what they would? what praise could they 
 
 receive ? 
 What pleasure I from such obedience paid ? 
 When will and reason — reason also is choice — 
 Useless and vain, of freedom both despoiled, 
 Made passive both, had served necessity, no 
 Not me. They therefore, as to right belonged, 
 So were created, nor can justly accuse 
 Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, 
 As if Predestination overruled 
 Their will, disposed by absolute decree, ~ 
 Or high foreknowledge. Thej^ themselves 
 
 decreed 
 Their own revolt, not I. If I foreknew, 
 Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, - 
 Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. 
 So, without least impulse or shadow of fate. 1 20 
 Or aught by me immutably foreseen. 
 They trespass, authors to themselves in all. 
 
BOOK III. 83 
 
 Both what they judge and what they choose; for 
 
 so 
 I formed them free, and free the}^ must remain, 
 Till they enthral themselves; I else must change 
 Their nature, and revoke the high decree 
 Unchangeable, eternal, which ordained 
 Their freedom; they themselves ordained their 
 
 fall 
 The first sort by their own suggestion fell, 
 Self- tempted, self-depraved; Man falls, de- 
 ceived 130 
 By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, 
 The other none. In mercy and justice both, 
 Through Heaven and Karth, so shall my glory 
 
 excel; 
 But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine." 
 Thus w^hile God spake ambrosial fragrance 
 filled 
 All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect 
 Sense of new joy ineffable diffused. 
 Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 
 Most glorious: in him all his father shone 
 Substantially expressed; and in his face 140 
 
 Divine compassion visibly appeared, 
 Love without end, and without measure grace, 
 Which uttering thus he to his Father spake: 
 '*0 Father, gracious was that word which 
 closed 
 
84 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 thy 
 
 throne 
 Kncompassed shall resound thee ever blest. 
 For should Man finally be lost, should Man, 150 • 
 Th}^ creature late so loved, thy youngest son, 
 Fall circumvented thus by fi-aud, though joined 
 With his own folly . . . that be from thee far, ^ 
 That far be from thee, Father, who art judg^ 
 Of all things made, and judgest only right. 
 Or shall the Adversary thus obtain 
 His end, and frustrate thine ? shall he fulfil 
 His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought; 
 Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, 
 Yet with revenge accomplished, and to Hell 160 
 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 questioned and blasphemed 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 
 
BOOK III. 85 
 
 My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 170 
 
 All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all 
 
 As my eternal purpose hath decreed. 
 
 Man shall not quite be lost, but saved who will; 
 
 Vet not of will in him, but grace in me 
 
 Freely vouchsafed; once more I will renew 
 
 His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthralled 
 
 By sin to foul exorbitant desires; 
 
 Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 
 
 On even ground against his mortal foe; 
 
 By me upheld, that he may know how frail 180 
 
 His fallen condition is, and to me owe 
 
 All his deliverance, and to i-fone but me. 
 
 Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, 
 
 Elect above the rest — so is my will; 
 
 The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warned 
 
 Their sinful' state, and to appease betimes 
 
 The incensed Deity, while offered grace 
 
 Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, 
 
 What may sufi&ce, and soften stony hearts 
 
 To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 190 
 
 To prayer, repentance, and obedience due. 
 
 Though but endeavored 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, 
 
 lyight after light, well used, they shall attain. 
 
 And to the end persisting safe arrive. 
 
86 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 This my long sufferance and my day of grace 
 
 They who neglect and scorn shall never taste; 
 
 But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, 20c>- 
 
 That they may stumble on and deeper fall; 
 
 And none but such from mercy I exclude. — 
 
 But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, 
 
 Disloyal, breaks his fealt}^, and sins 
 
 Against the high supremacy of Heaven, 
 
 Affecting Godhead, 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 him 210 
 
 Some other able, and as willing, pay 
 
 The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 
 
 Say, heavenly Powers, v/here 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 asked, but all the heavenly quire stood 
 
 mute, 
 And silence was in Heaven; on Man's behalf 
 Patron or intercessor none appeared. 
 Much less than durst upon his own head 
 
 draw 22a 
 
 The deadly forfeiture and ransom set. 
 And now without redemption all mankind 
 
BOOK II L 87 
 
 Must have been lost, adjudged to Death and 
 
 Hell 
 By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 
 In whom the. fulness dwells of love divine, 
 His dearest mediation thus renewed: 
 
 ''Father, thy word is passed, Man shall find 
 
 grace; 
 ?>.nd shall Grace not find means, that find her 
 
 way, 
 The speediest of thy winged messengers, 
 To visit all thy creatures, and to all 230 
 
 Conies unprevented, unimplored, unsought ? 
 Happy for man so coming! he her aid 
 Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost; 
 Atonement for himself or ofi"ering meet, 
 Indebted and undone, hath none to bring. — 
 Behold me then: me for him, life for life 
 r 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, 240 
 
 Well pleased; on me let Death vv'reak all his rage. 
 Under his gloomy power I shall not long 
 Lie vanquished; thou hast given me to possess 
 Life in myself forever; 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, 
 
88 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul 
 
 For ever with corruption there to dwell; 
 
 But I shall rise victorious, and subdue 250 
 
 My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. 
 
 Death his death's wound shall then receive, and 
 
 stoop 
 Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; 
 I through the ample air, in triumph high, 
 Shall lead Hell captive, maugre Hell, and shew 
 The powers of darkness bound: thou, at the sight 
 Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, 
 While, by the raised, I ruin all my foes. 
 Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; 
 Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, 260 
 Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return. 
 Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 
 Of anger shall remain, but peace assured 
 And reconcilement; wrath shall be no more 
 Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire." 
 His w^ords here ended, but his meek aspect 
 Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love 
 To mortal men, above which only shone 
 Filial obedience; as a sacrifice 
 Glad to be offered, he attends the will 270 
 
 Of his great Father. Admiration seized 
 All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither 
 
 tend. 
 Wondering; but soon the Almighty thus replied: 
 
BOOK III. 89 
 
 *'0 thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace 
 Found out for mankind under wrath ! O thou 
 My sole complacence ! well thou knowest 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. 280 
 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, 
 By 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 restored 
 As many as are restored, without thee none. 
 His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, 290 
 Imputed; shall absolve them who renounce 
 Their own both righteous 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 judged and die, 
 And dying rise, and rising with him raise 
 His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. 
 So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, 
 Giving to death, and dying to redeem, 
 So dearl}^ to redeem what hellish hate 300 
 
00 . PARADISE LOST. 
 
 So easily destroyed, 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 throned in highest 
 
 bliss, 
 Equal to God, and equally enjoying 
 Godlike 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, 310 
 
 Far more than great or high: because in thee 
 Love hath abounded more than glory abound; 
 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 
 
 1 give thee; reign for ever, and assume 
 Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, 
 Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I 
 
 reduce: 
 All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 321 
 In Heaven, on Earth, or under Earth in Hell. 
 When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, 
 Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send 
 The summoning Archangels, to proclaim 
 Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds 
 
BOOK HI. 91 
 
 The living, and forthwith the cited dead, 
 
 Of all past ages, to the general doom 
 
 Shall -hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. 
 
 Xhen, all thy Saints assembled, thou vshalt 
 
 judge 330 
 
 Bad men and Angels. They arraigned shall sink 
 Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, 
 Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Meanwhile 
 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 lyove triumphing, and fair Truth. 
 Th>in thou thy regal sceptre shalt lay hy, 
 For regal sceptre then no more shall need; 340 
 God shall be all in all. ' But, all ye Gods, 
 Adore him, w^ho to compass all this dies: 
 Adore the Son, and honor him as me." 
 
 No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but, all 
 The multitude of Angels— with a shout 
 Loud as from numbers w^ithout number, sweet 
 As from blest voices — uttering joy, Heaven rung 
 With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled 
 The eternal regions. lyowlj^ reverent 
 Toward either throne they bow, and to the 
 
 ground 
 With solemn adoration down they cast 351 
 
92 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 soon, for Man's offence, 
 
 To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there 
 
 grows 
 And flowers aloft shading the Fount of Life, 
 And where the River of Bliss through midst of 
 
 Heaven 
 Rolls o'er Blysian flowers her amber stream. 
 With these that never fade the Spirits elect 360 
 Bind their resplendent locks, inwreathed with 
 
 beams. 
 Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 
 Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 
 Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. 
 Then, crowned again, their golden harps they 
 
 took — • 
 Harps ever tuned, 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 370 
 Melodious part, such concord is in Pleaven. 
 
 Thee, Father, first they sung, omnipotent, 
 Immutable, immortal, infinite, 
 Eternal King; thee. Author of all being, 
 Fountain of light, thyself invisible 
 
BOOK III. 93 
 
 Amidst the glorious brightness, where thou 
 
 sittest 
 Throned inaccessible; but when thou shadest 
 The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud, 
 Draw.n round about thee like a radiant shrine. . . 
 Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, 38a 
 Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim 
 Approach not, but with both wings veil their 
 
 eyes. 
 The next they sang of all creation first, 
 Begotten Son, divine similitude. 
 In whose conspicuous contenance, without cloud 
 Made visible, the almighty Father shines, 
 Whom else no creature can behold; on thee 
 Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides; 
 Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. 
 *'He Heaven of Heavens and all the powers 
 
 therein 
 B}' thee created; and by thee threw down 391 
 The aspiring Dominations. Thou that day 
 Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. 
 Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook 
 Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks 
 Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. 
 Back from pursuit thy powers with loud acclaim 
 Thee only extolled. Son of thy Father's might, 
 To execute fierce vengeance on his foot. 
 
94 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Not so on man; him, through their malice 
 fallen, 400 
 
 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 purposed not to doom frail Man 
 So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, 
 He, to appease thy wrath and end the strife 
 Of mercy and justice in Xhy face discerned, 
 Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat 
 Second to thee, offered himself to die 
 For Man's offence. Oh, unexampled love, 41c 
 Love nowhere 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 th\^ Father's praise disjoin." 
 
 Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, 
 Thei. happy hours in joy and hymning spent. 
 Meanwhile upon the firm opacous globe 
 Of this round World, whose first convex divides 
 The luminous inferior orbs enclosed 420 
 
 From Chaos and the inroad of Darkness old, 
 Satan alighted walks. A globe far off 
 It seemed, now seems a boundless continent, j 
 Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Nighr 
 Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms 
 Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; 
 
BOOK III. 95 
 
 Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, 
 Though distant far, some small reflection gains 
 Of glimmering air, less vexed with tempest loud: 
 Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious 
 
 field. 430 
 
 As when a vulture on Imaiis bred, 
 Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, 
 Dislodging from a region scarce of prej^, 
 To gorge the flesh of lambs or j^eanling kids, 
 On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the 
 
 springs 
 Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; 
 But in his way lights on the barren plains 
 Of Sericana, where Chineses drive 
 With sails and wind their cany w^aggons light; 
 So, on this windj^ sea of land, the Fiend 440 
 
 Walks up and down alone, bent on his prey; 
 Alone, for other creature, in this place 
 Living or lifeless, to be found was none; 
 None 3'et, but store hereafter from the Earth 
 Up hither like aerial vapors flew 
 Of all things transitory and vain,\vhen sin 
 With vanity had filled 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. 45a 
 
 All who have their reward on earth, the fruits 
 Of painftU superstition and blind zeal, 
 
96 PARADISE LOSl. 
 
 Nought seeking but the praise of men l-.ere find 
 
 Fit retribution, empty as their deeds. 
 
 All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, 
 
 Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, 
 
 Dissolved on Earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 
 
 Till final dissolution, wander here; 
 
 Not in the neighboring moon, as some have 
 
 dreamed; 
 Those argent fields more likely habitants, 466 
 Translated Saints or middle Spirits hold 
 Betwixt the angelical and human kind. 
 Hither, of ill-joined sons and daughters born, 
 First from the ancient world those Giants came, 
 With man}^ a vain exploit, though then re- 
 no wmed; 
 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, to be deemed 
 A god, leaped fondly into ^^tna flames 470 
 
 Empedocles; and he who, to enjoy 
 Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, 
 Cleombrotus; and many more too long, 
 Embrj^os and idiots, eremites and friars. 
 White, black, and grey, .with all their trumper}^. 
 Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek 
 In Golgotha him dead who lives in Heaven; 
 And they who, to be sure of Paradise, 
 
BOOK III. 97 
 
 Dying put on the weeds of Dominic, 
 Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised. 480 
 They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, 
 And that crystalline sphere whose balance 
 
 weighs 
 The trepidation talked, and that first moved; 
 And now Saint Peter at Heaven's w^icket 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 divious air. Then might ye see 
 Cowls, hoods, and habits wiih their wearers, 
 
 toss • 490 
 
 And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, 
 Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls. 
 The sport of winds; all these, upwhirled aloft, 
 Fly o'er the backside of the World far off 
 Into a Limbo large and broad, since called 
 The Paradise of Fools, to fevv^ unknown 
 Long after, now unpeopled and untrod. 
 
 All this dark globe the Fiend found as he 
 
 passed, 
 And long he wandered, till at last a gleam 
 Of dawning light turned thitherward in 
 
 haste 500 
 
 His traveled steps. Far distant lie descries, 
 
98 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Ascending by degrees magnificent 
 
 Up to the wall of Heaven, a structure high; 
 
 At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared 
 
 The work as of a kingly palace-gate, 
 
 With frontispiece of diamond and gold 
 
 Kmbellished; thick with sparkling orient gems 
 
 The portal shone, inimitable on Karth 
 
 By model, or by shading pencil drawn. 
 
 The stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 51C 
 
 Angels ascending and descending, bands 
 
 Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled 
 
 To Padan-Aram, in the field of lyUz 
 
 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, some" 
 
 times 
 Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed 
 Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon 
 Who after came from Earth sailing arrived 520 
 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 opened from beneath, 
 Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, 
 A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide; 
 
BOOK III. 99 
 
 Wider by far than that of after-times 
 
 Over Mount Sion, and, though that were 
 
 large, 530 
 
 Over the Promised Land to God so dear; 
 By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, 
 On high behests his Angels to and fro 
 Passed 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; 
 So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were 
 
 set 
 To darkness, such as bound the ocean-wave. 
 
 Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, 540 
 That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, 
 Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 
 0-t all this World at once. As when a scout. 
 Through dark and desert 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 ronowned metropolis, 
 With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, 550 
 Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams. . . 
 Such wonder seized, though after Heaven seen^ 
 The Spirit malign, but tnuch more envy seized. 
 At sight of all this World beheld so fair. 
 
loo PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 56a 
 He views in breadth, and, wdthout longer pause, 
 Down right into the World's first region throws 
 His flight precipitant, and winds with ease 
 Through the pure marble air his oblique way 
 Amongst innumerable stars, that shone 
 Stars distant, but nigh-hand seemed other worlds ^ 
 Or other worlds they seemed, or happ}^ isles, 
 lyike those Hesperian gardens famed of old, 
 Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales. 
 Thrice-happy isles ; but who dwelt happy 
 
 there 570 
 
 He stayed not to inquire. Above them all 
 The golden sun, in splendor likest Heaven, 
 Allured his e3^e. Thither his course he bends, 
 Through the calm firmament — but up or down. 
 By center 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 580 
 
BOOK III. Toi 
 
 Days, months, and 3^ears, toward his all-cheering 
 
 lamp 
 Turn swift their various motions, or are turned 
 By his magnetic beam, that gently warns 
 The Universe, and to each inward part 
 With gentle penetration, though unseen, 
 Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep : 
 So wonderously was set his station bright. 
 
 There lands the Fiend, a spot like which 
 
 perhaps 
 A-stronomer in the sun's lucent orb, 
 Through his glazed optic tube, yet never 
 
 saw. 590 
 
 Th6 place he found beyond expression bright, 
 Compaied with aught on Earth, metal or stone; 
 Not all parts like, but all alike informed 
 With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire: 
 If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; 
 If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, 
 Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone 
 In Aaron's breastplate, and a stone besides 
 Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, 
 That stone, or like to that, which here below 600 
 Philosophers in vain so long have sought; 
 In vain, though by their powerful art they bind 
 Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound 
 In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, 
 Drained through a limbec to his native form. 
 
I02 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 What wonder then if fields and regions here 
 Breathe forth elixir pure, and rivers run 
 Potable gold, when, with one virtuous touch, 
 The arch-chemic sun, so far from us remote, 
 Produces, w^ith terrestrial humor mixed, 6ic 
 
 Here in the dark so man}- precious things, 
 Of colour glorious, and effect so rare ! 
 Here matter new to ga^e the Devil met 
 Undazzled. Far and wide his ej^e 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 round 
 Shadow from bod}^ opaque can fall ; and the air, 
 Nowhere so clear, sharpened his visual ray 620 
 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 turned, but not his brightness hid ; 
 Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar 
 Circled his head, nor less his locks behind 
 Illustrious, on his shoulders fledge with wings, 
 I^ay waving round ; on some great charge 
 
 emplo)'ed 
 He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. 
 
 Glad was the spirit impure, as now in hope 630 
 To find who might direct his wandering flight 
 To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, 
 
BOOK III. 103 
 
 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, 3^et such as in his face 
 Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb 
 Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned. 
 Under a coronet his flowing hair 64c 
 
 In curls on either cheek pla3^ed; wings he wore 
 Of many a colored plume, sprinkled with gold; 
 His habit fit for speed succinct, and held 
 Before his decent steps a silver wand. 
 He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright, 
 Kre he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, 
 Admonished by his ear, and straight was known 
 The Archangel Uriel, one of the seven 
 Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne. 
 Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 650 
 That run through all the Heavens, or down to 
 
 the Earth 
 Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, 
 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 vSons the embass}^ attend; 
 
I04 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And here are likeliest by supreme decree 
 
 Like honor to obtain, and as his e^-e 660 
 
 To visit oft this new creation round . . . 
 
 Unspeakable desire to see and know 
 
 All these his wondrous works, but chief! 5^ Man, 
 
 His chief delight and favor, him for whom 
 
 All these his works so wondrous he ordained, 
 
 Had brought me from the quires of Cherubim, 
 
 Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell, 
 
 In which of all these shining orbs hath Man 
 
 His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none. 
 
 But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; 670 
 
 That I may find him, and with secret gaze 
 
 Or open admiration him behold, 
 
 On whom the great Creator hath bestowed 
 
 Worlds, and on vrhom hath all these graces 
 
 poured; 
 That both in him and all things, as in meet. 
 The universal Maker we ma}^ praise; 
 Who justly hath 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." 680 
 
 So spake the false dissembler unperceived; 
 For neither man nor angel can discern 
 Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 
 Invisible, except to God alone. 
 
BOOK III. 105 
 
 By his permissive will, through Heaven and 
 
 Earth. 
 And oft, though Wisdom wake, Suspicion sleeps 
 At Wisdom's gate, and "-c Simplicity 
 Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill, 
 Where no ill seems: which now for once beguiled 
 Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held 690 
 The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; 
 Who in the fraudulent imposter foul, 
 In his uprightness, answer thus returned: 
 
 "Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know 
 The w^orks of God, thereby to glorify 
 The great Work-master, leads to no excess 
 That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 
 The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 
 From thy empj' real mansion thus alone, 
 To witness with thine eyes what some per- 
 haps, 700 
 Contented with report, hear only in Heaven: 
 For wonderful indeed are all his works, 
 Pleasant to know, and w^orthiest to be all 
 Had in remembrance always with delight! 
 But what created mind can comprehend 
 Their number, or the wusdom 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; 
 
io6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Confusion heard his voice, and wild Uproar 710 
 Stood ruled, stood vast Infinitude confined; 
 Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, 
 lyight 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 rolled orbicular, and turned to stars, 
 Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 
 Each had his place appointed, each his course: 720 
 The rest in circuit walls this Universe. 
 Look downward on that globe, whose hither side 
 With light from hence, though but reflected, 
 
 shines. 
 That place is Earth, the seat of Man ; that light 
 His da}^, which else, as the other hemisphere, 
 Night would invade; but there the neighbouring 
 
 moon 
 — So call that opposite fair star — her aid 
 Timely interposes, and, her monthly round 
 Still ending, still renewing, through mid-heaven. 
 With borrowed light her countenance triform 730 
 Hence fills and empties, to enlighten the Earth, 
 And in her pale dominion checks the night. 
 That spot to which I point is Paradise, 
 Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. 
 Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.'* 
 
BOOK III. 107 
 
 Thus said, he turned; and Satan bowing low. 
 As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, 
 Where honor due and reverence none neglects, 
 Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, 
 Down from the ecliptic, sped with hoped 
 success, 740 
 
 Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel, 
 Nor stayed, till on Niphates' top he lights. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place 
 where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which 
 he undertook alone against (iod and Man, falls into 
 manj' doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, 
 envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in 
 evil, journeys on to Paradise, W'hose outward prospect 
 and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits 
 in the shape of a cormorant on the Tree of Life, as 
 highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden 
 described; Satan's first sight 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 temptation by 
 seducing them to transgress: then leaves them awhile, 
 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 passed at 
 noon by his sphere in the shape of a good angel down 
 to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures 
 in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him 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 
 nightwatch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints 
 
BOOK IV. 109 
 
 two strong" angels to Adam's bower, lesj the Evil 
 Spirit should be there doing- some harm to Adam or 
 Eve sleeping; tjiere they find him at the ear of Eve, 
 tempting" her in a dream, and bring" him, though 
 unwilling", to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scorn- 
 fully answers, prepares resistance, but, hindered by a 
 sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise. 
 
 Oh for that warning voice, which he who saw 
 The x\pocal3'pse heard cry in Heaven aloud, 
 Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 
 Came furious down to be revenged on men, 
 Woe to the inhabitants on earth ! that nov\% 
 While time was, our first parents had been 
 
 warned 
 The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped. 
 Haply so 'scaped, his m.ortal snare. For now 
 Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 
 The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, 10 
 
 To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss 
 Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell. 
 Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 
 Far off and fearless; nor with 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 within him hell 20 
 
 He brings, and round about him, nor from hell 
 One step, no more than from himself, can fly 
 
no PARADISE LOST. 
 
 By change of place. Now conscience wakes 
 
 despair, 
 That slumbered, wakes the bittei* memory 
 Of what he was, what is, and what must be — 
 Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must 
 
 ensue. 
 Sometimes toward Bden, which now in his view 
 I^ay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; 
 Sometimes toward heaven and the full-blazing 
 
 sun, 
 Which now sat high in his meridian tower; 30 
 Then much revolving thus in sighs began: 
 
 "O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, 
 Lookest from thy sole dominion, like the God 
 Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars 
 Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, 
 But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 
 
 Sun, to tell thee how I 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, 40 
 Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless 
 
 King. 
 Ah, wherefore? he deserved no such return 
 From me, whom he created what I was, 
 In that bright eminence, and with his good 
 Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. 
 What could be less than to afford him praise, 
 
BOOK IV, III 
 
 The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks ? 
 How due! Yet all his good proved ill in me, 
 And wrought but malice. Lifted up so high 
 I 'sdeL .ed subjection, and thought one step 
 
 higher 50 
 
 Would set me highest, and in a moment quit 
 The debt immense of endless gratitude, 
 So burdensome still paying still to owe; 
 Forgetful what from him I still received, 
 And understood not that a grateful mind 
 By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 
 Indebted and discharged; what burden then ? 
 Oh, had his powerful destiny ordained 
 Me some inferior Angel! I had stood 
 Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised 60 
 Ambition. Yet why not ? some other Power 
 As great might have aspired, and me though mean 
 Drawn to his part. But other Powers as great 
 Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within 
 Or from without to all temptations armed. 
 Hadst thou the same free will and power to 
 
 stand ? 
 Thou hadst. Whom hast thou then or what to 
 
 accuse, 
 Bnt Heaven's free love dealt equally to all ? 
 Be then his love accursed, since, love or hate, 
 To me alike it deals eternal woe. 70 
 
 Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will 
 
•112 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Chose freely what it now so justly rues.— 
 
 Me miserable! which way shall I fly 
 
 Infinite wrath and infinite dispair ? 
 
 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 which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. 
 
 Oh, then, at last relent! Is there no place 
 
 Left for repentance, none for pardon left ? — 8o 
 
 None left but by submission; and that word 
 
 Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame 
 
 Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced 
 
 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 me on the throne of Hell, 
 
 With diadem and sceptre high advanced, 90. 
 
 The lower still I fall, only supreme 
 
 In misery; such joy ambition finds, — 
 
 But say I could repent, and could obtain 
 
 By act of grace my former state — how soon 
 
 Would highth recall high thoughts! how soou 
 
 unsay 
 What feigned submission bwore! Ease would 
 
 recant 
 Vows made in pain, as violent and void — 
 
BOOK IV, 113 
 
 For never can true reconcilement grow 
 
 Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so 
 
 deep — 
 Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 100 
 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, instead 
 Of us outcast, exiled, his new delight, 
 Mankind created, and for him this World! 
 So farewell ftope, and with hope farewell fear, 
 Farewell remorse! all good to me is lost. 
 Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least 1 10 
 
 Divided empire with 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 dimmed his 
 
 face. 
 Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair, 
 Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed 
 Him counterfeit, if any e3^e beheld; 
 For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 
 Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware 
 Each perturbation smoothed with outward 
 
 calm, 120 
 
 Artificer of fraud; and was the first 
 
JI4 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 That practised. falsehood under saintly shew 
 
 Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge. 
 
 Yet not enough had practised to deceive 
 
 Uri<^.l, once warned; whose e^^e pursued him 
 
 down 
 
 The w^ay he went, and on the Assyrian mount 
 
 Saw him disfigured, more than could befall 
 
 Spirit of happy sort: his gestures fierce 
 
 He marked and m,ad demeanor, then alone. 
 
 As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. 130 
 
 So on he fares, and to the border comes 
 . . . ' 
 
 OfBden, where delicious Paradise, 
 
 Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, 
 
 As wdth a rural mound, the champain head 
 
 Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides 
 
 With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild 
 
 Access denied; and overhead up-grew 
 
 Insuperable highth of loftiest shade. 
 
 Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, 
 
 A silvan scene; and, as the ranks ascend, 140 
 
 Shade above shade, a woody theatre 
 
 Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 
 
 The verdurous wall of Paradise up-sprung, 
 
 Which to our general sire gave prospect large , 
 
 Into his nether empire neighboring round. 
 
 And higher than that wall a circling row 
 
 Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, 
 
 Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue. 
 
BOOK IV. 115 
 
 Appeared, with gay enamelled colors mixed; 
 On which the sun more glad impressed his 
 beams 150 
 
 Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 
 When God hath showered the earth: so lovely- 
 seemed 
 That landscape; and of pure now purer air 
 Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 
 Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 
 All sadness but despair. Now gentle gales, 
 Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense 
 Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 
 Those balm.y spoils. As when to them who sail 
 Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 160 
 Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow 
 Sabean odors, from the vSpicy shore 
 Of Araby the Blest; with such delay 
 Well pleased they slack their course, and many 
 
 a league 
 Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: 
 So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, 
 Who came their bane, though with them better 
 
 pleased 
 Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume 
 That drove him, though enamoured, from the 
 
 spouse 
 Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent 170 
 From Media post to Egypt, there fast-bound. 
 
Ii6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Now to the ascent of that sleep savage bill 
 Satan had journe5'ed on, pensive and slow; 
 But further way found none, so thick entwined, 
 As one continued brake, the undergrowth 
 Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed 
 All path of man or beast that passed that wa}': 
 One gate there only was, and that looked east 
 On the other side. Which when the Arch-felon 
 
 saw, 
 Due entrance he disdained, and, in contempt, i8o 
 At one slight bound high overleaped all bound 
 Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within 
 lyights 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 w^ith ease into the fold; 
 Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash 
 Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, 
 Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, 19G 
 In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: 
 So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; 
 So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. 
 Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of lyife. 
 The middle tree and highest there that grew, 
 Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life 
 Thereby regained, but sat devising death 
 To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought 
 
BOOK /r. 117 
 
 Of that life-giving plant, but onh^ used 
 For prospect, what well used had been the 
 pledge 200 
 
 Of immortalit}^ So little knows 
 Any, but God alone, to value right 
 The good before him, but perverts best things 
 To worse abuse, or to their meanest use. 
 
 Beneath him with new wonder now he views, 
 To all delight of human sense exposed, 
 In narrow room Nature's whole wealth, yea, more, 
 A Heaven on Karth; for blissful Paradise 
 Of God the garden was, b}^ him in the east 
 Of Kden planted. Eden stretched her line 210 
 From Auran eastward to the royal towers 
 Of great Seleucia, built b}^ Grecian kings. 
 Or where the sons of Kden long before 
 Dwelt in Telassar. In this pleasant soil 
 His far more pleasant garden God ordained. 
 Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow 
 All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; 
 And all amid them stood the Tree of Life, 
 High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit 
 Of vegetable gold; and, next to life 220 
 
 Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by. 
 Knowledge of good bought dear b}^ knowing ill. 
 Southward through Eden went a river large, 
 Nor changed his course, but through the shagg}- hill 
 ^J'assed, underneath ungulfed; For God had thrown 
 
lib PARADISE LOST. 
 
 That mountain, as his garden-mould high raised, 
 Upon the rapid current, which, through veins 
 Of porous earth with kindl}^ thirst up-drawn, 
 Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill 
 Watered the garden; thence united fell 23c 
 
 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 maii}^ a famous realm 
 And country, whereof here needs no account; 
 But rather to tell how, if Art could tell 
 How, from that sapphire fount the crisped books, 
 Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 
 With mazy error under pendent shades, 
 Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 240 
 
 Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art 
 In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon 
 Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, 
 Both where the morning sun first warmly smote 
 ,Tlie open field, and where the un pierced shade 
 Imbrowned the noontide bowers. Thus was this 
 
 place 
 A happy rural seat of various view; 
 Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and 
 
 balm, 
 Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, 
 Hung amiable — Hesperian fables true, 250 
 
 If true, here only — and of delicious taste. 
 
BOOK IV. 119 
 
 Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 
 Grazing the tender herb, where interposed, 
 Or palmy hillock, or the flowery lap 
 Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 
 Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose. 
 Another side, umbrageous grots and caves 
 Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine 
 Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 
 Luxuriant. Meanwhile murmuring waters 
 
 fall 260 
 
 Down the slope hills dispersed, or in a lake. 
 That to the fringed bank, with myrtle crowned. 
 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, 
 lycd on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field 
 Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers. 
 Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis 270 
 
 Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain 
 To seek her through the world; nor that sweet 
 
 grove 
 Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired 
 Castalian spring, might with this Paradise 
 Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle, 
 Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, 
 Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, 
 
I20 u-^ARADISE LOST. 
 
 Hid Amalthea and her florid son, 
 
 Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; 
 
 Nor, where Abassin kings their issue guard , 28. 
 
 Mount Amara, though this by some supposed 
 
 True Paradise, under the Ethiop line 
 
 By Nilus' head, enclosed 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 honor clad, 
 In naked majesty seemed lords of all, 2(^y» 
 
 And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine 
 The image of their glorious Maker shone, 
 Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure 
 — Severe, but in true filial freedom placed, — 
 Whence true authority in men; though both 
 Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; 
 For contemplation he and valor formed, 
 For softness she, and sweet attractive grace; 
 He for God only, she for God in him. 
 His fair large front and eye sublime declared 300 
 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 
 
BOOK IV. 121 
 
 Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved, 
 As the -^'ine curls her tendrils, which implied 
 Subjection, but required with gentle sway, 
 And by her yielded, by him best received, 
 Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, ' 31-0 
 And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. 
 Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; 
 Then was not guilty shame. Dishonest shame 
 Of Nature's works, honor dishonorable. 
 Sin-bred, hovvr have ye troubled all mankind 
 With shews instead, mere shews of seeming pure, 
 And banished from Man's life his happiest life, 
 Simplicity and spotless innocence I 
 So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight 
 Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: 320 
 So hand in hand they passed, 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 Kve. 
 ;: . Under a tuft of shade, that on a green 
 Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain-side, 
 They sat them down; and, after no more toil 
 Of their sweet gardening labor than sufficed 
 To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease 
 More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 330 
 More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell, 
 Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs 
 Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline 
 
122 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 f 
 
 On the soft dowii}^ bank, damasked with n-^wers. 
 The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind, 
 Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming 
 
 stream ; 
 Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 
 Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems 
 Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, 
 Alone as they. About them frisking played 340 
 All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all 
 
 chase 
 In wood or wilderness, forest or den. 
 Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 
 Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 
 Gambolled before them; the unwield}'- elephant, 
 To make them mirth, used all his might, and 
 
 wreathed 
 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 350 
 Couched, and now filled with pasture gazingsat, 
 Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, 
 Declined, was hasting now with prone career 
 To the 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 failed speech recovered sad: 
 "O Hell! what do mine e3^es with grief behold? 
 
BOOK IV. 123 
 
 Into our room of bliss thus high advanced 
 Creatures of other nioud, earth-born per- 
 haps, 360 
 Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright 
 lyittle inferior; whom my thoughts pursue 
 With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 
 In them divine resemblance, and such grace 
 The hand that formed them on their shape hath 
 
 poured. 
 Ah, gentle pair! ye little think how nigh 
 Your change approaches, when all these delights 
 Will vanish; and deliver ye to woe, 
 More woe, the more your taste is now of joy. 
 Happy, but for so happy ill secured 370 
 
 <IyOng to continue, and this high seat your 
 
 Heaven 
 111 fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe 
 As now is entered; yet jio purposed foe 
 To \'0U, 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. 
 Xike this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such 
 Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, 380 
 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, 
 
124 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Not like these narrow limits, to receive 
 Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 
 Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge 
 On you who wrong me not, for him who 
 
 wronged. 
 And should I at your harmless innocence 
 Melt, as I do, yet pifblic reason just. 
 Honor and empire, with revenge enlarged 390! 
 By conquering this new World, compels me now. 
 To do what else, though damned, I should abhor." 
 
 So spake the Fiend, and with necessity. 
 The tyrant's plea, excused 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 served best his end 
 Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, ; 
 
 To mark what of th^ir state he more might 
 learn , 4^^ 
 
 By word or action marked. About them rouncj 
 A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; j 
 
 Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 
 In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play. 
 Straight couches close, then rising changes oft 
 His couchant watch, as one who chose his groundj 
 Whence rushing he might surest seize them botlii 
 Griped in each paw : when Adam first of men 
 To first of woman Eve thus moving speech 
 
BOOK IV. 125 
 
 Turned him, all ear to liear new utterance 
 flow : 410 
 
 "Sole partner and sole part of all these joj^s, 
 Dearer thj^self than all, needs must the power 
 That made us, and for us this ample World, 
 Be infinitel}^ good, and of hi^ good 
 As liberal and free as infinite; 
 That raised us from ihe dust, and placed us here 
 In all this happiness, who at his hand 
 Have nothing merited, nor can perform 
 Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires 
 From us no other service than to keep 420 
 
 This one, this easy charge, of all the trees 
 In Paradise that bear delicious fruit. 
 So various, not to taste that onl}^ Tree 
 Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life; 
 So near grows death to. life, wliate'er death is, 
 Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou 
 
 knowest 
 God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, 
 The only' sign of our obedience left. 
 Among so many signs of power and rule 
 Conferred upon us, and dominion given 430 
 
 Over all other creatures that possess 
 Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard 
 One easy prohibition, who enjo}^ 
 Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 
 IJnlimited of manifold delights; 
 
126 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 But let us ever praise him, and extol 
 
 His bounty, following our delightful task, 
 
 To prune these growing plants, and tend these 
 
 flowers, 
 Which were it toilsome yet with thee were 
 
 sweet. ' ' 
 i*o whom thus Eve replied; — " O thou for whom 
 And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy 
 
 flesh, 441 
 
 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 chiefl)^, who enjoy 
 So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 
 Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou 
 Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find. 
 That day I oft remember, when from sleep 
 I first awaked, and found myself reposed 45c 
 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 unmoved 
 Pure as the expanse of heaven. I thither went, 
 With unexperienced thought, and laid me down 
 On the green bank, to look into the clear 
 Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. 
 
BOOK IV. 127 
 
 As I bent down to look, just opposite 460 
 
 A shape within the water}^ gleam appeared, 
 Bending to look on me: I started back, 
 It started back; but pleased I soon returned, 
 Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks 
 Of sympathy and love. There I had fixed 
 Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire. 
 Had not a voice thus warned me: ' What thou 
 
 seest, 
 What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself; 
 With thee it came and goes. But follow me. 
 And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 470 
 Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he 
 Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy 
 Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 
 Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called 
 Mother of human race. ' What could I do, 
 But follow straight, invisibly thus led ? 
 Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, 
 Under a platan; yet methought less fair, 
 Less winning soft, less amiably mild. 
 Than th^t smooth watery image. Back I 
 
 turned; 480 
 
 Thou following criedst aloud, ' Return, fair Bve; 
 Whom fliest thou? whom thou fliest, of him 
 
 thou art, 
 His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent 
 Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, 
 
I2S PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Substantial life, to have thee by tii}^ side 
 Henceforth an individual solace dear; 
 Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim 
 My other half.' With that thy gentle hand 
 Seized mine; I yielded, and from that time see 
 How beauty is excelled by manly grace 490 
 
 And wisdom, which alone is truly fair." 
 
 So spake our general mother, and with eyes 
 Of conjugal attraction unreproved, 
 And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned 
 On our first father; half her swelling breast 
 Naked met his, under the flowing gold 
 Of her loose tresses hid. He in delight, 
 Both of her beauty and submissive charms. 
 Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter 
 On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds 500 
 That shed Mayflowers, and pressed her matron lip 
 With kisses pure. Aside the DeviJ turned 
 For envy, yet with jealous leer malign 
 Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained: 
 " Sight hateful ! sight tormenting! thus these two 
 Imparadised in one another's arms. 
 The happier Kden, 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, 510 
 
 Still unfulfilled, with pain of longing pines. 
 Yet let me not forget what I have gained 
 
BOOK IV, 
 
 129 
 
 From their own mouths. All is not theirs it 
 
 seems; 
 One fatal tree there stands, of Knowledge called, 
 Forbidden them to taste. Knowledge forbidden! 
 Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their L<ord 
 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 ? 520 
 Oh, 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, 
 The3^ taste and die^. what likelier can ensue? — 
 But first with narrow search I must walk round 
 This garden, and no corner leave unspied. 
 A chance but chance may lead where I may 
 meet 530 
 
 Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain- 
 side, 
 Or in thick shade retired, from him ib draw 
 What further would be learned. Live while ye may 
 Yet liapp}'- pair; enjoy, till I return. 
 Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed." 
 
 So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, 
 "But with sly circumspection, and began 
 
130 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale 
 
 his roam. 
 Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where heaven 
 With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun 540 
 Slowly descended, and with right aspect 
 Against the eastern gate of Paradise 
 Levelled his evening rays. It was a rock 
 Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, 
 Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent 
 Accessible from earth, one entrance high; 
 The rest was craggy cliff, that ov^erhung 
 Still as it rose, impossible to climb. 
 Betwixt these rock)^ pillars Gabriel sat, 
 Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night. 550 
 About him exercised heroic games 
 The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand 
 Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears, 
 Hung high, with diamond flaming and with gold. 
 Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 
 On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star 
 In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired 
 Impress the air, and shews the mariner 
 From what point of his compass to beware 
 Impetuous winds. He thus began in haste: 560 
 "Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given 
 Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 
 No evil thing approach or enter in. . . 
 This day at highth of noon came to my sphere 
 
BOOK /K 131 
 
 A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know 
 More of the Ahnighty's works, and chiefly Man, 
 God's latest image. I described his way 
 Bent on all speed, and marked his aery gait; 
 But in the mount that lies from Eden north, 
 Where he first lighted, soon discerned his 
 looks 570 
 
 Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured. 
 Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 
 Lost sight of him. One of the banished crew, 
 I fear, hath ventured from the Deep, to raise 
 New troubles; him th}^ care must be to find." 
 
 To vv horn the winged warrior thus returned: 
 "Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight. 
 Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sittest^ 
 See far and wide. In at this gate none pass 
 The vigilance here placed, but such as come 580 
 Well knc'wn from Heaven; and since meridian 
 
 hour 
 No creature thence. If Spirit of other sort. 
 So minded, have o'erleaped these earthy bounds 
 On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude 
 Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. 
 But if within the circuit of these walks, 
 In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 
 Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know.'^ 
 
 So promised he ; and Uriel to his charge 
 
132 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Returned ou that bright beam, whose point now 
 
 raised 
 Bore him slope downward to the sun now 
 
 fallen 591 
 
 Beneath the Azores ; whether the prime orb, 
 Incredible how swift, had hither rolled 
 Diurnal, or this less volubil earth. 
 By shorter flight to the east, had left him there, 
 Arraying with reflected purple and gold 
 The clouds that on his western throne attend. 
 
 Now came still Evening on, and Twilight grey 
 Had in her sober livery all things clad; 
 Silence accompanied ; for beast and bird, 600 
 They to their grassy couch, these to their nests 
 Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; 
 She all night long her amorous descant sung. 
 Silence was placed ; now glowed the firmament 
 With living sapphire ; Hesperus, that led , 
 The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 
 Rising in clouded majesty, at length 
 Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light. 
 And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw; 
 When Adam thus to Eve: — ''Fair Consort, the 
 
 hour 
 Of night and all things now retired to rest 611 
 Mind us of like repose, since God hath set 
 Labor and rest, as da3^ and night, to men 
 Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, 
 
BOOK 1 V. 133 
 
 Now falling with soft, slumberous weight, inclines 
 Our eyelids. Other creatures all day long 
 Rove idle, unemployed, 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; 620 
 While other animals unactive range, 
 And of their doings God takes no account. — 
 Tomorrow, ere fresh morning streak the east 
 With first approach of light, we must be risen. 
 And at our pleasant labor to reform, 
 Yon flowery arbors, yonder alleys green, 
 Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown. 
 That mock our scant manuring, and require 
 More hands than ours to lop their w^anton growth. 
 Those blossoms also, and those dropping 
 guns, 630 
 
 That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, 
 Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; 
 Meanwhile as Nature wills, night bids us rest." 
 To whom thus Kve with perfect beauty adorned: 
 "My author and disposer, what thou biddest 
 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. 640 
 Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, 
 
134 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, 
 When first on this delightful land hf 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 as- 
 cends 650 
 With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun 
 On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, 
 Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; 
 Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night, 
 W^ith this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon, 
 Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet. 
 But wherefore alf 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, accomplished 
 Eve, 660 
 These have their course to finish round the earth, 
 By morrow-evening, and from land to land 
 In order, though to nations yet unborn, 
 Ministering light prepared, they set and rise; 
 Lest total Darkness should by night regain 
 Her old possession, and extinguish life 
 
BOOK IV. 135 
 
 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 670 
 Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow 
 On earth, made hereby apter to receive 
 Perfection from the sun's more potent ra^-; 
 These then, though uubeheld in deep of night. 
 Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men were 
 
 none, v 
 
 That heaven would want spectators, God want 
 
 praise. 
 Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth; 
 Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep; 
 All these with ceaseless praise his works behold. 
 Both day and night. How often, from the 
 
 steep 680 
 
 Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard 
 Celestial voices to the midnight air, 
 Sole, or responsive each to other's note, 
 Singing their great Creator! Oft in bands 
 While they keepw^atch, or nightly rounding walk, 
 With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds 
 In full harmonic number, joined, their songs 
 Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to 
 
 Heaven." 
 Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed 
 On to their blissful bower. It was a place 690 
 
136 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed 
 All things 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 
 Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 
 Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous 
 
 flower, 
 Iris all hues, roses and jessamine 
 Reared high their flourished heads between, and 
 
 wrought 
 Mosaic; underfoot the violet, 700 
 
 Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay 
 Broidered the ground, more colored than with 
 
 stone 
 Of costliest emblem : other creature here, 
 Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none, 
 Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower 
 More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, 
 Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph, 
 Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess. 
 With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs 
 Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed, 710 
 And heavenly quires the h3'mensean sung. 
 What day the genial Angel to our sire 
 Brought her, in naked beauty more adorned, 
 More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods 
 Endowed with all their gifts, and, oh I too like 
 
BOOK IV. 137 
 
 In sad event, when, to the unwiser son 
 Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared 
 Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged 
 On him who had stolen Jove's authentic fire. 
 Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both 
 
 stood, 720 
 
 Both turned, and under open skj^ adored 
 The God that made both sky, air, earth, and 
 
 heaven, 
 Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe. 
 And starry pole: " Thou also madest the night. 
 Maker omnipotent ! and thou the day, 
 Which we, in our appointed work employed, 
 Have finished, happy in our mutual help 
 And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss. 
 Ordained by the; and this delicious place 
 For us too large, where thy abundance wants 730 
 Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 
 But thou hast promised from us two a race 
 To fill the earth, who shall with us extol 
 Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, 
 And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep,"" 
 
 This said unanimous, and other rites 
 Observing none, but adoration pure, 
 Which God likes best, into their inmost bow^r 
 Handed the^^ went; and, eased the putting-ofF 
 These troublesome disguises which we wear, 740 
 Straight side by side were laid; not turned, I ween. 
 
T38 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites 
 
 Mysterious of connubial love refused; 
 
 Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 
 
 Of purity and place and innocence, 
 
 Defaming as impure what God declares 
 
 Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to ail. 
 
 Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain 
 
 But our destroyer, foe to God and Man ? 
 
 Hail, wedded lyove! mysterious law true source 750 
 
 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 ! 760 
 
 Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, 
 
 Present or past, as saints and patriarchs used. 
 
 Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights 
 
 His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, 
 
 Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 
 
 Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared. 
 
 Casual fruition; nor in court amours. 
 
 Mixed ^ance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, 
 
 Or serenate, which the starved lover sings 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 139 
 
 To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 770 
 These lulled by nightingales, embracing, slept, 
 And on their naked limbs the flowery roof. 
 Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on 
 Blest pair ! and oh, yet happiest ! if y^ seek 
 No happier state, and know to know no more. 
 
 Now had night measured with her shadow}'- cone 
 Half-way up-hill this vast sublunar vault 
 And from their ivory port the Cherubim 
 Forth issuing, at the accustomed hour, stood armed 
 To their night-watches in warlike parade; 780 
 When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake 
 "Uzziel, have 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 called 
 That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge: 
 
 "Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed 
 Search through this garden, leave unsearched no 
 
 nook: 
 But chiefly where those two fair creatures 
 
 lodge, 790 
 
 Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. 
 This evening from the sun's decline arrived 
 Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen 
 Hitherward bent — who could have thought ?— 
 
 escaped 
 
I40 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The bars of Hell, on errand bad, no doubt: 
 Such, where ye find, seize fast and hither bring." 
 
 So saying, on he led his radiant files, 
 Dazzling the niocn; these to the bower direct 
 In search of whom they sought. Him there they 
 
 found, 
 Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Kve 800 
 
 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 animal spirits, that from pure blood arise, 
 Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 
 At least distempered, discontented thoughts. 
 Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 
 Blown up wnth high conceits, engendering pride. 
 Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 810 
 
 Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure 
 Touch of celestial temper, but returns 
 Of force to its own likeness. Up he starts 
 Discovered and surprised. As when a spark 
 Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 
 Fit for the tun some magazine to store 
 Against a rumored war, the smutty grain 
 With sudden blaze diffused inflames the air: 
 So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 
 Back stepped those two fair Angels, half- 
 amazed 820 
 
BOOK IK 141 
 
 So sudden to behold the grisly king; 
 
 Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon: 
 
 "Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell 
 Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and trans- 
 formed. 
 Why satest thou like an enemy in wait. 
 Here watching at the head of these that sleep ?" 
 
 "Know ye not then? said Gatan, filled with scorn, 
 "Know ye not me ? jq knew me once no mate 
 For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar. 
 Not to know me argues yourselves unknown 830 
 The lowest of your throng; or if ye know, 
 Why ask ye, and superfluous begin 
 Your message, like to end as much in vain ?" 
 
 To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with 
 scorn: 
 "Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same. 
 Or undiminished brightness to be known. 
 As when thoU stoodest 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. 840 
 But come; for thou, be suie, 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 
 
142 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Invincible. Abashed the Devil stood, 
 
 And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 
 
 Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined 
 
 His loss; but cheifly to find here observed 
 
 His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed 850 
 
 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 Zephonbold, 
 
 "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 reined went haughty on, 
 Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly 
 He held it vain; awe from above had quelled 860 
 Hisheart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh 
 The western point, where those half-rounding 
 
 guards 
 Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, 
 Awaiting next command. To whom their chief, 
 Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud: 
 
 ' 'O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet 
 Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 
 Ithuriel and Zephon though the shade; 
 And with them comes a third of regal port, 
 But faded splendor wan, who by his gait 870 
 
 And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, 
 Not likely to part hence without contest. 
 
BOOK IV. 143 
 
 Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours." 
 
 He scarce had ended, when those two 
 
 approached, 
 And brief related whom they brought, where 
 
 found, 
 How busied, in what form and posture couched. 
 To whom with stern regard thus Grabriel spake: 
 "Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds pre- 
 scribed 
 To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge 
 Of others ? who approve not to transgress 880 
 By thy example, but have power and right 
 To question thy bold entrance on this place; 
 Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those 
 Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss.'* 
 To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: 
 '* Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of 
 
 wise, 
 And such I held thee; but this question asked 
 Puts me in doubt. I^ives there who loves his 
 
 pain? 
 Who would not, finding way, break loose from 
 
 Hell, 
 Though thither doomed ? Thou wouldst thyself, 
 
 no doubt, 890 
 
 And boldly venture to whatever place. 
 Furthest from pain, where thoumightest hope to 
 
 chansfe 
 
144 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Torment with ease, and soonest recompense 
 
 Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; 
 
 To thee no reason, who knowest only good, 
 
 But evil hast not tried; 'and wilt object 
 
 His will who bound us. I^et him surer bar 
 
 His iron gates, if he intends our stay 
 
 In that dark durance. Thus much what was 
 
 asked: 
 The rest is true, they found me where they 
 
 say : 90<^ 
 
 But that implies not violence or harm." 
 
 Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, 
 Disdainfully half-smiling, thus replied: 
 "Oh, loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise, 
 Since Satan fell! whom folly overthrew, 
 And now returns him from his prison, scaped, 
 Bravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 
 Or not, who ask what boldness brought him 
 
 hither. 
 Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; 
 So wise he judges it to fly from pain 910 
 
 However, and to scape bis punishment! 
 So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, 
 Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight 
 Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 
 Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 
 Can equal anger infinite provoked. 
 But wherefore thou alone ? wherefore with thee 
 
BOOK IV. 145 
 
 Came not all Hell broke loose ? is pain to them 
 Less pain, less to be fled ? or thou than they 
 Less hardy to endure? Courageous chief! 920 
 The first in flight from pain ! hadst thou alleged 
 To thy desert'^d host this cause of flight, 
 Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive." 
 
 To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning 
 stern: 
 '*Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 
 Insulting Angel ! well thou knowest I stood 
 Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid 
 The blasting, vollied thunder made all speed, 
 And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. 
 But still thy words at random, as before, 930 
 
 Argue thy inexperience w^hat behoves, 
 From hard assays and ill successes past, 
 A faithful leader, not to hazard all 
 Through ways of danger bj^ himself untried. 
 I 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 afilicted Powers 
 To settle here on earth, or in mid air; 940 
 
 Though for possession put to try once more 
 What thou and thy ga}- legions dare against; 
 Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 
 High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, 
 
146 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And practised distances, to cringe, not fight." 
 
 To whom the warrior Angel soon replied : 
 ''To say and straight unsaj^, pretending first 
 Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 
 Argues no leader but a liar traced, 
 Satan! and couldst thou faithful add? O 
 
 name, 950 
 
 O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! 
 Vaithful to whom ? to thy rebellious crew ? — 
 Army of fiends! fit body to fit head. 
 Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 
 Your military obedience, to dissolve 
 Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme ? 
 And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 
 Patron of libert}^, who more than thou 
 Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored 
 Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore but in 
 
 hope 960 
 
 To dispossess him, and thyself to reign ? 
 But mark what I areed thee now: Avaunt! 
 Fly thither whence thou fleddesti If, from this 
 
 hour, 
 Within these hallowed limits thou appear, 
 Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, 
 And seal thee so, as he»eeforth not to scorn 
 The facile gates of Hell, too slightly barred." 
 
 So threatened he; but Satan to no threats 
 Gave heed; but waxing more in rage replied : 
 
'OOK IV. 
 
 147 
 
 am thy 
 
 captive talk of 
 
 
 970 
 
 "Then when 
 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, 
 Used to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels 
 In progress through the road of Heaven star- 
 paved." 
 While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright 
 Turn'd fiery ^d, sharpening in mooned horns 
 Their phalanx, and began to hem him round 
 With ported spears, as thick as when a field 980 
 Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends 
 Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 
 Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting 
 
 stands, 
 Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves 
 Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan alarmed, 
 Collecting all his might, dilated stood, 
 Like Teneriffe or Atlas, un removed. 
 His stature reached the sky, and on his crest 
 Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp 
 What seemed both spear and shield. Now dread- 
 ful deeds 990 
 Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 
 In this commotion, but the starry cope 
 Of heaven perhaps, or all the elements 
 
148 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 At least had gone to wrack, disturbed 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, 
 Wherein all things created first he weighed. 
 The pendulous round earth with balanced air looo 
 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 kicked the beam, 5 
 Which Gabriel spying thus bespake the Fiend: ' 
 "Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest 
 
 mine, 
 Neither our owm, but given; what folly then 
 To boast what arms can do ! since thine no more 
 Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled 
 
 now 
 To trample thee as mire. For proof lookup, loio 
 And read thy lot in yon celestial sign, 
 Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, 
 
 how weak, 
 If thou resist. ' ' The Fiend looked up, and knew 
 His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled \ 
 
 Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her 
 troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts iier: 
 they come forth to their day-labors; their morning 
 hymn at the door of their bower. God to render Man 
 inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him of his 
 obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at 
 hand, who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever 
 else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down 
 to Paradise, his appearance described, his coming- dis- 
 cerned by Adam afar off, sitting- at the door of his 
 bower; he g-oes out to meet him, bring-s him to his 
 lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Para- 
 dise got together by Eve; their discourse at table: 
 Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his 
 state and of his enemy; relates at Adam's request who 
 that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning 
 from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion 
 thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts 
 of the North, and there incited them to rebel with 
 him, persuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in 
 argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes 
 him. 
 
 Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime 
 Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, 
 When Adam waked, so customed, for his sleep 
 Was aery light, from pure digestion bred| 
 
I50 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And temperate vapors bland, which the only 
 
 sound 
 Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, 
 Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song 
 Of birds on every bough ; so much the more 
 His wonder was to find unwakened Bve, 
 With tresses discomposed and glowing cheek, lo 
 As though unquiet rest. He, on his side 
 Leaning half-raised, wath looks of cordial love, 
 Hung over her enamored, 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, whispered thus: — 
 
 * ' Awake, 
 My fairest, my espoused, my latest found. 
 Heaven's last best gift, my ever-new delight, 
 Awake ! the morning shines, and the fresh 
 
 field 20 
 
 Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring 
 Our tended plants, how blows the citron grove, 
 What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy 
 
 reed. 
 How Nature paints her colors, how the bee 
 Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet."' 
 
 Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye 
 On Adam, whom embracing thus she spake: 
 " O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 
 
BOOK I'. 151 
 
 My glory, my perfection, glad I see 
 
 Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night — 30 
 
 Such night till this I never passed — have 
 
 dreartied. 
 If dreamed, 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. Methought, 
 Close at mine ear, one called me forth to walk 
 With gentle voice — I thought it thine. It said, 
 Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, 
 The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 
 To the night-warbling bird, that now awake 40 
 Tunes sweetest his love-labored song; now reigns 
 Full-orbed 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 passed through 
 
 ways 50 
 
 That brought me on a sudden to the tree 
 Of interdicted knowledge. Fair it seemed. 
 Much fairer to my fancy than by da}^; 
 
152 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood 
 One shaped and winged like one of those from 
 
 Heaven, 
 By us oft seen: his dewy locks distilled 
 Ambrosia. On that tree he also gazed; 
 And, 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit sur- 
 charged, _ 
 Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, 
 Nor God, nor Man ? is knowledge so despised ? 60 
 Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste ? 
 Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 
 Longer thy offered good; why else set here? 
 This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm 
 He plucked, he tasted. Me damp horror chilled 
 At such bold words, vouched with a deed so bold; 
 But he thus, overjoj'ed: *0 fruit divine. 
 Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt. 
 Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 
 For Gods, yet able to make Gods of men. 70 
 And why not Gods of men, since good, the more 
 Communicated, more abundant grows. 
 The author not impaired, but honored more ? 
 Here, happy creature, fair angelic Kve ! 
 Partake thou also; happy though thou art, 
 Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be. 
 Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods, 
 Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, 
 But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes 
 
BOOK V. 153 
 
 Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see 80 
 Wiiat life the Gods live there, and such live thou.' 
 ^o saying he drew nigh, and to me held, 
 Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part 
 Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell 
 So quickened appetite, that I, methought. 
 Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds 
 With him I flew, and underneath beheld 
 The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide 
 And various. Wondering at my flight and change 
 To this high exaltation, suddenly 90 
 
 My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk 
 
 down, 
 And fell asleep; but oh, how glad I waked 
 To find this but a dream! " Thus Kve.her night 
 Related, and thus Adam answered sad: 
 
 "Best image of myself, and dearer half. 
 The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep 
 Affects me equally; nor can I like 
 This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; 
 ,Yet evil whence ? in thee can harbor none, 
 Created pure. But know that in the soul £oo 
 Are many lesser faculties, that serve 
 Reason as chief; among these Fancy next 
 Her ofiice holds; of all external things. 
 Which the five watchful senses represent, 
 She forms imaginations, aery shapes, 
 Which Reason joining or disjoining frames 
 
154 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 All what we affim 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 no 
 
 To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, 
 
 Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams, 
 
 Ill-matching words and deeds long past or late. 
 
 Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 
 
 Of our last evening's talk, in this thv dream, 
 
 But w4th addition strange; 3'et be not sad. 
 
 Evil into the mind of God or Man 
 
 May come and go, so unapproved, and leave 
 
 No spot or blame behind; which gives me hope 
 
 That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream 1 20 
 
 Waking thou never wilt consent to do. 
 
 Be- not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, 
 
 That wont be more cheerful and serene, 
 
 Than when fair Morning first smiles on -the 
 
 world; 
 And let us to our fresh employments rise, 
 Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers 
 That open now their choicest bosomed smells, 
 Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store." 
 So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was 
 
 cheered, 
 But silently a gentle tear let fall 130 
 
 From either eye, and wiped them w^ith her hair. 
 Two other precious drops that ready stood, 
 
BOOK V. ' 155 
 
 Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell 
 Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 
 And pious awe, that feared to have offended. 
 
 So ^11 was- cleared, and to the field they haste. 
 But first, from under shadj^ arborous roof 
 Soon as they forth were come to op^n sight 
 Of day spring, and the sun — who scarce uprisen. 
 With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, 140 
 Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, 
 Discovering in wide landscape all the east 
 Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains — 
 Lowly they bowed, adoring, and began 
 Their orisons, each morning duly paid 
 In various style; for neither various st3de 
 Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 
 Their Maker in fit strains, pronounced or sung 
 Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence 
 Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous 
 
 verse, 
 More tuneable than needed lute or harp 151 
 
 To add more sweetness; and they thus began: 
 " These are thy glorious works, Parent of 
 
 good, 
 Almighty! thine this universal frame. 
 Thus wondrous fair; thyself how wondrous then I 
 Unspeakable, who sittest above these heavens, 
 To us invisible, or dimly seen 
 In these thy lowest works; yet these declare 
 
E56 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Thy goodness beyond thought, and power 
 
 divine.— 
 Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, iGo 
 Angels; for ye behold hjm, and with songs 
 And choral symphonies, day without night, 
 Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven, 
 On Karth join, all ye creatures, to extol 
 Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.i 
 Fairest of .stars, last in the train of night. 
 If better thou belong not to the dawn. 
 Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling; 
 
 Morn 
 With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, 
 While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. 170 
 Thou Sun, of this great World both eye and soul, 
 Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise 
 In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest. 
 And when high noon hast gained, and when -thou 
 
 fallest. 
 Moon, that now meetestthe orient Sun, now fliest^ 
 With the fixed Stars, fixed 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 called up light. 
 Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 180 
 
 Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run 
 Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix 
 And nourish all things, let your ceaseless change 
 
BOOK V. 157 
 
 Vary to our great Maker still new praise. 
 Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise 
 From hill or steaming lake, dusk}^ or grey. 
 Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, 
 In honor to the World's great Author rise; 
 Whether to deck with clouds the uncolored sky, 
 Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, 190 
 Rising or falling still advance his praise. 
 His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, 
 Breathe soft or loud ; 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 on your wings and in your notes his praise. 
 Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk 200 
 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 lyord, be bounteous still 
 To give us only good ; and if the night 
 Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed. 
 Disperse it, as now light/ dispels the dark !" 
 
 So prayed they mnocent, and to their thoughts 
 Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. 210 
 
158 PARADISi:. 1.0ST. 
 
 On to their morning's rural work they haste, 
 Among sweet dews and flowers ; where any row 
 Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far 
 Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to 
 
 check 
 Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine 
 To wed her elm ; she spoused about him twines 
 Her marriageable arms, and with her brings 
 Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn 
 His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld 
 With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called 
 Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned 221 
 To travel with Tobias, and secured 
 His marriage with the seven-times wedded maid. 
 '^Raphael," said he, "thou hearest what stit 
 
 on Earth 
 Satan, from Hell scaped through the darksome 
 
 gulf, 
 Hath raised in Paradise, and how disturbed 
 This 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 bower or shade 23^ 
 Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, 
 To respite his day-labor with repast, 
 Or with repose ; and such discourse bring-on, 
 As may advice him of his happy state. 
 Happiness in his power left free to will, 
 
BOOK V. 159 
 
 Left to his own iree-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 eneni}^, 
 Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting 
 
 now 240 
 
 The fall of others from like state of bliss; 
 By violence ? no, for that shall be withstood; 
 But b}^ deceit and lies. This let him know, 
 Lest, wilfully transgressing he pretend 
 Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned." 
 
 So spake the eternal Father, and fulfilled 
 All justice. Nor delayed the winged Saint 
 After his charge received; but, from among 
 Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood, 
 Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up-springing 
 
 light 
 Flew through the midst of Heaven — the angelic 
 
 quires, 251 
 
 On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 
 Through all the empyreal road— till, at the gate 
 Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide. 
 On golden hinges turning, as by work 
 Divine the sovran Architect had framed. 
 From hence— no cloud or, to obstruct his sight, 
 Star interposed however small— he sees, 
 Not unconform to other shining globes, 
 
l6o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Earth, and the garden of Gud, with cedars 
 
 crowded 
 Above all hills. As when by night the glass 261 
 Of Galileo, less assured, observes 
 Imagined lands and regions in the moon; 
 Or pilot from amidst the C3^clades 
 Delos or Samos first appearing kens, 
 A cloud}^ spot. Down thither prone in flight 
 He speeds, and, through the vast ethereal sky, 
 Sails between worlds and worlds with st^adv 
 
 wing, 
 Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan 
 Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar 270 
 Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems 
 A phoenix, gazed 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 winged. Six wings he wore, to shade 
 His lineaments divine; the pair that clad 
 Each shoulder broad came mantlingo'erhis breast 
 With regal ornament; the middle pair 280 
 
 Girt like a starr}" zone his waist, and round 
 Skirted his loins and thighs, with downy gold 
 And colors dipped in heaven; the third his feet 
 Shadowed from either heel, with feathered mail, 
 Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood.. 
 
BOOK ^V. i6i 
 
 And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance 
 
 filled 
 The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands 
 Of Angels under watch, and to his state 
 And to his message high in honor rise; 
 For on .some message high the}^ guessed him 
 
 bound. 
 Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come 
 Into the blissful field, through groves of 
 
 myrrh, 292 
 
 And flowering odors, cassia, nard, and balm, 
 A wilderness of sweets; For Nature here 
 Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will 
 Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet. 
 Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. 
 Him, through the spicy forest onward come, 
 Adam discerned, as in the door he sat 
 Of his cool bower, while now the mounted 
 
 sun 300 
 
 Shot down direct his fervid rays, to warm 
 Earth's inmost wom^b, more warmth than Adam 
 
 needs; 
 And Eve wnthin, due at her hour, prepared 
 For dinner savory fruits, of taste, to please 
 True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 
 Of nectarous draughts between, from milky 
 
 ^stream. 
 
 Berry or grape: to whom thus Adam called: 
 
l62 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 "Haste hither, Eve, and, worth thy sight, be- 
 hold 
 Eastward among those trees what glorious shape 
 Comes this way moving; seems another morn 310 
 Risen on mid-noon. Some great behest from 
 
 Heaven 
 To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe 
 This day to be our guest. But go with speed, 
 And what thy stores contain bring forth, and pour 
 Abunda?nce, fit to honor and receive 
 Our heavenly strang'^r. Well we may afford 
 Our givers, their own gifts, and large bestow 
 From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies 
 Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows 
 More fruitful, which instructs us not to 
 spare." 320 
 
 To whom thus Eve: — "Adam, earth's hallowed 
 mould. 
 Of God inspired! small store will serve, where 
 
 store, 
 All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; 
 Save what b}^ frugal storing firmness gains 
 To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes. 
 But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, 
 Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such 
 
 choice 
 To entertain our Angel-guest, as he- 
 Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth 
 
BOOK V. 163 
 
 God hath dispensed bounties as in Heaven." 33a 
 
 So saying, with despatch ful 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 joined, 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 340 
 
 Alcinoiis reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat 
 Rough orvsmooth-rined, or bearded husk, or shell, 
 She gathers, tribute large, and on the board 
 Heaps with unsparing hand. For drink the grape 
 She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 
 From many a berry, and from sweet kernels 
 
 pressed 
 She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold 
 Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground 
 With rose and odors from the shrub unfumed. 
 
 Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet 350 
 His godlike guest, walks forth, without more train 
 Accoi^panied 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 besmeared with gold, 
 
i64 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Dazzles the crowd, and setc them all agape. 
 Nearer his presence, Adam, though not awed, 
 Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, 
 As to a superior nature, bowing low, 360 
 
 Thus said: — ''Native of Heaven — for other place 
 None can than Heaven such glorious shape 
 
 contain — 
 Since, by descending* from the Thrones above. 
 Those happy places thou hast deigned awhile 
 To want, and honor these, vouchsafe wath us. 
 Two only, who yet by sovran 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." 370 
 Whom thus the angelic Virtue answered mild: 
 "Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such 
 Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 
 As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven 
 To visit thee. I^ead on then where thy bower 
 O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, 
 I have at will." — So to the silvan lodge 
 They came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled, 
 With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but 
 
 Kve, _ 
 
 Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair 380 
 Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feigned 
 Of three that in mount Ida naked strove. 
 
BOOK V. 165 
 
 Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil 
 She needed, virtue proof; no thought infirm 
 Altered her cheek. On v^hom the angel Hail! 
 Bestowed, the holy salutation used 
 lyong after to blest Mary, second Eve : 
 
 * 'Hail, Mother of mankind, whose fruitful womb 
 Shall find the world more numerous with thy sons. 
 Than with these various fruits the trees of 
 God 390 
 
 Have heaped this table!" — Raised of grassy turf 
 Their table was, and mossy seats had round, 
 And on her ample square from side to side 
 All autumn piled, though spring and autum here 
 Danced hand in hand. Awhile discourse they 
 
 hold- 
 No fear less dinner cool — when thus began 
 Our author : — ' 'Heavenly stranger, please to taste 
 These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom 
 All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, 
 To us for food and for delight hath caused 400 
 The earth to yield; unsavory 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, nia^^ of purest Spirits be found 
 No ingrateful food; and food alike those pure 
 
i66 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Intelligential substances require, 
 As doth your rational; and both contaiii 
 Within them every lower faculty 410 
 
 Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, 
 
 taste, 
 Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate. 
 And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 
 For know, whatever was created need.s 
 To be sustained and fed; of elements 
 The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, 
 Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires 
 Bthereal, and as lowest first the moon; 
 Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged 
 Vapors not yet into her substance turned. ^20 
 Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale 
 From her moist continent to higher orbs. 
 The sun, that light imparts to all, receives 
 From all his alimental recompense 
 In humid exhalations, and at even 
 Sups with the Ocean. Though in Heaven the trees 
 Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines 
 Yield nectar; though from oflf the boughs each 
 
 morn 
 We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground 
 Covered with pearly grain : yet God hath here 430 
 Varied his bounty so with new delights, 
 As ma}'' compare with Heaven; and to taste 
 Think not I shall be nice." So down they sat, 
 
BOOK V. .5; 
 
 And to their viands fell; nor seemingly 
 The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 
 Of theologians; but with keen despatch 
 Of real hunger, the concoctive heat 
 To transubstantiate; what redounds transpires 
 Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder : if by fire 
 Of soot}^ coal the empiric alchemist 440 
 
 Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, 
 Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold 
 As from the mine. Meanwhile at table Eve 
 Ministered naked, and their flowing cups 
 With pleasant liquors crowned. O innocenC'f 
 Deservi-^g Paradise ! if ever, then, 
 Then had the sons of God excuse to have been 
 Knamoi ;"d at that sight; but in those hearts 
 Love u ibidinous reigned, nor jealousy 
 Was u^ erstood, tne injured lover's hell. 45c 
 Thuf> vhen with meats and drinks they had 
 s fficed, 
 Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose 
 In Adam not to let the occasion pass, 
 Given him by this great conference, to know 
 Of things above his world, and of there 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 wary vSpeech 
 Thus to t^e empyreal minister he framed: 460 
 
i68 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 * 'Inhabitant with God, new know I well 
 Thy favor, in this honor done to Man, 
 Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed 
 To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 
 Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 
 As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 
 At Heaven's high feasts to have fed; yet what 
 compare !" 
 
 To whom the winged Hierarch replied: 
 ''O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom 
 All things proceed, and up to him return, 470 
 If not depraved from good, created all 
 Such to perfection, one first matter all, 
 Indued with various forms, various degrees 
 Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; 
 But more refilled, more spirituous, and pure, 
 As nearer to him placed or nearer tending, 
 Each in their several active spheres assigned. 
 Till body up to spirit, work, in bounds 
 Proportioned to each kind. So from the root 
 Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the 
 leaves 480 
 
 More aery, last the bright consummate flower 
 Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, 
 Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, 
 To vital spirits aspire, to animal, 
 To intellectual; give both life and sense. 
 Fancy and understanding; whence the soul 
 
BOOK V. 169 
 
 Reason receives, and reason is her being, 
 
 Discursive, or intuitive; discourse 
 
 Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours. 
 
 Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 490 
 
 Wonder not then what God for you saw good 
 
 If I refuse not, but convert, as you, 
 
 To proper substance. Time may come when men 
 
 With Angels may participate, and find 
 
 No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; 
 
 And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 
 
 Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, 
 
 Improved by tract of time, and winged ascend 
 
 Ethereal, as we, or may at choice 
 
 Here or in heavenly Paradise dwell; 500 
 
 If ye be found obedient, and retain 
 
 Unalterably firm his love entire, 
 
 Whose progeny 3'OU are. Meanwhile enjoy 
 
 Your fill what happiness this happy state 
 
 Can comprehend, incapable of more." 
 
 To whom the patriarch of mankind replied: 
 "O favorable Spirit, propitious guest, 
 Well hast thou taught the way that might direct 
 Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set 
 From centre to circumference; whereon, 510 
 
 In contemplation of created things. 
 By steps we may ascend to God. But say, 
 What meant that caution joined. If ye be found 
 Obedient? can we want obedience then 
 
170 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 To him, or possibly his love desert ? 
 
 Who formed lis from the dust, and placed 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; 520 
 That thou continuest such, owe to thyself. 
 That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. 
 This was that caution given thee; be advised. 
 God niay thee perfect, no^ immutable; 
 And good he made thee, but to persevere 
 He left it in thy power; ordained thy will 
 By nature free, not overruled by fate 
 Inextricable, or strict necessity. 
 Our voluntary service he requires. 
 Not our necessitated; such with him 530 
 
 Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how 
 Can hearts not free be tried, whether they serve 
 Willing 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 enthroned, our happy state 
 Hold, as 3^ou 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. 54O 
 
BOOK V. lyi 
 
 And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen, 
 And so from Heaven to deepest Hell. Oh, 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 neighboring hills 
 Aerial music send; nor knew I not 
 To be both will and deed created free. 
 Yet that we never shall forget to love 550 
 
 Our Maker, and obe3^ him whose command 
 Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts 
 Assured me, and still assure; though what thou 
 
 tellest 
 Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me 
 
 move, 
 But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 
 The full relation, which must needs be strange, 
 Worth}^ of sacred silence to be heard. 
 And we have 3^et large day, for scarce the sun 
 Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins 
 His other half in the great zone of heaven . " 560 
 
 Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, 
 After short pause assenting, thus began: 
 
 "High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of 
 men, 
 Sad task and hard; for how shall I relate 
 To human sense the invisible exploits 
 
172 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 570 
 
 This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach 
 
 Of human sense I shall declineate 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 w^as not, and Chaos wild 
 
 Reigned where these heavens now roll, where 
 
 earth now rests 
 Upon her centre poised; when on a day — 
 For time, though in eternit}^, applied 580 
 
 To motion, measures all things durable 
 By present, past, and future— on such day 
 As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empy- 
 real host 
 Of Angels, by imperial summons called, 
 Innumerable before the Almighty's throne 
 Forthwith from all the ends of Heaven appeared, 
 Under their hierarchs in orders bright. 
 Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, 
 Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and real. 
 
BOOK V. 173 
 
 Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 59c 
 
 Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; 
 
 Or in their glittering tissues bear emblazed 
 
 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 embosomed sat the Son, 
 
 Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top 
 
 Brightness had made invisible, thus spake: 
 
 ** 'Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, 60G 
 Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, 
 
 Powers, 
 Hear my decree, which unrevoked 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 mj^self have sworn, to him shall bow 
 All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord. 
 Under his great vicegerent reign abide, 
 United as one individual soul, 610 
 
 For ever happy. Him who disobeys 
 Me disobeys, breaks union, and that da}^ 
 Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls 
 Into utter darkness, deep engulfed, his place 
 Ordained without redemption, without end.' 
 
 *'So spake the Omnipotent, f^tid v^dth his words 
 
174 paradisp: lost, 
 
 A.11 seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were 
 
 not all. 
 Tiiat day, as other solemn days, they spent 
 In song and dance about the sacred hill, 
 Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere 620 
 Of planets and of fixed in all her wheels 
 Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 
 Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular 
 Then most, when most irregular they seem; 
 And in their motions harmony divine 
 So smooths her charming tones, that God'sownear 
 Listens delighted. Evening now approached — 
 For we have also our evening and our morn. 
 We ours for change delectable, not need — 
 Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they 
 
 turn 630 
 
 Desirous. All in circles as they stood, 
 Tables are set, and on a sudden piled 
 With Angels' food, and rubied nectar flows 
 In pearl, in diamond and massy gold, 
 Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven 
 On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets 
 
 crowned, 
 They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 
 Quaff immortalit]^^ and jo}', secure 
 Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 
 Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who 
 
 showered 
 
BOOK I\ 175 
 
 With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 641 
 "Now when ambrosial night, with clouds 
 
 exhaled 
 From that high mount of God, whence light and 
 
 shade 
 Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had 
 
 changed 
 To grateful twilight — for night comes not there 
 In darker veil — and roseate dews disposed 
 All but the unsleepirig eyes of God to rest; 
 Wide over all the plain, and wider far 
 Than all this globous Karth in plain outspread — 
 SucharethecourtsofGod — the angelic throng, 650 
 Dispersed in bands and fil'es, their camp extend 
 By living streams among the trees of life, 
 Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared. 
 Celestial tabernacles, where they slept 
 Fanned with cool winds; save those who, in their 
 
 course, 
 Melodious hymns about the sovran throne 
 Alternate all night long. But not so waked 
 Satan — so called him now, his former name 
 Is heard no mor^ in Heaven. He of the first, 
 If net the first Archangel, great in power, 660 
 In favor, and pre-eminence, yet fraught 
 With envy against the Son of God, that day ^ 
 Honored by his great Father, and proclaimed 
 Messiah, King amunted, could not bear 
 
176 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Through pride that sight, and thought himself 
 
 impaired. 
 Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 
 Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour 
 Friei'dliest to sleep and silence, he resolved 
 With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 
 Unworshiped, unobeyed, the throne supreme, 670 
 Contemptuous; and his next subordinate 
 Awakening, thus to him in secret spake: 
 
 " 'Sleepest thou, companion dear? what sleep 
 
 can close 
 Th}^ eyelids ? and rememberest what decree, 
 Of 3'esterday, so late hath passed the lips 
 Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts 
 Wast w^ont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; 
 Both waking we were one; how then can now 
 Thy sleep dissent ? New laws thou seest imposed; 
 Newlawsfrom him who reignsnewmiirdsmaj^ raise . 
 In us who serve, new counsels, to debate 681 
 What doubtful ma}' ensue. — More in this place 
 To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 
 Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; 
 Tell them that b\^ command, ere yet dim night 
 Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste. 
 And all who under me their banners Avave, 
 Homeward with flying march, where we possess 
 The quarters of the North ; there to prepare 
 Fit entertainment to receive our King. 690 
 
BOOK V. 177 
 
 The great Messiah, and his new commands, 
 Who speedily through all the hierarchies 
 Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.' 
 
 "So spake the false Archangel, and infused 
 Bad influence into the unwary breast 
 Of his associate. He together calls, 
 Or several one by one, the regent Powers, 
 Under him regent; tells, as he was taught, 
 •That, the Most High commanding, now ere night, 
 Now ere dim night had disencumbered Heaven, 700 
 The great hierarchal standard was to move; 
 Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 
 Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 
 Or taint integrit}^ But all obeyed 
 The wonted signal, and superior voice 
 Of their great Potentate; for great indeed 
 His name, and high was his degree in Heaven. 
 His countenance, as the morning star that guides 
 The starry flock, allured them, and with lies 
 Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. 7^0 
 "Meanwhile 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 Sons of Morn, what multitudes 
 Were banded to oppose his high decrees 
 And smiling to his only Son thus saic . 
 
178 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 ** 'Son, thou in whom mj^ glory 1 behold 
 In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, 720 
 Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 
 Of our omnipotence, and with what arms 
 We mean to hold what anciently we claim 
 Of deity or empire: such a foe 
 Is rising, w^ho intends to erect his throne 
 Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North; 
 Nor so content, hath in his thought to try 
 In battle what our power is, or our right. 
 Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 
 With speed what force is left, and all employ 730 
 In our defence, lest unawares we lose 
 This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' 
 
 ''To whom the Son, with calm aspect and clear, 
 lyightning divine, ineffable, serene, , 
 Made answer: — 'Mighty Father, thou thy foes 
 Justly hast in derision, and secure 
 Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, 
 Matter to me of glor}^ whom their hate 
 Illustrates, when they see all regal power 
 Given me to quell their pride, and in event 740 
 Know whether I be dextrous to subdue 
 Th}^ rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.' 
 
 "So spake the Son; but Satan with his powers 
 Far was advanced on winged speed, a host 
 Innumerable as the stars of night, 
 Or stars of morning, dewdrops which the sun 
 
BOOK V. 179 
 
 Impearls on every leaf and every flower. • 
 Regions they passed, the mighty regencies 
 Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones 
 In their triple degrees; regions to which 750 
 
 All thy dominion, Adam, is no more 
 Than what 'this garden is to all the earth 
 And all the sea, from one entire globose 
 Stretched into longitude; which having passed 
 At length into the limits of the North 
 They came, and Satan to his royal seat 
 High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount 
 Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers 
 From diamond quarries hewn and rocks of gold. 
 The palace of great Lucifer — so call 760 
 
 That structure in the dialect of men 
 Interpreted — which not long after he, 
 Affecting all equality with God, 
 In imitation of that mount whereon 
 Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, 
 The Mountain of the Congregation called; 
 For thither he assembled all his train, 
 Pretending so commanded to consult 
 About the great reception of their king 
 Thither to come; and with calumnious art 770 
 Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears: 
 
 " 'Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, 
 Powers . . . 
 If these magnific titles yet remain 
 
i8o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Not merely titular, since by decree 
 Another now hath to himself engrossed 
 All power, and us eclipsed, under che 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 maj^ be devised of honors new, 780 
 Receive him, coming to receive from us 
 Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile. 
 Too much to one, but double how endured 
 To one and to his image now proclaimed? 
 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, possessed before 790 
 By none; and if not equal all, yet free, 
 "Equally free; for orders and degrees 
 Jar not with liberty, but well consist. 
 Who can in reason then, or right, assume 
 Monarchy over such as live by right 
 His equals, if in power and splendor less. 
 In freedom equal ? or can introduce 
 Law and edict on us, who without law 
 Err not ? much less for this to be our lyord, 
 And look for adoration, to the abuse 800 
 
 Of those imperial titles, which assert 
 
BOOK V. i8i 
 
 Our oeing ordained to govern, not to serve.' 
 
 "Thus far his bold discourse without control 
 Had audience, when among the Seraphim 
 i\bdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored 
 The Deity, and divine commands obeyed. 
 Stood up, and, in a flame of zeal severe, 
 The current of his fury thus opposed : 
 
 " *0 argument blasphemous, false, and proud! 
 Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 8io 
 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? pronounced and sworn, 
 That to his only Son, by right indued 
 With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven 
 Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due 
 Confess him rightful King. Unjust, thou say est. 
 Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free. 
 And equal over equals to let reign, 820 
 
 One over all .with unsucceeded power. 
 Shalt thou give law to God ? shalt thou dispute 
 Witlj him the points of liberty ? who made 
 Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of 
 
 Heaven 
 Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being. 
 Yet, by experience taught, w^e know how good. 
 And of our good and of our dignity 
 How provident he is, how far from thought 
 
i82 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 To make us less, bent rather to exalt 
 
 Our happy state, under one head more near 830 
 
 United. But, to grant it thee unjust 
 
 That equal over equals monarch reign — 
 
 Thj^^self, though great and glorious, dost thou 
 
 count, 
 Or all angelic nature joined 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,- 
 Crowned them with glory and to their glory 
 
 named 
 Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, 
 
 Powers. 
 Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, 841 
 But more illustrious made; since he the head 
 One of our number thus reduced becomes; 
 His laws our laws; all honor 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 judged, 850 
 
 Or singular and rash, whereat rejoiced 
 The Apostate, and more haughty thus replied: 
 
BOOK V. 183 
 
 * ' 'That we were formed then say est thou ? and 
 the work 
 Of secondary hands, by task transferred 
 From Father to his Son ? strange point, and new 1 
 Doctrine which we would know whence learned. 
 
 Who saw 
 When this creation was ? rememberest thou 
 Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 
 We know no time when we were not as now; 
 Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised 860 
 By our own quickening power, when fatal course 
 Had circled his full orb, the birth mature 
 Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. 
 Our puissance is our own; our own right-hand 
 Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 
 Who is our equal. Then thou shalt behold 
 Whether by supplication we intend 
 Address, and to begirt the almighty throne 
 Beseeching or besieging. This report. 
 These tidings carry to the anointed King; 870 
 And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. ' 
 
 "He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, 
 Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause 
 Through the infinite host; nor less for that 
 The flaming Seraph, fearless though alone, 
 Bncompased round with foes, thus answered bold; 
 
 " 'O alienate from God! O Spirit accursed, 
 Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall 
 
iM PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Determined, and thy hapless crew involved 
 
 111 this perfidious fraud, contagion spread 880 
 
 Both of thy crime and punishment. Henceforth 
 
 No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 
 
 Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws 
 
 Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees 
 
 Against 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; 
 
 Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly 
 
 These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 890 
 
 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 c^n uncreate thee thou shalt know.' 
 
 "So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found 
 Among the faithless, faithful only he; 
 Among innumerable false, unmoved. 
 Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified 
 His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 900 
 
 Nor number, nor example wath 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 
 
 sustained 
 
bol:< v. 185 
 
 Superior, nor of violence feared aught; 
 And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned 
 On those proud towers, to swift destruction 
 doomed. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 THK ARGUMENT. 
 
 Raphael continues to relate how Michael and 
 Gabriel were sent forth to battle ag-ainst Satan and 
 his Angels. The first fig-ht described: Satan and his 
 Powers retire under nig-ht: he calls a council, invents 
 devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put 
 Michael and his Angels to some disorder: but they at 
 length, pulling up mountains, overwhelmed both the 
 force and machines of Satan: yet the tumult not so 
 ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, 
 for whom he had reserved the glory of that victory: 
 he, in the power of his Father, coming to the place, 
 and causing all his legions to stand still on either side, 
 with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of 
 his enemies, pursues them unable to resist toward the 
 wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with 
 horror and confusion into the place of punishment 
 prepared for them in the Deep: Messiah returns with 
 triumph to his I ather. 
 
 Ai.L night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, 
 Through Heaven's wide champaign, held hi* 
 
 way, till Morn, 
 Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy liand, 
 Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave 
 Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 
 Where lyight and Darkness is perpetual round 
 
BOOK VI. 1 87 
 
 Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes 
 
 through Heaven 
 Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; 
 Light issues forth, and at the other door 
 Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour lo 
 
 To veil the heaven; through darkness there 
 
 might well 
 Seem twilight here. And now went forth the 
 
 ]\Iorn 
 Such as in highest Heaven, arrayed in gold 
 Kmpyreal; froni' before her vanished Night, 
 Shot through with orient beams; when all the 
 
 plain, 
 Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, 
 Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds. 
 Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view. 
 War he perceived, war in procinct, and found 
 Already knov/n what he for news had thought 20 
 To have reported; gladly then he mixed 
 Among those friendly Powers, who him received 
 With joy and acclamations loud, that one, 
 That of so many myriads fallen yet one. 
 Returned 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 hast thou 
 
 foii":ht 
 
i88 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The better fight, who single hast maintained 30 
 
 Against revolted multitudes the cause 
 
 Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 
 
 And for the testimou}^ of truth hast borne 
 
 Universal reproach, far worse to bear 
 
 Than violence; for this was all thy care 
 
 To stand approved in sight of God, though 
 
 worlds 
 Judged thee perverse. The easier conquest now 
 Remains thee, aided by this host of friends^ 
 Back on thy foes more glorious to return 
 Than scorned thou didst depart, and to subdue 40 
 By force who reason for their law refuse, 
 Right reason for their law, and for their King 
 Messiah, who b}^ right of merit reigns. — 
 Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince. 
 And thou in m'ilitary prowess next, 
 Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons 
 Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, 
 By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, 
 Equal in number to that godless crew 
 Rebellious; them with fire and hostile arms 50 
 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 read)^ opens wide 
 His fiery chaos to receive their fall.' 
 
 "So spake the sovran voice, and clouds began 
 
BOOK VI. 189 
 
 To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll 
 
 In dusky wreaths reluctant flames, the sign 
 
 Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud 
 
 Ethereal trumpet from on high gan blow: 60 
 
 At which command the Powers militant, 
 
 That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined 
 
 Of union irresistible, moved on 
 
 In silence their bright legions, to the sound 
 
 Of instrumental harmony, that breathed 
 
 Heroic ardor 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 71 
 
 Their march was, and the passive air up-bore 
 
 Their nimble tread: as when the total kind 
 
 Of birds, in orderly array on wing, 
 
 Came, summoned over Eden, to receive 
 
 Their names of thee. So over many a tract 
 
 Of Heaven they marched, and many a province 
 
 wide. 
 Tenfold the length of this terrene. At last. 
 Far in the horizon to the north, appeared 
 From skirt to skirt a fiery region stretched 80 
 In battailous aspect; and, nearer view, 
 Bristled with upright beams innumerable 
 Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields 
 
I90 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Various, with boastful argument portrayed, 
 The banded Powers of Satan hasting on 
 With furious expedition; for they weened 
 That selfsame da}^ by fight or by surprise, 
 To win the mount of God, and on his throne 
 To set the envier of his state, the proud 
 Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and 
 vain " 90 
 
 In the midway. Though strange to us it seemed 
 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, loc 
 Idol of majesty divine, enclosed 
 With flaming Cherubim and golden shields; 
 Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for r\Qisi\ 
 '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 joined, 
 Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, 
 Came towering, armed in adamant and gold, no 
 
BOOK VL 191 
 
 Abdiel that sight endured 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 realty 
 Remain, not! Wherefore should not strength 
 
 and might 
 There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 
 Where boldest, though to sight ilnconquerable ? 
 His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, 
 I mean to tr}^ whose reason I have tried 120 
 
 Unsound and false. Nor is it aught but just, 
 That he who in debate of truth hath won 
 Should win in arms, in both disputes alike 
 Victor; though brutish that contest and foul, 
 When reason hath to deal with force, 3^et so 
 Most reason is that reason overcome, 
 
 "So ]!>ondering, and from his armed peers 
 Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met 
 His daring foe, at this prevention more 
 Incensed, and thus securely him defied: 130 
 
 " 'Proud, art thou met? Thy hope was to 
 have reached 
 The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, 
 The throne of God unguarded, and his side 
 Abandoned at the terror of thy power 
 Or potent tongue. Fool! not to think how vain 
 
192 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; 
 
 Who, out of smallest things, could without end 
 
 Have raised incessant armies to defeat 
 
 Thy folly; or with solitary hand, 
 
 Reaching bey o and all limit, at one blow 14c 
 
 Unaided could have finished thee, and whelmett 
 
 Thj^ 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 
 
 Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent 
 
 From all; my sect thou seest. Now learn too latf 
 
 How few sometimes may know, when thousands 
 
 err. ' 
 ' 'Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, 
 Thus answered: — '111 for thee, but in wished 
 
 hour 150 
 
 Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest 
 From flight, seditious Angel! to receive ' 
 Thy merited reward, the first assay 
 Of this right-hand provoked, since first that tongue, 
 Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose 
 A third part of the Gods, in synod met 
 Their deities to assert, who, while they feel 
 Vigor divine within them, can allow 
 Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest 
 Before thy fellows, ambitious- to win 160 
 
 From me some plume, that thy success may shew 
 
BOOK VI. 193 
 
 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, 
 Ministering Spirits, trained up in feast and song. 
 Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, 
 Servility with freedom to contend, 
 As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.' 
 
 "To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied: 171 
 'Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find 
 Of erring, from the path of truth remote. 
 Unjustly thou depravest 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 the unwise, or him Hvho hath rebelled 
 Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 1 8(? 
 Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled ; 
 Yet lewdly darest 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 obeyed. 
 Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect; meanwhile 
 From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flighty. 
 This greeting on thy impious crest receive.' 
 
 ' *So saying, a noble stroke he- lifted high, 
 
194 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Which hung not, but so swift with tempest 
 fell 190 
 
 On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, 
 Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, 
 Such ruin intercept. Ten paces huge 
 He back recoiled ; the tenth on bended knee 
 His massy spear unstayed ; as if on earth 
 Winds underground, or waters forcing way, 
 Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, 
 Half-sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized 
 The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see 
 Thus foiled their mightiest ; ours joy filled, and 
 
 shout, 
 Presage of victor}^ and fierce desire 201 
 
 Of battle ; whereat Michael bid sound 
 The Archangel-trumpet. Through the vast of 
 
 Heaven 
 It sounded, and th^ faithful armies rung 
 Hosanna to the Highest ; nor stood at gaze 
 The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined 
 The horrid shock. Now storming furj^ rose, 
 And clamor such as heard in Heaven till now 
 Was never ; arms on armor clashing bra3^ed 
 Horrible discord, and the madding wheels 210 
 Of brazen chariots raged ; dire was the noise 
 Of conflict ; overhead the dismal hiss 
 Of fierj' darts in flaming volleys flew. 
 And flying vaulted either host with fire. 
 
BOOK VI. 195 
 
 So under fiery cope together rushed 
 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 ?20 
 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 army, numberless to raise 
 Dreadful conbustion warring, and disturb. 
 Though not destroy, their happy native seat ! 
 Had not the eternal King omnipotent, 
 From his strong hold of Heaven, high over- ruled 
 And limited their might ; though numbered such 
 As each divided legion might have seemed 230 
 A numerous host, in strength each armed hand 
 A legion ; led in fight, yet leader seemed 
 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 240 
 
 Were done, but infinite ; for wide was spread 
 That war and various; sometimes on firm ground 
 
196 PARADISE L OST. 
 
 A standing fight, then soaring on main wing 
 Tormented all the air; all air seemed then 
 Conflicting fire.^Long time in even scale 
 The battle hung; till Satan, who that day 
 Prodigious power had shewn, and met in arms 
 No equal, ranging through the dire attack 
 Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length 
 Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled 
 Squadrons at once; with huge twp-handed 
 
 swa}^ 251 
 
 Brandished aloft the horrid edge came down, 
 Wide wasting: such destruction to withstand 
 He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb 
 Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 
 A vast circumference. At his approach 
 The great Archangel from his watlike toil 
 Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end 
 Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued 
 Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile 
 
 frown 2^0 
 
 And visage all inflamed first thus began : 
 
 '' 'Author of evil unknown tillth}^ revolt, 
 Unnamed 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 
 
BOOK VT. 197 
 
 Of thy rebellion! How hast thou instilled 
 
 Thy malice into thousands, once upright 270 
 
 And faithful, now proved false! But think not 
 
 here 
 To trouble'holy rest. Heaven casts thee out 
 From all her confines; Heaven, the seat 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 — 
 Kre this avenging sword begin thy doom. 
 Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God 
 Precipitate thee with augmented pain.' 280 
 
 "So spake the prince of Angels; to whom thus 
 The Adversary: — 'Nor think thou with wind 
 Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds 
 Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of 
 
 these 
 To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 
 Unvanquished, easier to transact with me 
 That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with 
 
 threats 
 To chase me hence? Krr not, that so shall end 
 The strife which thoucallest evil, but we style 
 The strife of glory; which we mean to win, 290 
 Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell 
 Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, 
 If not to reign. Meanwhile thy utmost force, 
 
198 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And join liini named Almighty to thy aid, 
 I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.' 
 
 ' 'They ended parle, and both addressed for fight 
 Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue 
 Of Angels, can relate, or to what things 
 lyiken on earth conspicuous, that may lift 
 Human imagination to such highth 300 
 
 Of go'dlike power? for likest Gods the}^ seemed, 
 Stood the}^ or moved, in stature, motion, arms, 
 Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. 
 Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air 
 Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields 
 Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood 
 In horror. From each hand with speed retired, 
 Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng, 
 And left large field, unsafe within the wind 
 Of such commotion; such as, to set forth 310 
 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 aimed 
 That might determine, and not need repeat, 
 As not of power at once; nor odds appeared 
 In might or swift prevention. But the sword 320 
 Of Michael, from the armory of God, 
 
BOOK VI. ' 199 
 
 Was given him tempered so, that neither keen 
 Nor solid might resist that edge : it met 
 The sword of ^atan, with steep force to smite 
 Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor stayed, 
 But, with steep wheel reverse, deep entering 
 
 shared 
 All his right side; then Satan first knew pain, 
 And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore 
 The griding sword with discontinuous wound 
 Passed through him. But the ethereal sub- 
 stance closed, 330 
 Not long divisible; and from the gash 
 A stream of nectarous humor issuing flowed 
 Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, 
 And all his armor stained, erewhile so bright. 
 Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 
 By Angels many and strong, who interposed 
 Defense, wdiile others bore him on their shields 
 Back to his chariot, where it stood retired 
 From off the files of war; there they him laid 
 Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and 
 shame, 340 
 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 healed; for Spirits that live throughout 
 Vital in every part, not as frail man 
 In Entrails, heart or head, liver or reins, 
 
200 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Cannot but b}^ annihilating die; 
 
 Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 
 
 Receive, no more than can the fluid air. 
 
 All heart thej^ live, all head, all eye, all ear, 350 
 
 All intellect, all sense, and as they please, 
 
 They limb themselves, and color, shape, or size 
 
 Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. 
 
 "Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserved 
 Memorial, where the might of Gabiiekfought, 
 And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array 
 Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied, 
 And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound 
 Threatened, nor from the HolyxOne of Heaven 
 Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon, 360 
 Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms 
 And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing 
 Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe. 
 Though huge and in a rock of diamond armed. 
 Vanquished Adramelech and Asmadai, 
 Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods 
 Disdained; but meaner thoughts learned in their 
 
 flight. 
 Mangled with ghastl}^ wounds though plate and 
 
 mail. 
 Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy 
 The athiest crew, but, with redoubled blow, 370 
 Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence 
 Of Ramiel, scorched and blasted, overthrew. 
 
BOOK VI. 20I 
 
 I might 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 might though wondrous and in acts of war. 
 Nor of renown less eager, yet by dooni 
 Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, 
 Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell ; 380 
 For strength, from truth divided and from just, 
 lUaudable, nought merits but dispraise 
 And ignominy, yet to glory aspires. 
 Vainglorious, and through infamy seeks fame : 
 Therefore eternal silence be their doom. 
 
 "And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle 
 swerved, 
 With many an inroad gored ; deformed rout 
 Entered, and foul disorder ; ^11 the ground 
 With shivered armor strown, and on a heap 
 Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, 390 
 
 And fiery foaming steeds ; what stood recoiled, 
 O'er-wearied, through 'the faint Satanic host, 
 Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, 
 Then first with fear surprised and sense of pain. 
 Fled ignominous, to such evil brought 
 By sin of disobedience, till that hour 
 Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. 
 Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, 
 In cubic phalanx firm, advanced entire, 
 
B02 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Invulnerable, impenetrabl}^ armed ; 400 
 
 Such high advantages their innocence 
 Gave them above their foes ; not to have sinned, 
 Not to have disobeyed ; in fight they stood 
 Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained 
 By wound, though from their place by violence 
 moved. 
 
 'jNow Night her coursebegan, and, over Heaven 
 Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, 
 And silence on the odious din of war. 
 Under her cloud}^ covert both retired, 
 Victor and vanquished. On the fough ten field 410 
 Michael and his Angels prevalent . 
 Encamping placed in guard their watches round, 
 Cherubic waving fires ; on the other part, 
 Satan with his rebellious disappeared, \ 
 Far in the dark dislodged ; and; void of rest, 
 His potentates to council called by night, 
 And in the midst thus undismaj^ed began : 
 
 ' ' 'O now in danger tried, now known in arms 
 Not to be overpowered, companions dear, 
 Found worthy not of liberty alone, 420 
 
 Too mean pretense, but what we more affect 
 Honor, dominion, glory, and renovv^n. 
 Who have sustained one da}- in doubtful fight 
 ■ — And if one day, why not eternal days ? — 
 What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 
 Against us from about his throne, and judged 
 
BOOK VI. 203 
 
 Sufficient to subdue us to his will, 
 But proves not so ; then fallible, it seems, 
 Of future we may deem him, though till now 
 Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly 
 armed, 43c 
 
 Some disadvantage we endured and pain, 
 Tillnownot known,but known, as soon contemned; 
 Since now we find this our empyreal form 
 Incapable of mortal injury, 
 
 Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound. 
 Soon closing, and by native vigor healed. 
 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, 440 
 Or equal what between us made the odds, 
 In nature none. If other hidden cause 
 lycft 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 up-stood 
 Nisroch, of Principalities the prime. 
 As one he stood escaped from cruel fight. 
 Sore toiled, his riven arms to havoc hewn. 
 And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake: 450 
 
 *' 'Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free 
 Enjoyment of our right as Gods; j^et hard 
 For Gods, and too unequal work, we find 
 
204 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Against unequal arms to fight in pain, 
 Against rnpained, impassive; from which evil 
 Ruin must needs ensue. For what avails 
 Valor or strength, though matchless, quelled 
 
 wdth pain 
 Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands 
 Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well 
 Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460 
 But live content, w^hich is the calmest life; 
 But pain is perfect misery, the worst 
 Of evils, and excessive overturns 
 All patience. He who therefore can invent 
 With what 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 with look composed Satan replied: 
 'Not uninvented that, which thou aright 470 
 Believest so main to our success, I bring.— 
 Which of us who beholds the bright surface 
 Of this ethereous mould w^hereon we stand, 
 This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned 
 With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems and 
 
 gold; 
 Whose eye so superficially surveys 
 These things as not to mind from whence they 
 
 grow, 
 Deep underground, materials dark and crude 
 
BOOK VL 205 
 
 Of spiritous and fiery spume, till, touched 
 With Heaven's ray and tempered, they shoot 
 forth 480 
 
 So beauteous, opening to the ambient light ? 
 These in their dark nativity the deep 
 Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; 
 Which into hallow engines long and round 
 Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of 
 
 fire 
 Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth 
 From far with thundering noise among our foes 
 Such implements of mischief, as shall dash 
 To pieces; and o'er whelm whatever stands 
 Adverse, thfet they shall fear we have dis- 
 armed 490 : 
 The Thunderer of his only dreaded bold. 
 Nor long shall be our labor; yet ere dawn, 
 Efiect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive; 
 Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined 
 Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.' 
 
 "He ended, and his words their drooping cheer 
 Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. 
 The invention all admired, and each how he 
 To be the inventor missed; so easy it seemed 
 Once found, which yet unfound most would have 
 thought 500 
 
 Impossible. Yet haply of thy race. 
 In future days, if malice should abound, ^ 
 
2o6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Some one intent on mischief, or inspired 
 With devilish machination, might devise 
 lyike instrument to plague the sons of men* 
 For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. 
 
 ' ' Forthwith from council to the work they flew; 
 T^one arguing stood; innumerable hands 
 Were ready; in a moment up they turned 
 W/'ith the celestial soil, and saw beneath 510 
 
 'The originals of Nature in their crude 
 Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam 
 They found, the mingled, and, with .subtle art,. 
 Concocted and adusted, they reduced 
 To blackest grain, and into store conveyed. 
 Part hidden veins digged up — nor hath this Earth: 
 Entrails unlike — of mineral and stone, 
 Whereof to found their engines and their balls 
 Of missive ruin; part incefitive reed 
 Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 52a 
 So all ere day-spring, under conscious night. 
 Secret they finished, and in order set, 
 With silent circumspection unespied. 
 
 "Now when fair Morn orient in Heaven appeared 
 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 
 lyooked round, and scouts each coast light-armed 
 / scour, 
 
BOOK VI. 207 
 
 Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, 530 
 
 Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, 
 In motion or in halt Him soon they met 
 Under spread ensigns movingnigh, in slow 
 But firm battalion. Back with speediest sail 
 Zophiell, 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 
 "Thisdaj^; fear not his flight! so thick a cloud 
 He comes, and settled in his face I see 540 
 
 Sad resolution and secure. Let each 
 His adamantine coat gird well, and each 
 Fit well his 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 barbed with fire.' 
 
 "So warned he them, aware themselves, and 
 soon 
 lu order, quit of all impediment; 
 Instant without disturb they took alarm. 
 And onward moved embattled: when behold, 550 
 Not distant far, with heavy pace the foe 
 Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube 
 Training his devilish enginery, impaled 
 On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, 
 To hide the fraud. At interview both stood 
 Awhile; bnt suddenly at head appeared 
 
2o8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud : 
 
 ' ' 'Vanguard, to right and left! the front unfold! 
 That ail may see who hate us how we seek 
 Peace and composure, and with open breast 560 
 Stand ready to receive them, if they like 
 Our overture, and turn not back perverse : 
 But that I doubt. However witness. Heaven! 
 Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge 
 Freely our part. Ye who appointed stand, 
 Do as 5^ou have in charge, and briefly touch 
 What we propound, and loud that all may hear.' 
 
 "So scoffing in ambiguous words he scarce 
 Had ended, when to right and left the front 
 Divided, and to either flank retired; 570 
 
 Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, 
 A triple mounted row of pillars^laid 
 On wheels — for like to pillars most they seemed, 
 Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, 
 With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled — 
 Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths 
 With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, ■ 
 Portending hollow truce. At each behind 
 A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed 
 Stood waving, tipped with fire; while we, 
 
 suspense. 
 Collected stood within our thoughts amused; 581 
 Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds 
 Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied 
 
BOOK VI. 209 
 
 With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame 
 
 But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven 
 
 appeared, 
 From those deep-throated engines belched, whose 
 
 roar 
 Embowelled with outrageous noise the air. 
 And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul 
 Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail 
 Of iron globes; w^iich, on the victor host 590 
 Levelled, with such impetuous fur)^ smote 
 That whom they hit none on their feet might 
 
 stand. 
 Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell 
 B)^ thousands. Angel on Archangel rolled; 
 The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might 
 Have easil}^ as Spirits evaded swift, 
 Ey quick contraction or remove; but no^ 
 Foul dissipation followed and forced rout; 
 .Nor served it to relax their serried files. 
 What shgtlld they do ? If on they rushed, repulse 
 Repeated, and-indecent overthrow 601 
 
 Doubled, would render them yet more despised, 
 And to their foes a laughter; for in view 
 Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, 
 In posture to displode their second tire 
 Of thunder: back defeated to return 
 They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, 
 And to his mates thus in derision called: 
 
2IO PARADISE LOST, 
 
 " 'O friends, why come not on these victors 
 
 proud ? 
 Erewhile they fierce were coming; and when we, 
 To entertain them fair with open front 6ii 
 
 And breast — what could we more ? — propounded 
 
 terms 
 Of composition, straight they changed their 
 
 minds. 
 Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 
 As they would dance. Yet for a dance they seemed 
 Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps 
 For joy of offered 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, urged 
 
 home, 622 
 
 Such as we might perceive amused them all. 
 And stumbled many. Who receives ttiem right 
 Had need from head to foot well understand; 
 Not understood, this gift they have besides, 
 They shew us when our foes walk not upright. * 
 "So they among themselves in pleasant vein 
 Stood scoflSng, highthened in their thoughts 
 
 beyond 
 All doubt of victory; Eternal Might 630 
 
 To match with their inventions they presumed 
 
BOOK VI, 211 
 
 So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, 
 And all his host derided, while they stood 
 Awhile 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 placed! — 
 Their arms away they threw, and to the hills 
 • — For Earth hath this variety from Heaven 640 
 Of pleasure situate in hill and dale — 
 Light as the lightning-glimpse, they ran, they flew;' 
 From their foundations loosening to and fro 
 They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, 
 Rocks, waters, woods, and by their shaggy tops 
 Uplifting bore them in their hands. Amaze, 
 Be sure, and terror seized the rebel host, 
 When coming toward them so dread they saw 
 The bottom of the mountains upward turned; 
 Till on those cursed engines' triple row 650 
 
 They saw them whelmed,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 oppressed whole legions 
 
 armed. 
 Their armor helped the'*': harm, crushed-in and 
 
 biuised 
 
212 ' PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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. 66 1 
 
 The rest, in imitation, to like arms 
 
 Betook them, and the neighboring hills up-tore; 
 
 So hills amid the air encountered hills, 
 
 Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire, 
 
 That underground the}- fought in dismal shade; 
 
 Infernal noise; war seemed a civil game 
 
 To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped 
 
 Upon confusion rose. And now all Heaven 
 
 Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread, 670 
 
 Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits 
 
 Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, 
 
 Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen 
 
 This tumult, and permitted all, advised, 
 
 That his great purpose he might so fulfil, 
 
 To honor his anointed Son avenged 
 
 Upon his enemies, and to declare 
 
 All power on him transferred. Whence to his Son, 
 
 The assessor of his throne, he thus began: 
 
 '' 'Effulgence of my glory. Son beloved, 680 
 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, 
 
BOOK VI . 213 
 
 Two days, as we compute the da3'S of Heaven, 
 Since Michael and Jiis powers went forth to tame 
 These disobedient. Sore hath been their fight, 
 As likeliest was when two such foes met armed: 
 For to themselves I left them; and, thou knowest, 
 Kqual in their creation they were formed, 690 
 Save what sin hath impaired, which yet hath 
 
 wrought 
 Insensibly, for I suspeitd their doom; 
 Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 
 Endless, and no solution will be found. 
 War wearied hath performed what War can do, 
 And to disordered Rage let loose the reins, 
 With mountains as with weapons armed, which 
 
 makes 
 Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. 
 Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; 
 For thee I have ordained it, and thus far 700 
 Have suffered, that the glory may be thine 
 Of ending this great war, since none but thou 
 Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace 
 Immense I have transfused, that all may know 
 In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare; 
 And this perverse commotion governed thus, 
 To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir 
 Of all things, to be Heir and to be King 
 By sacred unction, thy deserved right. 
 
214 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Go then, thou Mightiest, in thy Father's 
 might, , 710 
 
 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 upper 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 expressed 720 
 Ineffably into his face received ; 
 And thus the filial Godhead answering spake ; 
 
 ** 'O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, 
 First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou always seekest 
 To glorify thy Son, I always thee. 
 As is most just. This I my glory account, 
 My exaltation, and my whole delight, 
 That thou in me well pleased declarest thy will 
 Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. 
 Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume, 730 
 And gladlier shall resign when in the end 
 Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee 
 For ever, and in me all whom thou lovest : 
 But whom thou hatest I hate, and can put on 
 Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, 
 Image of thee in all things ; and shall soon, 
 
BOOK VI. 215 
 
 Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled, 
 To their prepared ill mansion driven down, 
 To chains of darkness, and the undying worm, 
 That from thy just obedience could revolt, 740 
 Whom to obey is happiness entire. 
 Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the 
 
 impure 
 Far separate, circling thy holy mount 
 Unfeigned Hallelujahs 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, 
 Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with 
 
 whirlwind-sound 
 The chariot of Paternal Deity, 750 
 
 Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel, 
 
 undrawn, y 
 Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed 
 By four cherubic shapes. Four faces each 
 Had wonderous ; as with stars their bodies all 
 And wings were set with e5^es, with eyes the wheels 
 Of beryl, ^nd careering fires between ; 
 Over their heads 5 crystal firmament, 
 Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 
 Amber and colors of the showery arch. 
 He in celestial panopl}^ all armed 760 
 
 Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, 
 
2i6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Ascended ; at his right hand Victory 
 Sat eagle-winged ; beside him hung his bow 
 And quiver, with thiee-bolted thunder stored. 
 And from about him fierce effusion rolled 
 Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire. 
 Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, 
 He onward came ; far off his coming shone ; 
 And twenty thousand — I their number heard — 
 Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen. 77c 
 He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime, 
 On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, 
 Illustrious far and wide, but by his own 
 First seen ; then unexpected joy surpris.ed, 
 When the great ensign of Messiah blazed. 
 Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; 
 Under whose conduct Micnael soon reduced 
 His army, circumfused on either wing. 
 Under their Head embodied all in one. • 
 Before him Power divine his way prepared; 780 
 At his command the uprooted hills retired. 
 Each to his place; they heard his voice and went 
 Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, 
 And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. 
 This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured. 
 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, 
 
BOOK I'l. 217 
 
 Or wonders move the obdurate to relent ? 790 
 They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, 
 Grieving to see his glory, at the sight 
 Took env}^; and, aspiring to his highth, 
 Stood re-imbattled 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 dre^, disdaining flight, 
 Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God 
 To all his host on either hand thus spake : 800 
 " 'Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here 
 stand, 
 Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest. 
 Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God 
 Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; 
 And as ye have received, 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 w^ork is not ordained, 
 Nor multitude; stand only, and behold 810 
 
 God's indignation on these godless poured 
 By me; not j^ou, but me, they have despised. 
 Yet envied; against me is all their rage, 
 Because the Father, to whom, in Heaven supreme. 
 Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains. 
 Hath honored me, accordin.2r to his will. 
 
2i8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned; 
 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 820 
 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 changed 
 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 fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound 
 Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. 830 
 He on. his impious foes right onward drove. 
 Gloomy as night; under his burning Vv^heels 
 The steadfast Empyrean shook throughout. 
 All but the throne itself of God. Full soon 
 Among them he arrived, in his right-hand 
 Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent 
 Before him, such as in their souls infixed 
 Plagues; they, astonished, all resistance lost, 
 All courage; down their idle weapons cropt; 
 O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 
 O'er Thrones and mighty Seraphim pros- 
 trate, 841 
 That wished the mountains now might be again 
 Thrown on tliem, as a shelter from his ire. 
 
BOOK VI. 219 
 
 Nor less on cither side tempestuous fell 
 His arrows, from the foiirfold-visaged Four 
 Distinct with e5'es, and from the living wheels 
 Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; 
 One spirit in them ruled, and ever}- e^^e 
 .Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire 
 Among the accursed, that withered all their 
 
 strength 
 And of their wonted vigor left them drained, 851 
 Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. 
 Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked 
 His thunder in mid-voile)^; for he meant 
 Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven. 
 The overthrown he raised, and, as a herd 
 Of goats or timorous flock, together thronged, 
 Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued 
 With terrors and with furies, to the bounds 
 And mystal wall of Heaven, which, opening wide, 
 Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed 86r 
 Into the wasteful Deep. The monstrous sight 
 Struck them with horror backward, but far worse 
 Urged them behind; headlong themselves thej^ 
 
 threw 
 Down from, the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath 
 Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. 
 
 ' 'Hell heard the unsufferable noise. Hell saw 
 Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled 
 Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep 
 
220 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870 
 Nine da3^s they fell; confounded Chaos roared, 
 And felt tenfold confusion in their fall 
 Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout 
 Encumbered him with ruin; Hell at last 
 Yawning received them whole, and on them 
 
 closed; 
 Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fke 
 Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. 
 Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired 
 Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. 
 Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, 880 
 Messiah his triumphal chariot turned. 
 To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood 
 Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, 
 With jubilee advanced;.'- and as they went, 
 Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright, 
 Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, 
 Son, Heir, and Eord, to him dominion given. 
 Worthiest to reign. He celebrated rode. 
 Triumphant through mid-Heaven, into the courts 
 And temple of his mighty Father throned 890 
 
 On high; who into glory him received, 
 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 m.ayest beware 
 By what is past, to thee I have revealed 
 
x>OOK I J. 221 
 
 What might have else to human race been hid; 
 The discord which befell, and war in Heaven 
 Among the angelic Powers, and the deep fall 
 Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled 
 With Satan; Jie who envies now thy state, 900 
 Who now is plotting how he may seduce 
 Thee also from obedience, that, with him 
 Bereaved of happiness, thou maj^est partake 
 His punishment, eternal misery; 
 W^hich would be all his solace and revenge, 
 As a despite done against 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 910 
 
 Of disobedience. Firm they might have stood, 
 Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress." 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK Vil. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Raphael, at the request of Adam, relaies how and 
 wherefore this World was first created; that God, 
 after the expelliDg" of Satan and his Angels out of 
 Heaven, declared his pleasure to create another world, 
 anvi other creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son 
 with glory, and attendance of Angels, to perform the 
 work of Creation in six days: the Angels celebrate 
 with hymns the performance thereof, and his reas- 
 cention into Heaven. 
 
 Descend from Heaven, Urania — by that name 
 
 if rightly thou art called — whose voice divine 
 
 Following, above the Olj'^mpian 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 the top 
 
 Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, 
 
 Before the hills appeared or fountain flowed, 
 
 Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, 
 
 Wisdom thy sister, and wdth her didst play lo 
 
 In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased 
 
BOOK VII. 22: 
 
 With thy celestial song. Up-led by thee 
 Into the Heaven-of heavens I have presumed, 
 An earthly guest, and drawn emp37real air, 
 Thy tempering. With like safety guided down 
 Return me to my native element; 
 Lest, from this flying steed unreined — as once 
 Bellerophon, though from a lower clime — 
 Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall, 
 Erroneous there to wander and forlorn. — 20 
 
 Half yet remains unsung, but, narrower bound. 
 Within the visible diurnal sphere. 
 Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, 
 More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged 
 To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, • 
 On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues. 
 In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, 
 And solitude; yet not alone, while thou * 
 Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn 
 Purples the east. Still govern thou my song, 30 
 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 Thracian bard 
 In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears 
 To rapture, till the savage clamor drowned 
 Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend 
 Her son. So fail not thou who thee implores; 
 For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. 
 
224 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Sa3% Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, 40 
 The affable Archangel, had forewarned 
 Adam, by dire example, to beware 
 Apostasy, b}^ what befell in Heaven 
 To those apostates; lest the like befall 
 In Paradise to Adam or his race, 
 Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, 
 If they transgress, and slight that sole command, 
 So easily obej^ed, amid the choice 
 Of all tastes else to please their appetite, 
 Though wandering. He, with his consorted 
 Eve, 50 
 
 The story heard attentive, and was filled 
 With admiration and deep muse, to hear 
 Of things so high and vStrange, things to their 
 
 1:hought 
 So unimaginable as hate in Heaven, 
 And war so near the peace of God in bliss, 
 With such confusion; but the evil, soon 
 Driven back, redounded as a flood on those 
 From whom it sprung, impossible to mix 
 WitU blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed 
 The doubts that in his liea'rt arose; and now 60 
 Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know 
 What nearer might concern him, how this World 
 Of heaven and earth conspicuous first began; 
 When, and whereof created; for what cause; 
 What within Kden, or without, was done 
 
BOOK \'IL 225 
 
 Before his memory — as one, whose drought 
 Yet scarce allayed, 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, 70 
 
 Far differing from this World, thou hast revealed, 
 Divine interpreter! hy favor 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 sovran will, the end 
 Of what we are. But since thou hast vouch- 
 safed ' 80 
 Gentl}^, for our instruction, to impart 
 Things above earthly thought, which yet 
 
 concerned 
 Our knowing, as to highest Wisdom seemed. 
 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, witli moving fires adorned 
 Innumerable; and this which yields or fills 
 All space, the ambient air, wide interfust-w. 
 
226 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Embracing round this florid ea. tli; what cause 90 
 
 Moved the Creator, in his holy re.;t 
 
 Through all eternit}- , so late to build 
 
 In Chaos; and the work begun how soon 
 
 Absolved: if unforbid thou mayest 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, 100 
 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 thj'- audience. Night with her will bring 
 Silence, and Sleep listening to thee will watch; 
 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 answered mild: no 
 "This also thy request, with caution asked. 
 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 
 
BOOK VII. 227 
 
 Thee also happier, shall not be withheld 
 Thy hearing; such commission from above 
 I have received, to answer thy desire 
 Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 120 
 To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope 
 Things not revealed, which the invisible King, 
 Onl}^ omniscient, hath suppressed in night, 
 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. 130 
 
 "Know then, that after lyucifer 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 returned 
 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 failed, who 
 thought 
 All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 140 
 
 This inaccessible high strength, the seat 
 Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed. 
 He trusted to have seized, and into fraud 
 
j-ARADiSE L'j'^-1. 
 
 Drew many, whom their place knows here no more. 
 Yet far the greater part have kept, I vSee, 
 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. 
 But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm 150 
 Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, 
 M3' damage fondly deemed, I can repair 
 That detriment, if such it be to lose 
 Self-lost, and in a moment will create 
 x\nother world, out of one man a race 
 Of men innumerable, there to dwell. 
 Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, 
 The}^ open to themselves at length the way 
 Up hither, under long obedience tried, 
 And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven 
 to Earth, 160 
 
 One kingdom, joy and union w'ithout end. 
 Meanwhile inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; 
 And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee 
 This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! 
 My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee 
 I send along: ride forth, aud bid the Deep 
 Within appointed bounds be heaven and earth — 
 Boundless the Deep, because I am to fill 
 Infinitude; nor vacuous the space. 
 Though I, uncircumscribed, m3'self retire, 170 
 
BOOK VII. 229 
 
 And put not forth my goodness, which 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 Godhead, 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, 180 
 When such was heard declared the Almighty' swill; 
 Glory they sung to the Most High, goodwill 
 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 hahitations of the just ; to Him 
 Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained 
 Good out of evil to create, instead 
 Of Spirits malign a better race to bring 
 Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse 190 
 His good to worlds and ages infinite. 
 
 * 'So sang the Hierarchies. Meanwhile the Son 
 On his great expedition now appeared. 
 Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned 
 Of majesty divine, sapience and love 
 Immense, and all his Father in him shone. 
 About his chariot numberless were poured 
 Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, 
 
2v,o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged, 
 From the armory of God, where stand of old 200 
 Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged, 
 Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, 
 Celestial equipage ; and now came forth 
 Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived. 
 Attendant on their Lord. Heaven opened wide 
 Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound 
 On golden hinges moving, to let forth 
 The King of Glorj^ in his powerful Word 
 And Spirit coming to create new worlds. — 
 On heavenly ground they stood, and from the 
 
 shore 
 They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss, 211 
 Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild. 
 Up from the bottom turned by furious winds 
 And surging waves, as mountains, to assault 
 Heaven's highth,and with the centre mix the pole. 
 '' 'Sifence, ye troubled waves, and thou Deep 
 
 peace !' 
 Said then the omnific Word ; 'your discord end !' 
 Nor stayed, but, on the wings of Cherubim 
 Up-lifted, in paternal glory rode 
 Far into Chaos, and the World unborn ; 220 
 
 For Chaos heard his voice. Him all his train 
 Followed in bright procession, to behold 
 Creation, and the wonders of his might. 
 Then stayed the fervid wheels, and in his hand 
 
BOOK VII. 231 
 
 He took the golden compasses, prepared 
 In God's eternal store, to circumscribe 
 This Universe, and all created things. 
 One foot he centered, and the other turned 
 Round through the vast profundity obscure, 
 And said : — 'Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, 
 This be thy just circumference, O World !' 231 
 
 "Thus God the heaven created, thus the earth, 
 Matter unformed and void. Darkness profound 
 Covered the Abyss ; but on the watery calm 
 His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, 
 And vital virtue infused and vital warmth. 
 Throughout the fluid mass, b^ut downward purged 
 The black, tartareous, cold, infernal, dregs 
 Adverse to life : then founded, then con globed, 
 lyike things to like, the rest to several place 240 
 Disparted, and between spun out the air, 
 And Earth, self-balanced, on her centre hung. 
 
 " %et there be light !' said God, and forthwith 
 light. 
 Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, 
 Sprung from the Deep, and from her native east 
 To journey through the aery gloom began. 
 Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun 
 Was not; she in a cloudy tarbernacle 
 Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good; 
 And light from darkness by the hemisphere 250 
 Divided. Eight the Day, and darkness Night 
 
232 PARADISE LOST. - 
 
 He named. Thus was the first day even and morn; 
 
 Nor passed uncelebrated, nor unsung 
 
 B}' the celestial quires. When orient light 
 
 Exhaling first from darkness thej^ heheld. 
 
 Birthday of heaven and earth, with jo}^ and shout 
 
 The hollow universal orb they filled, 
 
 And touched their golden harps, and hymning 
 
 praised 
 God and his works; Creator him they sung, 
 Both when first evening was, and when first morn. 
 
 "Again, God said: — 'lyet there be firmament 261 
 Amid the waters, ar^^ let it divide 
 The waters from the waters!' And God made 
 The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure. 
 Transparent, elemental air, diffused 
 In circuit to the lattermost convex 
 Of this great round; partition firm and sure, 
 The waters underneath from those above 
 Dividing — for as Earth, so he the World 
 Built on circumfluous waters calrii, in wide 270 
 Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule 
 Of Chaos far removed, lest fierce extremes 
 Contiguous might distemper the whole frame — 
 And Heaven be named the firmament: so even 
 And morning chorus sung the second day. 
 
 "The Earth was formed, but, in the womb as yet 
 Of waters, embryon immature, involved. 
 Appeared not; over all the face of Earth 
 
BOOK VII. 233 
 
 Main ocean flowed, not idle, but, with warm 
 t^rolific humor softening all her globe, 280 
 
 Fermented the great mother to" conceive. 
 Satiate with genial moisture; when God said: 
 'Be gathered now, 3^e waters, under heaven 
 Into one place, and yet dry land appear!' 
 Immediately the mountains huge appear, 
 Emergent, and their broad bare backs up-heave 
 Into the clouds; theintops ascend the sky. 
 3o high as heaved the tumid hills, so low 
 Down sunk a hollow bottom, broad and deep, 
 Capacious bed of waters. Thither they 290 
 
 Hasted with glad precipitance, up-rolled, 
 As drops on dust conglobing, from the dry; 
 Part iHse in crystal wall, or ridge direct, 
 For hasle: such flight the great command im- 
 pressed 
 On the swift floods. As armies at the call 
 Of trumpet — for of armies thou 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; 300 
 But they, or underground, or circuit wdde 
 With serpent error wandering, foun^ their way, 
 And on the washy ooz deep channels wore; 
 Easy, ere God had bid .the ground be dry, 
 All but within those banks, where rivers now 
 
234 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train.— 
 
 The dry land, Earth, and the great receptacle 
 
 Of congregated waters he called Seas; 
 
 And saw thatit was good, and said: — 'Let the earth 
 
 Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, 310 
 
 And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, 
 
 Whose seed is in herself upon the earth.' 
 
 He scarce had said, when the bare earth, till then 
 
 Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorned. 
 
 Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure 
 
 clad 
 Her universal face with pleasant green; 
 Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered, 
 Opening their various colors, and made gay 
 Her bosom, smelling sweet; and, these scarce 
 
 blown, 
 Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth 
 
 crept 
 The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed 321 
 Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, 
 And bush with frizzled hair implicit: last 
 Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread 
 Their branches hung with copious fruit, or 
 
 gemmed 
 Their blossoms. With high woods the hills were 
 
 crowned. 
 With tufts the valleys and each fountain-side. 
 With borders long the rivers; that Earth now 
 
BOOK VII. 235 
 
 Seemed liked to Heaven, a seat where Gods might 
 
 dwell, 
 Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 330 
 Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained 
 Upon the earth, and man to till the ground 
 None was, but from the earth a dewy mist 
 Went up and watered all the ground, and each 
 Plant of the field, which ere it Vv^as in the earth 
 God made, and every herb, 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 340 
 The Say from night; and let them be for signs. 
 For seasons, and for days, and circling years; 
 And let them be for lights, as I ordain 
 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 earth, and rule the day 350 
 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 
 
236 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 A might}" sphere he framed, unliglitsome first, 
 Though of ethereal mould; then formed the Moo?}. 
 Globose, and ever}^ magnitude of Stars, 
 And sowed with stars the heaven, thirk as afield. 
 Of light by far the greater part he took, 
 Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and 
 
 placed 360 
 
 In the sun's orb, made porous to receive 
 And drink the liquid light; firm to retain 
 Her gathered beams, ^reat 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, 370 
 Regent of day, and all the horizon round 
 Invested w^ith bright rays, jocund to run 
 His longitude through heaven's high road; '^he 
 
 gray 
 Dawn and the Pleiades before him danced, 
 vShedding sweet influence. Less bright the moon, 
 But opposite in levelled west, w^as set, 
 His mirror, with full face borrowing her light 
 Frcpi him; for other light she needed none 
 In that aspect; and still that distance keeps - 
 
BOOK VII. 237 
 
 Till night; then in the east her turn she 
 shines, 380 
 
 Revolved on heaven's great axle, and her reign 
 With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, , 
 With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared 
 Spangling the hemisphere. Then, first adorned 
 With their bright luminaries that set and rose, 
 Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth 
 day. 
 "And God said: — 'Let the waters generate 
 Reptile with spawn abimdant, living soul ; 
 And let fowl fly above the earth, with wings 
 Displayed on the open firmament of heaven. ' 390 
 And God created the great whales, and each 
 Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously 
 The waters generated by their kinds, 
 And every bird of wing after his kind; 
 And saw that it was good, and blessed them, 
 
 saying: 
 'Be fruitful, multiply, ^nd, in the seas, 
 And lakes, and running streams, the waters fili; 
 And let the foul be multiplied on the earth! '- 
 Forth witli the sounds and teas, each creek and bay, 
 With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals 400 
 Of fish. that, with their fins and shining scales, 
 Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft 
 Bank the mid sea. Part, sing:le or with mate, 
 
238 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Graze the seaweed, their pasture, and tjirougb 
 
 groves 
 Of corai stray, or, sporting with quick glance, 
 Shew to the sun their waved coats dropt with 
 
 gold; 
 Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend 
 Moist nutriments; or under rocks their food 
 In jointed armor watch; on smooth the seal 
 And bended dolphins play; part, huge of 
 
 bulk, 410 
 
 Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait. 
 Tempest the ocean. There leviathan, 
 Hugest of living creatures, on the deep 
 Stretched like a promontory, sleeps or swims. 
 And seems a moving land, and at his gilJs 
 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 ^z%, 
 
 that soon, 
 Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclose 419 
 Their callow young; but feathered soon and 
 
 fledge 
 They summed their pens, and, soaring the air 
 
 sublime, 
 With clang despised the ground, under a cloud 
 In prospect. There the eagle and the stork, 
 On cliffs and cedar-tops, their eyries build. 
 
BOOK VII. 239 
 
 Part loosely wing the region, part more wise 
 In common, ranged in figure, wedged their way, 
 Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 
 Their aery caravan, liigh over seas 
 Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing 
 Easing their £ight — so steers the prudent 
 
 crane 430 
 
 Her annual voyage, borne on winds — the air 
 Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered 
 
 plumes. 
 From branch to branch the smaller birds with 
 
 song 
 Solaced the woods, and spread their painted 
 
 wings, 
 Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale 
 Ceased warbling, but all night tuned her soft 
 
 lays. 
 Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed 
 Their downy breast; the swan, with arched neck 
 Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 
 Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit 440 
 The dank, and, rising on stiff pinions, tower 
 The mid aerial sky. Others on ground 
 Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion 
 
 sounds 
 The silent hours, and the other whose gay train 
 Adorns him, colored with the florid hue 
 On rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus 
 
240 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, 
 Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. 
 
 "The sixth, and of creation last, arose 
 With evening harps and matin; when God 
 said : 450 
 
 %et the earth bring forth sonl living in her kind. 
 Cattle and creeping things, and beast of the earth, 
 Each in their kind.' The earth obe^^ed, and 
 
 straight, 
 Opening her fertile womb, teemed at a birth 
 Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms. 
 Limbed 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 
 
 walked — 
 /The cattle in the fields and meadows green : 460 
 Those rare and solitar}^ these in flocks 
 Pasturing at once, and in broad herds up-sprung. 
 The grassy clods now calved; now half-appeared 
 The tawny lion, pawing to get free 
 His hinder parts, then springs, as broke from 
 
 bonds, 
 And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, 
 The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole, 
 Rising the crumbled earth above them tlirew 
 In hillocks; the swift stag from underground 
 
BOOK VII. 241 
 
 Bore up his branching head; scarce from his mould 
 Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved 471 
 His vastness; fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, 
 As plants; ambiguous between sea and land 
 The river-horse and scal}^ crocodile. — 
 At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 
 Insect or worm. Those w'aved their limber fans 
 For wings, and smallest lineaments exact 
 In all the liveries decked of summer's pride, 
 With spots of gold and purple, azure and green; 
 These, as a line, their long dimensions drew, 480 
 Streaking the ground with sinuous trace : not all 
 Minims of nature; some of serpent kind, 
 Wondrous in length and corpulence, involved 
 Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept 
 The parsimonious emmet, provident 
 Of future, in small room large heart enclosed; 
 Pattern of just equality perhaps 
 Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes 
 Of commdnalty. Swarming next appeared 
 The female bee, that feeds her husband drone 490 
 Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells 
 With honey stored. The rest are numberless 
 And thou their nature knowest, and gavest them 
 
 names, 
 Needless to-thee repeated; nor unknown 
 The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, 
 Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes 
 
242 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And hair}^ mane terrific, though to thee 
 Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. 
 
 "Now heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled 
 Her motions, at the great First Mover' s hand 500 
 First wheeled their course; eai-th, in her rich 
 
 attire 
 Consummate lovely, smiled; air, water, earth, 
 By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was 
 
 walked, 
 Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained. 
 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 from thence 5 10 
 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 all his work : therefore the omnipotent 
 Eternal Father — for where is not he 
 Present ? — thus to his Son audibly spake : 
 
 " %et us make now Man in our image, Man 
 In our similitude, and let them rule 520 
 
 Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, 
 Beast of the field, and over all the earth, 
 
BOOK VII. 243 
 
 And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.* 
 
 This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O man, 
 
 Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed 
 
 The breath of life ; in his own image he 
 
 Created thee, in the image of God 
 
 Express, and thou becamest a living soul. 
 
 Male he created thee, but thy coUvSort 
 
 Female, for race ; then blessed mankind, and said : 
 
 *Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth; 531 
 
 Subdue it, and thoughout dominion hold, 
 
 Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, 
 
 And ever}^ living thing that moves on the earth.' — 
 
 Wherever thus created, for no place 
 
 Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest, 
 
 He brought thee into this delicious grove, 
 
 This garden, planted with the trees of God, 
 
 Delectable both to behold and taste; 
 
 And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 540 
 
 Gave thee ; all sorts are here that all the earth 
 
 3d elds, 
 Variety without end ; but of the tree, 
 Which tasted works knowledge of good and evil, 
 Thoumayest not ; in the day thou eatest, thou diest. 
 Death is the penalty imposed ; beware. 
 And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin 
 Surpri^ thee, and her black attendant Death. 
 
 ''Here finished he, and all that he had made 
 Viewed, and behold ! all was entirely good. 
 
244 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 So even and morn accomplished the sixth da)^ ; 550 
 Yet not till the Creator, from his work 
 Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, 
 Up to the Heaven-of-heavens, his high abode, 
 Thence to behold this new* created World 
 The addition of his empire, how it shewed 
 In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, 
 Answering his' great idea. Up he rode. 
 Followed with acclamation and the sound 
 Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned 
 Angelic harmonies. The earth, the air 560 
 
 Resounded — thou rememberest,for thou heardest— 
 The heavens and all the constellations rung, 
 The planets in their stations listening stood, 
 While tlie bright pomp ascended jubilant. 
 'Open, 5^e everlasting gates !'. they sung, 
 'Open, 3^e Heavens, your living doors ! Let in 
 The great Creator from his work returned 
 Magnificent, his six days' work, a w^orld. 
 Open, and henceforth oft ; for God will deign 
 To visit oft the dwellings of just men, 570 
 
 Delighted, and, with frequent intercourse, 
 Thither will send his winged messengers 
 On errands of supernal grace.' So sung 
 The glorious train ascending. He through 
 
 Heaven, 
 That opened wide her blazing portals, led 
 To God's eternal house direct the wav, 
 
BOOK VII. 245 
 
 A broad and ample road, whose dust is golc', 
 And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, 
 Seen in the. Galaxy, that milky way. 
 Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest 580 
 Powdered 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, fixed for ever firm and sure, 
 The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down 
 With his great Father; for he also went 
 Invisible, j-et stayed — such privilege 
 Hath Omnipresence — and the work ordained, 590 
 Author and end of all things, and, from work 
 Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh 
 
 day, 
 As resting on that da3^ from all his work; 
 But not in silence holy kept. The harp 
 Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe 
 And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, 
 All sounds on fret, b}?- string or golden wire, 
 Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice 
 Choral or unison; of incense clouds. 
 Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. 600 
 Creation and the six da3^s' acts they sung : 
 'Great are thj^ wor^s, Jeliovah! infinite 
 
/46 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or 
 
 tongue 
 Relate thee ? greater now in thy return 
 Than from the Giant-angels. Thee that day 
 Thy thunders magnified; but to create 
 Is greater than created to destroy. 
 Who can impare thee, mighty King, or bound 
 Thy empire t Easily the proud attempt 
 Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, 6io 
 Thou hast repelled, while impiously they thought 
 Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw 
 The number of thy worshipers. Who seeks 
 To lessen thee, against his purpose, serves 
 To manifest the more thv might; his evil 
 Thou usest, and from thence greatest more good. 
 Witness this new-made World, another Heaven 
 From Heaven -gate not far, founded in view 
 On the clear hj- aline, the glassy sea; 
 Of amplitude almost immense, with stars 620 
 Numerous, and every star perhaps a world 
 Of destined habitation; but thou knowest 
 Their seasons. Among these the seat of men, 
 Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, 
 Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men, 
 And sons of men ! whom God hath thus advanced, 
 Created in his image, there to dwell 
 And worship him, and in reward tomle 
 Over his works on earth, in sea, or aii. 
 
BOOK VIL 247 
 
 And multiply a race of worshipers 630 
 
 Holy and just; thrice happy if they know 
 Their happiness, and persevere upright! ' 
 
 ''So sung they, and the Empyrean rung 
 With Hallelujahs; thus was Sabbath kept. 
 And thy request think now fulfilled^ that asked 
 How^ first this World and face of things began, 
 And what before thy memory was done 
 From the beginning, that posterity 
 Informed by thee might know. If else thou 
 
 seekest 
 Aught, not surpassing human measure, say." 640 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Adam LnxjiTires concerning' celestirJ motions, is doubt- 
 fully answered, and exhorted to search rather things 
 more worthy of kaowledg'e : Adam assents, and still 
 desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he 
 remembered since his own creation, his placing- in 
 Paradise, his ta.k with God concerning- solitude and fit 
 society, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve, his 
 discoui-se with the Angel thereupon; who after admon- 
 itions repeated departs. 
 
 The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear 
 So charming left liis voice that he awhile 
 Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to 
 
 hear; 
 Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied: 
 
 "What thanks sufficient, or wdiat recompense 
 Equal, liave I to render thee ? divine 
 Historian, who thus largely hast allayed 
 The thirst I had of knowle/dge, and vouchsafed 
 This friendly condescention to relate 
 Things else by me unsearchable, now heard lo 
 With w^onder, but delight, and, as is due, 
 
BOOK Vlir 249 
 
 With glorA^ attributed to the high 
 Creator. Something yet of doubt remains, 
 Which only the sohition can resolve. — 
 When I behold this goodlj^ frame, this World 
 Of hdaven and earth consisting, and compute 
 Their magnitudes; this earth, a spot, a grain, 
 An atom,- with the firmament compared 
 And ail her numbered stars, that vseem to roll 
 Spaces incomprehensible— for such 20 
 
 Their distance argues, and their swift return 
 Diurnal — merely to ofiiciate light 
 Round this opacous earth, this punctual spot, 
 One day and night, in all their vast survey 
 Useless besides — reasoning I oft admire 
 How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit 
 Such disproportions, with superfluous hand 
 So many nobler bodies to create. 
 Greater so manifold, to this one use, 
 For aught appears, and on their orbs impose 30 
 Such restless revolution, day by day 
 Repeated, while the sedentary earth. 
 That better might with far less compass move, 
 Served 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 sire, and by his countenance seemed 
 
250 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which 
 
 Eve 
 Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, 41 
 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 prospered, bud and bloom, 
 Her nursery; they at her coming sprung, 
 And, touched 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 reserved, 50 
 Adam relating, she sole auditress; 
 Her husband the relator she preferred 
 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 lip ' 
 
 Not words alone pleased her. Oh, when meet 
 
 now 
 Such pairs, in love and mutual honor joii;ed! 
 With goddess-like demeanor forth she went, 
 Not unattended, for on her as queen 60 
 
 A pomp of winning Graces waited still, 
 And from about her shot darts of desire 
 Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. 
 And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt proposed^ 
 
BOOK VIII. 251 
 
 Benevolent and facile thus replied: 
 
 *'To ask or search I blame thee not^ for heaveu 
 Is as the book of God before thee set, 
 Wherein to read his wondrous works, and learn 
 His seasons, hours, or days, or months, orj^ears — 
 This to attain, whether heaven move or earth, 70 
 Imports not, if thou reckon right — the rest 
 From Man or Angel the great Architect 
 Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge 
 His secrets, to be scanned by them who ought 
 Rather admire; or, if they list to try 
 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 corfie to model heaven 
 And calculate the stars, how they will wield 80 
 The mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive, 
 To save appearances, how gird the sphere 
 With centric and eccentric scribbled o'er, 
 Cycle and epicyc^lej orb in orb. 
 Already by th}^ reasoning this I guess, 
 Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposes . 
 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 90 
 
 Or bright infers not excellence: the earth, 
 
•>.52 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Though, in comparison of heaven, so small, 
 Nor glistering, may of solid good contain 
 More plei^iy than the sun that barren shines* 
 Whose virtue on itself works no effect, 
 But in the fruitful earth; there first received, 
 His beams, unactive else, their vigor 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 ^oo 
 The Maker's high magnificence, who built 
 So spacious, and his line stretched out so far, 
 That Man may know^ he dwells not in his own; 
 An edifice too large for him to fill, 
 Lodged in a small partition, and the rest 
 Ordained for uses to his Lord best known. 
 The swiftness of those circles attribute. 
 Though numberless, to his omnipotence, 
 That to corporeal substances could add 109 
 
 Speed almost soiritual. Me thou thinkest not 
 
 slow, 
 Who since the raornmg-hour set out from Heaven 
 Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived 
 In Kden, distance inexpressible 
 By numbers that have name. But this I urge, 
 Admitting motion in the heavens, to shew 
 Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; 
 Not that I so affirm, though so it seem 
 To thee who hast thy dwelling here on earth. 
 
BOOK VIII. 253 
 
 God, to remove his waj^s from human sense, 
 Placed heaven from earth so far, that earthl}' sight, 
 If it presumes, might efr in things too high, 121 
 And no advantage gain. What if the sun 
 Be centre to the World, and other stars, 
 By his attractive virtue and their own 
 Incited, dance about him various rounds! 
 Their wandering course, now high, now low, then 
 
 hid. 
 Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, 
 In six thou seest; and what if seven to these 
 The planet-earth, so steadfast though she seem, 
 Insensibly three different motions move ! 130 
 Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe 
 Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; 
 Or save the sun his labor, and that sw^ift 
 Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed. 
 Invisible else above all stars, the wheel 
 Of day and night; which needs not thy beliefs 
 If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day 
 Traveling 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 140 
 Sent ^rom 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 ana inhabitants. Her spots thou seest 
 
254 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce 
 Fruits in her softened soil, for some to eat 
 Alluted there; and other suns perhaps, 
 With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry 
 Communicating male and female light 750 
 
 -—Which two great sexes animate the World — 
 Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live. 
 Fpr such vast room in nature unpossessed 
 By living soul, desert and desolate, 
 Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute 
 Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far 
 Down to this habitable, which returns 
 Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. — 
 But whether thus these things or whether not, 
 Whether the sun, predominant in heaven, i5<l 
 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, 
 A.nd bears thee soft with the smooth air along, 
 Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; 
 lycave them to God above; him serve and fear 
 Of other creatures, as him pleases best, 
 Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou 17c 
 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; 
 
BOOK I'll I. 255 
 
 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 far hath been revealed 
 Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven." 
 
 To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied; 
 "How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure 180 
 
 Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene: 
 And, freed from intricacies, thought to live 
 The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts 
 To interrupt the sweet of life, from which 
 God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares. 
 And not molest us, unless we ourselves 
 Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions 
 
 vain. 
 But apt the mind or fancy is to rove 
 Unchecked; and of her roving is no end, , 
 Till warned, or by experience taught, she 
 
 learn 190 
 
 That not to know at large of things remote 
 From use, obscure and subtle, but to know 
 That which before us lies in daily life 
 Is the prime wisdom; what is more, is fume, 
 Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, 
 And render^ us in things that most concern 
 Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. 
 Therefore from this high pitch let us des':end 
 A lower flight, and speak of things at hand, 
 
256 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Useful, whence haply mention may arise 200 
 Of something not unseasonable to ask, 
 By sufferance, and thy wonted favor, deigned. — 
 Thee I have heard relating what was done 
 Ere m}^ rememberance; now hear me relate 
 My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard. 
 And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest 
 How subtly to detain thee I devise, 
 Inviting thee to hear while I relate, — 
 Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply. 
 For while I sit with thee I seem in Heaven, 210 
 And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear 
 Than fruits of palm-tree, pleasantest to thirst 
 And hunger both, from labor, 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 answered, heavenly 
 meek : 
 *'Nor are thy lips ungraceful, sire of men, 
 Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee 
 Abundantly his gifts hath also poured, 220 
 
 Inward and outward both his image fair : 
 Speaking or mute all comeliness and grace 
 Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms. 
 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; 
 
BOOK VIIL • 257 
 
 For God, we see, hath honored thee, and set 
 On Man his equal love. . Say therefore on; 
 tor I that day was absent, as befell. 
 Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, 230 
 Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; 
 Squared in full legion — such command we had — 
 To see that none thence issued forth a spy 
 Or enemy, while God w^as in his work; 
 I^est he, incensed at such eruption bold, 
 Destruction with creation might have mixed. 
 Not that they durst without his leave attempt; 
 But us he sends upon his high behests 
 For state, as sovran King, and to endure 
 Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast 
 shut, 24c 
 
 The dismal gates, and bkrricadoed 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 relations now; for I attend. 
 Pleased 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 250 
 
 Is hard ; for who himself beginning knew ? 
 Desire with the still longer to converse 
 
258 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Induced me. — As new waked 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 
 
 turned. 
 And gazed awhile the ample sky, till, raised 
 By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, 
 As thitherward endeavoring, and upright 260 
 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 lived and moved, and walked or 
 
 flew, 
 Birds on the branches warbling ; all things smiled : 
 With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. 
 Myself I then perused, and limb by limb 
 Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran 
 With supple joints, as lively vigor led ; 
 But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 270 
 Knew not. To speak I tried, and forthwith spake ; 
 My tongue obeyed, and readily could name 
 Whate'er I saw. *Thou sun,' said I, 'fair light. 
 And thou enlightened earth, so fresh and ga}^ 
 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 tUeu, 
 
BOOK ' 'III. 259 
 
 In goodness and in power pre-eminent. 
 Tell me how may I know him, how adore, 280 
 From whom I have that thus I move and live, 
 And feel that I am happier than I know. 
 
 "While thus I called, and strayed I knew not 
 whi'her, 
 From where I first drew air, and first beheld 
 This happ}^ light, when answer none returned, 
 On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, 
 Pensive! sat me down ; there gentle sleep 
 First found me, and with soft oppression seized 
 My drowsied sense, untroubled though I thought 
 I then was passing to my former state 290 
 
 Insensible, and forth Vvdth to dissolve : 
 When suddenly stood at my head a dream, ^ 
 Whose inward apparition gently moved 
 My fancy to believe I yet had being, 
 And lived . One came, methought, of shape divine, 
 And said : — 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam ; rise. 
 First Man, of men innumerable ordained 
 First Father 1 called by thee, I come thy guide 
 To the garrden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' — 
 So saying, by the hand he took me, raised, 300 
 And over fields and waters, as in air, 
 Smooth sliding without step, last led me up 
 A woody mountain, whose high top was plain, 
 A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees 
 Planted, with walks and bowers, that what I saw 
 
26o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree 
 
 Loaden with fairest fruit that, hung to the eye 
 
 Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite 
 
 To pluck and eat ; whereat I waked, and found 
 
 Before mine eyes all real, as the dream 310 
 
 Had lively shadowed. Here had new begun 
 
 My wandering, had not He, who was my guide 
 
 Up hither, from among the trees appeared 
 
 Presence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, 
 
 In adoration at his feet I fell 
 
 Submiss; he reared me, and, 'Whom thou sought- 
 
 est I am,' 
 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. 320 
 
 Of every tree that in the garden grows 
 Kat 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 
 — Remember what I warn thee- — shun to taste, 
 And shun the bitter consequence; for know, 
 The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command 
 Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, 330 
 
 From that day mortal, and this happy state 
 Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world 
 
BOOK VIII. 261 
 
 Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced 
 The rigid interdiction, which resounds 
 Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 
 Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect 
 Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed: 
 'Not only these fair bounds, but all the Karth 
 To Thee and to thy race I give; as lords 
 Possess it, and all things that therein live, 340 
 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 summoned, .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 350 
 
 With blandishment, each bird stooped on his 
 
 wing. 
 I named them, as they passed, and understood 
 Their nature, with such knowledge God endued 
 My sudden apprehension. But in these 
 I found not what, methought, I wanted still; 
 And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed: 
 
 " *0h, by what name, for thou above all these, 
 Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher. 
 
262 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Surpasses! far my naming, how may I 
 
 Adore thee, Author of this Universe, 360 
 
 And all this good to Man ? for whose well-being 
 
 So amply, and with hand so liberal, 
 
 Thou hast provided all things. But with me 
 
 I see not who partakes. In solitude 
 
 What happiness ? who can enjoy alone ? 
 
 Or, all enjo3'ing, what contentment find ? ' — 
 
 Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, 
 
 As with a smile more brightened, thus replied: 
 
 ' ' 'What callest thou solitude ? Is not the earth 
 With various living creatures, and the air 370 
 Replenished, and all these at thy command 
 To come and play before thee? Kno west 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 seemed 
 So ordering. I, with leave of speech implored, 
 And humble deprecation, thus replied: 
 
 ** %et not my words offend thee, heavenly 
 Power, 
 My Maker, be propitious while I speak. 380 
 
 Hast thou not made me here th}^ substitute 5 
 And these inferior far beneath me set ? 
 Among unequais what society 
 Can sort, what harmony or true delight ? 
 Which must be mutual, in proportion due 
 
BOOK Vni. 263 
 
 Given and received; 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 390 
 
 All rational delight, wherein the brute 
 Ca3inot be human consort. They rejoice 
 Each with their kind, lion with lioness; 
 So^ fitly 'them in pair thou hast combined. 
 Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl 
 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; 
 Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.' 
 
 '■'Whereto the Almighty answered, not dis- 
 pleased: 
 A nice and subtle happiness, I see. 
 Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice 400 
 
 Of thy associates, Adam, and wait taste 
 No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. 
 Whatthinkest thou then of me, and this my state? 
 Seem I to thee sufiiciently possessed 
 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 converj^e ? 
 Save with the creatures which I made, and those 
 To me inferior, infinite descents 410 
 
 Beneath what other creatures are to thee.' 
 
 "He ceased; I lowly answered: — 'To attain 
 
.2b4 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 tTbe highth and depth of thy eternal ways 
 
 A15 feiiman thoughts come short, Supreme of 
 
 things! 
 Thou 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 
 Shouldest propagate, alread}' infinite, 420 
 
 \nd through all numbers absolute, though one. 
 Hut Man by number is to manifest 
 ills single imperfection, and beget 
 Xrike of his like, his image multiplied, 
 In unity defective, which requires 
 Collateral love, and dearest amity. 
 Tliou in thy secrec}' although alone. 
 Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not 
 Social communication, yet, so pleased. 
 Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt 
 Of union or communion, deified; 431 
 
 I, by conversing, cannot these erect 
 From prone, nor in their ways complacence 
 
 find.' — 
 Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used 
 Permissive, and acceptance found, which gained 
 This answer from the gracious Voice divine: 
 
 " *Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased, 
 And find thee knowing not of beasts alone. 
 
BOOK VIII. 26 
 
 Which thou hast rightly named, but of th^^selt 
 Expressing well the spirit within thee free. 440'^ 
 My image, not imparted to the brute, 
 Whose fellowship therefore, unmeet for thee, 
 Good reason was thou freely shouldest dislike; 
 And be so minded still. I, ere thou spakest. 
 Knew it not good for Man to be alone, 
 And no such company as then thou sawesi: 
 Intended thee, for trial onl}^ brought. 
 To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet^ 
 What next I bring shall please thee, be assured^. 
 Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, 4510: 
 Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.' 
 
 "He ended, or I heard no more; for now 
 My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, 
 Which it had long stood under, strained to th'e.' 
 
 highth 
 In that celestial colloquy sublime, 
 As with an object that excels the sense, 
 Dazzled and spent sunk down, and sought repaic- 
 Of sleep, which instantlj^ fell on me, called 
 By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. 
 Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell 46^!= 
 Of fancy, my internal sight, by which, 
 Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, 
 Though sleeping, wdiere I lay and saw the Shape- 
 Still glorious before whom awake I stood; 
 Who stooping opened my left side, and took 
 
266 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, 
 And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the 
 
 wound, 
 But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed. 
 The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands: 
 Under his forming hands a creature grew, 470 
 Manlike, but different sex, so lovely fair, 
 That what seemed fair in all the world seemed now 
 Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained, 
 And in her looks, which from that time infused 
 Sweetness into mj^ heart, unfelt before. 
 And into all things from her air inspired 
 The spirit of love and amorous delight. 
 She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked 
 To find her, or forever to deplore 
 Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: 480 
 
 When, out of hope, behold her not far off, 
 Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned 
 With what ail Earth or Heaven could bestow, 
 To make her amiable. On she came, 
 I^ed by her heavenly Maker, though unseen 
 And guided by his voice; nor uninformed 
 Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rights. 
 Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, 
 In every gesture dignit}^ and love. 
 I overjoyed could not forbear aloud: 
 
 " 'This turn hath made amends; thou hast 
 
 fulfilled 
 
BOOK VIII. 267 
 
 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 ftesh, myself 
 Before me; Woman's her name, of Man 
 Extracted; for this cause he shall forgo 
 Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; 
 And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.' 
 'She heard me thus; and, though divinely 
 brought, 500 
 
 Yet innocence and virgin modesty, 
 Her virtue and the conscience of her worth. 
 That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, 
 Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retired, 
 The more desirable; or, to say all. 
 Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, 
 Wrought in her so, that seeing me she turned; 
 I followed her, she what was honor knew, 
 And with obsequious majesty approved 
 My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower 510 
 I led her blushing like the Morn: all heaven, 
 And happy constellations, on that hour 
 Shed their selectest influence; the earth 
 Gave signs of gratulation, and each hill; 
 Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs 
 Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings 
 Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy shrub, 
 Disporting, till the amorous bird of night 
 
26S PARADISE LOST. 
 
 ;Siiiig spousal, and bid haste the Evening-star 
 On his hill-top, to light the bridal lamp. 520 
 
 *'Thus have Itold thee all my state, and brought 
 My story to the sum of earthl}^ bliss 
 "Which I enjoy; and must confess to find 
 In all things else delight indeed, but such 
 As, -used or not, works in the mind no change, 
 Nor vehement desire; these delicacies 
 I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and 
 
 flowers, 
 Walks, and the melody of birds: but here, 
 Far otherwise, transported I behold, 
 Transported touch; here passion first I felt, 530 
 •Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else 
 Superior and unmoved, here only weak 
 Against the charm of beauty's powerful glance. 
 Or Nature failfed in me, and l^ft some part 
 Not proof enough such object to sustain. 
 Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps 
 More than enough; at least on her bestowed 
 Too much of ornament, in outward shew 
 Elaborate, of inward less exact. 
 Vox well I understand, in the prime end 540 
 
 Of Nature, her the inferior, in the mind 
 And inward faculties, which most excel; 
 In outward also her resembling less 
 His image who made both, and less expressing 
 The character of that dominion given 
 
BOOK VIIL 2% 
 
 O'er other creatures; yet when I approacli 
 Her loveliness, so abolute 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* 5^ 
 All higher Knowledge in her presence falls^ 
 Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her 
 Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shews; 
 Authority and Reason on her wait, 
 As one intended first, not after made 
 Occasionall}^; 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 placed." 
 ' To whom the Angel with contracted brow: 560^ 
 ''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 needest her mg!i» 
 By attributing overmuch to things 
 Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. 
 For what admirest thou? what transports thee so? 
 An outside; fair, no doubt, and worthy well 
 Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love. 
 Not thy subjection. Weigh with her thyself; 57x3 
 Then value. Oft-times nothing profits more 
 Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right. 
 Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowestg 
 
l^o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The more she will acknowledge thee her heai^. 
 And to realities yield all her shews; 
 Made so adorn for thy delight the mor<e, 
 So awful, that with honor thou mayest love 
 Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. " 
 But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind 
 Is propagated, seem such dear delight 580 
 
 Beyond all other, think the same vouchsafed 
 To cattle and each beast ; which would not be 
 To them made common and divulged, if aught 
 Therein ehjoyed were worthy to subdue 
 The soul of Man, or passion in him moye. 
 What higher in her society thou findest. 
 Attractive, human, rational, love still ; . 
 In loving thou dost well; in passion not, 
 Wherein true love consists not ; love refines 
 The thought, and heart enlarges, hath'his seat 59c 
 In reason, and is judicious, is the scale 
 By which to heavenly love thou niaj^st ascend, 
 Not sunk in carnal pleasure ; for which cause 
 Among the beasts no mate for thee was_ found." 
 
 To whom thus, half abashed, Adam, replied : 
 ' 'Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught 
 In procreation, common to all kinds — 
 Though higher of the genial bed by far, ^ 
 And with mysterious reverence I deem — 
 So much delights me, as those graceful ^.cts, 600 
 Those thousand decencies, that daily flow 
 
BOOK VII I. 271 
 
 From all her words and actions, mixed with love 
 And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned 
 Union of mind, or in us -both one S9UI ; 
 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 foiled, 
 Who meet with various objects, from the sense 
 Variously representing, yet still free 610 
 
 Approve the best, and follow what I approve. 
 To love thou blamest me not, for love thou sayest 
 I^eads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide. 
 Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask. — 
 I^ove 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, witji a smile that glowed 
 Celestial rosy-red, love's proper hue. 
 Answered : — ' Xet it suffice thee that thou knowest 
 Us happy, and without love no happiness. 621 
 Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy est — 
 And pure thou wert created— we enjoy 
 In eminence,^and obstacle find none 
 Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars : 
 Kasier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, 
 Total they mix, union of pure with pure 
 Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need 
 As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. — 
 
972 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 But I can now no more ; the parting sun 630 
 
 Beyond the earth's Green Cape and Verdant Isles 
 
 Hesperean sets, my signal to depart. 
 
 Be strong, live happy, and love ! but first of all 
 
 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 placed ; beware ! 
 
 I in thy persevering shall rejoice, 
 
 And all the Blest. Stand fast; to stand or fall 640 
 
 Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. 
 
 Perfect within, no outward aid require ; 
 
 And all temptations to trangress repel." 
 
 So saying, he arose ; whom Adam thus 
 Followed with benediction : — "Since to part. 
 Go, heavenly guest^ ethereal messenger, 
 Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore. 
 Gentle to me and affable hath been 
 Thy condescension, and shall be honored ever 
 With grateful memory; thou to mankind 650 
 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 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 the; argument. 
 
 Satan" having compassed the earth, with meditated 
 guile returns as a midst by night into Paradise, enters 
 *"7to the Serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the 
 morning go forth to their labors, which Eve proposes 
 to divide in several places, each laboring apart; Adam 
 consents not, alleging the danger, lest that enemy, of 
 whom they were forewarned, should attempt her 
 found alone. Eve, loth to be thought not circumspect 
 or firm enough, urges her, going apart, the rather 
 desirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at last 
 yields. The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle 
 approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much 
 flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, 
 wondering to hear the Serpent speak, asks how he 
 attained to human speech and such understanding 
 not till now: the Serpent answers, that by tasting of 
 a certain 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 wiles and arguments induces her 
 at length to eat; she, pleased with the taste, deliber- 
 ates 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 
 perceiving her lost, resolves through vehemence of 
 love to perish with her; and extenuating the ti^espasa 
 eats also of the fruit. The effects thereof in them 
 both; they seek to cover their nakedness; then fall to 
 variance ar*^ accusation of one another. 
 
274 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 No more of talk where God or Angel guest 
 
 With Man, as with his friend, familiar used 
 
 To sit indulgent, and with him partake 
 
 Rural repast, permitting him the while 
 
 Venial discourse unblamed. 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 judgement given, ro 
 
 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 Turn us for I^avinia disespoused; 
 
 Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long 
 
 Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son;— 
 
 If answerable style I can obtain 20 
 
 Of ni}^ celestial patroness, who deigns 
 
 Her nightly visitation, unimplored, 
 
 And dictates to me slumbering, or inspires 
 
 Easy my unpremeditated verse, 
 
 Since first this subject for heroic song 
 
 Pleased me, long choosing and beginning late, 
 
 Not sedulous by nature to indite 
 
 Wars, hitherto the only argument 
 
BOOK IX. 275 
 
 Heroic deemed, chief mastery to dissect, 
 
 With long and tedious havoc, fabled knights, 30 
 
 In battles feigned — the better fortitude 
 
 Of patience and heroic martj^rdom 
 
 Unsung — or to describe races and games, 
 
 Or tilting furniture, emblazoned shields, 
 
 Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds. 
 
 Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous kriights 
 
 At joust and torneament; then marshalled feast 
 
 Served up in hall with sewers and seneshals; 
 
 The skill of artifice or office mean, 
 
 Not that which justly gives heroic name 
 
 To person or to poem. Me, of these 
 
 Nor skilled 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, 
 
 Depressed; 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 50 
 
 'Twixt day and night; and now from end to end 
 Night's hemisphere had veiled the horizon round, 
 When Satan, who late fled, before the threats 
 Of Gabriel, out of Kden, now improved 
 In meditated fraud and malice, bent 
 On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap 
 
276 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of heavier on himself, fearless returned. — 
 By night he fled, and at midnight returned, 
 From compassing the earth; cautious of day. 
 Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried 60 
 
 His entrance, and forewarned the Cherubim 
 That kept their watch. Thence, full of anguish, 
 
 driven 
 The space of seven continued nights he rode 
 With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line 
 He circled, four times crossed the car of Night 
 From pole to pole, traversing each colure; 
 On the eighth return, 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 change — 70 
 
 Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, 
 Into a gulf shot underground, till part 
 Rose up a fountain by the Tree of lyife. 
 In with the river sunk, and with it rose 
 Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought 
 Where to lie hid. Sea he had searched 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 barred 80 
 
 At Darien, thence to the land where flows 
 Ganges and Indus. Thus the orb he roamed' 
 
BOOK IX. 277 
 
 With narrow search, and, with inspection deep, 
 
 Considered 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 revolved, his final sentence chose, 
 
 Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom 
 
 To enter, and his dark suggestions hide 90 
 
 From sharpest sight; for in the \\\\y snake 
 
 Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark> 
 
 As from his wit and native subtlety 
 
 Proceeding, which, in other beasts observed, 
 
 Doubt might beget of diabolic power. 
 
 Active within beyond the sense of brute. 
 
 Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief 
 
 His bursting passion into plaints thus poured: 
 
 "O Harth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred 
 More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built 100 
 With second thoughts, reforming what was old! 
 For what God, after better, w^orse would build ? 
 Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other 
 
 heavens, 
 That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, 
 lyight above light, for thee alone, as seems. 
 In thee concentring all their precious beams 
 Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven 
 Is centre, yet extends to all, so thou 
 Centring receivest from all those orbs; in thee, 
 
278 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears, 
 Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth iii 
 Of creatures animate with gradual life 
 Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man. 
 With what delight could I have walked thee 
 
 round, 
 If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange 
 Of hill and valle}?-, rivers, woods, and plains. 
 Now land, now sea, and shores with forest 
 
 crowned. 
 Rocks, dens, and caves! but I in none of these 
 Find place or refuge; and the more I see 
 Pleasures about me, so much more I feel 120 
 
 Torment within me, as from the hateful siege 
 Of contraries; all good to me becomes 
 Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my 
 
 state. 
 But neither here seek I, no, nor in Heaven, 
 To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven'^ Supreme; 
 Nor hope to be myself less miserable 
 By wh^t I seek, but others to make such 
 As I, though thereby worse to me redound: 
 For only in destroying I find ease 
 To my relentless t h o u g n t s ; and, him 
 
 destro3^ed, 130 
 
 Or won to what raa^^ work his utter loss, 
 For whom all this was made, all this will soom 
 Follow, as to him linked in w^eal or woe; 
 
BOOK IX. 279 
 
 In woe then; that destruction wide may range. 
 
 To me shall be the glory sole among 
 
 The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred 
 
 What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days 
 
 Continued making, and who knows how long 
 
 Before had been contriving? though pefhaps 
 
 Not longer than since I in one night freed 140 
 
 From servitude inglorious well nigh half 
 
 The angelic name, and thinner left the throng 
 
 Of his adorers. He, to be avenged. 
 
 And to repair his numbers thus impaired, 
 
 Whether such virtue, spent of old, now failed 
 
 More Angels to create — if the}^ at least 
 
 Are his created — or to spoils us more. 
 
 Determined to advance into our room 
 
 A creature formed of earth, and him endow, 
 
 Exalted from so base original, 150 
 
 With heavjenly spoils, our spoils. What he decreed 
 
 He effected; Man he made, and for him built 
 
 Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat; 
 
 Him lord pronounced, 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 
 
 Of midnight-vapor, glide obscure, and pry 
 
 In every bush and brake, where hap may find 160 
 
 The serpent sleeping, in whose mazy folds 
 
28o PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 constrained 
 Into a beast, and, mixed with bestial slime, 
 This essence to incarnate and imbrute, 
 That to the highth of Deity aspired. 
 But what will not ambition and revenge 
 Descend to? Who aspires must down as low 
 As high he soared, obnoxious first or last 170 
 To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, 
 Bitter ere long back on itself recoils. — 
 Let it; I reck not, so it light well amid. 
 Since higher I fall short, on him who next 
 Provokes my envy, this new favorite 
 Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite. 
 Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised 
 From dust. Spite then with spite is best repaid. ' ' 
 So saying, through each thicket, dank or dry, 
 lyike a black mist low-creeping, he held on 180 
 His midnight search, where soonest he might find 
 The serpent. Him fast sleeping soon he found, 
 In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled. 
 His head the midst, well stored with subtle wiles; 
 Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, 
 Nor nocent yet; but on the grassy herb, 
 Fearless unfeared, he slept. In at his mouth 
 The Devil entered, and his brutal sense. 
 In heart or head, possessing soon inspired 
 
BOOK IX. 281 
 
 With act intelligential; but his sleep 190 
 
 Disturl^ed not, waiting close the approach of morn. 
 
 Now, when as sacred light began to dawn, 
 In Eden, on the humid flowers, that breathed 
 Their morning incense, when 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 joined their vocal worship to the quire 
 Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake 
 The season, prime for sweetest sents and airs. 200 
 Then commune, how that day they best may ply 
 Their growing work; for much their work out- 
 grew 
 The hands' dispatch of two, gardening so wide, 
 And Eve first to her husband thus began: 
 
 "Adam, well may we labor still to dress 
 This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, 
 Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands 
 Aid us, the work under our labor grows, 
 Luxurious by restraint; what we by day 
 lyOp overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 210 
 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 labors; thou, where choice 
 Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 
 
282 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The woodbine round this arbor, or direct 
 The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, 
 In yonder spring of roses, intermixed 
 With myrtle, find what to redress till noon; 
 For, while so near each other thus all day 220 
 Our task we choose, what wonder if so near 
 Lrooks intervene and smiles, or object new 
 Casual discourse draw on! which intermits 
 Our day's work, brought to little, though begun 
 Karl}-, and the hour of supper comes unearned.'* 
 
 To whom mild answer Adam thus returned: 
 "Sole Eve, associate sole, to me be3'ond 
 Compare above all living creatures dear! 
 Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts 
 
 emplo3'ed. 
 How we might best fulfill the work which 
 
 here 23c 
 
 God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass 
 Unpraised; 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 imposed 
 Labor, as to debar us when we need 
 Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, 
 Food of the mind, or ,this sweet intercourse 
 Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, 
 To brute denied, and are of love the food, 24c 
 Love not the lowest end of human life; 
 
BOOK IX. 28;^ 
 
 For not to irksome toil, but to delight, 
 He made us, and delight to reason joined. 
 These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint 
 
 hands 
 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. 250 
 But other doubt possesses me, lest harm 
 Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest 
 What hath been warned us, what malicious foe 
 Envying our happiness, and of his own 
 Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame 
 By sly assault; and somewhere near at hand 
 Watches, no doubt, with greed}^ hope to find, 
 His wish and best advantage, us asunder; 
 Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each 
 To other speedy aid might lend at need. 260 
 
 Whether his first design be to Vv^ithdraw 
 Our fealty from God, or to disturb 
 Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss 
 Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; — 
 Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side 
 That gave thee being, still shades thee and 
 
 protects. 
 The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks.. 
 
284 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, 
 Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." 
 
 To whom the virgin-majest} of Eve, 270 
 
 As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, 
 With sweet austere composure thus replied : 
 
 "Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all 
 Earth's lord ! 
 That such an enemy we have, who seeks 
 Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, 
 And from the parting Angel overheard. 
 As in a shady nook I stood behind, 
 Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. 
 But that thoushouldst my firmness therefore doubt 
 To God or thee, because we have a foe 2S0 
 
 May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 
 His violence thou fearest 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 seduced ; 
 Thoughts, which how found they harbor in thy 
 
 breast ? 
 Adam ! misthought of her to thee so dear!" 
 
 To whom with healing words Adam replied : 290 
 "Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve ! 
 — For such thou art, from sin and blame entire— 
 Not diffident of thee do I dissuade 
 
BOOK IX. 285 
 
 Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid 
 
 The attempt itself, intended by our foe. 
 
 For he who tempts, though in vain, at least 
 
 asperses 
 The tempted with dishonor foul, supposed 
 Not incorruptible of faith, not proof ' 
 Against temptation. Thou thyself with scorn 
 And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, 30c 
 Though ineffectual found ; misdeem not then. 
 If such affront I labor 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 
 Angel ; nor think superfluous others' aid. 
 I from the influence of thy looks receive 
 Access in evC|-y virtue, in thy sight 31c 
 
 More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were 
 Of outward strength ; while shame, thou looking on, 
 Shame to be overcome or overreached, 
 Would utmost vigor raise, and raised unite. 
 Wh}^ shouldst not thou like sense within thee fee) 
 Whem 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 
 T^ss attributed to her faith sincere, 320 
 
286 PARADISE L OST. 
 
 Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed \ 
 
 "If this be our condition, thus to dwell 
 In narrow circuit straitened 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 
 Of our integrity : his foul esteem 
 Sticks no dishonor on our front, but turns 330 
 Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared 
 By us ? who rather double honor gain 
 From his surmise proved false, find peace within, 
 Favor from Heaven, our witness, from the event. 
 And what is faith, love, virtue unasspyed 
 Alone, without exterior help sustained ? 
 Let us not then suspect our happy state 
 Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, 
 As not secure to single or combined. 
 Frail is our happiness, if this be so, 34a 
 
 And Eden were no Eden thus exposed." 
 
 To whom thus Adam fervently replied : 
 "O Woman, best are all things as the will 
 Of God ordained them; his creating hand 
 Nothing imperfect or deficient left 
 Of all that he created, much less Man, 
 Or aught that might this happy state secure, 
 Secure from outward force; within himself 
 
BOOK IX. ih'i 
 
 The danger lies, yet lies within his power : 
 Against his will he can receive no harm. 350 
 
 But God left free the will, for what obe5^s 
 Reason is free; and reason he made right, 
 But bid her well beware, and still erect, 
 I^est, by some fair-appearing good surprised, 
 She dictate false, and misinform 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 360 
 
 Some specious object by the foe suborned, 
 And fall into deception unaw^are, 
 Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. 
 Seek not temptation then, which to avoid 
 Were better, and most likely it from iiie 
 Thou sever not; trial will come unsought. 
 Wouldst thoti approve thy constancy, approve 
 First thy obedience; the other w^ho can know, 
 Not seeing thee attempted? who attest? 
 But if thou think trial unsought may iind 370 
 Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, 
 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 toward thee hath done his part; do 
 thine." 
 
288 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 So spake the patriarch of mrinkind, but Eve 
 Persisted; 5'et submiss, though last, replied: 
 
 ' 'With thy permission then, and thus forewarned, 
 Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words 
 Touched only, that our trial, when lest sought,^ 380 
 May find us both perhaps far less prepared , 
 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, /end, like a wood-iiymph light, 
 Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, 
 Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self 
 In gait surpassed, and goddess-like deport. 
 Though not as she with bowand quiver armed, 390 
 But with such gardening-tools as yet art rude, 
 Guiltless of fire, ha-d formed, or Angels brought 
 To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, 
 Likest she seemed — Pomona when she fled 
 Vertumnus — or to Ceres in her prime. 
 Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. 
 Her long with ardent look his eye pursued, 
 Delighted, but desiring more her stay. 
 Oft he to her his charge of quick return 
 Repeated; she to him as oft engaged 400 
 
 To be returned by noon amid the bower, 
 And all things in best order to invite 
 Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. 
 
BOOK IX. 289 
 
 O much deceived, much failing, hapless- Eve, 
 
 Of thy presumed return! event perverse! 
 
 Thou never from that hour in Paradise 
 
 Roundest either sweet repasi, or sound repose; 
 
 Such ambush, hid among sweetflowers and shades, 
 
 Waited, with hellish rancour imminent, 
 
 To intercept thy way, or. send thee back 410 
 
 Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss. 
 
 For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, 
 
 Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; 
 
 And on his quest where likeliest he might find 
 
 The only two of mankind, but in them 
 
 The whole included race, his purposed prey. 
 
 In bower and field he sought, where an 3^ tuft 
 
 Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, 
 
 Their tendance or plantation for delight; 
 
 By fountain or by shady rivulet 420 
 
 He sought them both, but wished his hap 
 
 might find , 
 Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope 
 Of what so seldom chanced, when to his wis 
 Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, 
 Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, 
 Half-spied, so thick the roses bushing round 
 About her glowed, oft stooping to support 
 Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though 
 
 gay 
 Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, 
 
290 PARA D IS Pi LOST. 
 
 Hung drooping unsustained; them she up- 
 stays 430 
 
 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 traversed 
 Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; 
 Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen 
 Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers 
 Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: 
 Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned 
 Or of revived Adonis, or renowned 440 
 
 Alcinoiis, host of old I^aertes' son, 
 Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king 
 Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse: 
 Much he the place admired, 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 morn, to breathe 
 Among the pleasant villages and farms 
 Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight, 
 The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, 450 
 Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; 
 If chance with n5^mphlike step fair virgin pass, 
 What pleasing seemed 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, 
 
BOOK IX. 291 
 
 Thus early, thus alone. Her heavenly form 
 Angelic, -but more soft and feminine, 
 Her graceful innocence, her every air 
 Of gesture or least action overawed 460 
 
 His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved 
 His fierceness of the fierce intent tTbrought. 
 That space the Evil-one abstracted stood 
 From his own evil, and for the time remained 
 Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed, 
 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 ordained. Then soon 470 
 Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts 
 Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites : 
 
 ' 'Thoughts, whither have ye led me ? with what 
 sweet 
 Compulsion tlius transported to forget 
 What hither brought us ? hate, not love, nor hope 
 Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste 
 Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy. 
 Save what is in destroying; other joy 
 To me is lost. Then let me not let pass 
 Occasion which now" smiles. Behold alone 480 
 The w^oman, opportune to all attempts. 
 Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, 
 Whose higher intellectual more I shun, 
 
292 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And strength, of courage liaught}^, and of limb 
 
 Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould 
 
 Foe not informidable, exempt from wound, 
 
 I not; so much hath Hell debased, 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, 49G 
 
 And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, 
 
 Hate stronger under shew of love well feigned, 
 
 The way which to her ruin now I tend. ' ' 
 
 So spake the Enemy of Mankind, enclosed 
 In serpent, inmate bad, and toward Eve 
 Addressed his way; not with indented wave, 
 Prone on the ground, as since, but on his rear. 
 Circular base of rising folds, that towered 
 Fold above fold, a surging maze, his head 
 Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes, 500 
 
 With burnished 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 lUyria changed 
 Hermione and Cadmus, or the god 
 In Epidaurus; nor to which transfoi med 
 Ammonian Jove, or Capitoliile, was seen, 
 He with Olympias, this with her who bore 
 Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique 
 At first, as one who sought apcess but feared 511 
 
BOOK IX. 293 
 
 To interrupt, sidelong he works his way. 
 As when a ship b}^ skilful steersman wrought, 
 Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind 
 Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail : 
 So varied he, and of his tortuous train 
 Curled many a wanton wreath, in sight of Eve 
 To lure her eye. She, busied, heard the sound 
 Of rustling leaves, but minded not, as used 
 To such disport before her through the field, 520 
 From every beast, more duteous at her call. 
 Than at Circean call the herd disguised. 
 He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, 
 But as in gaze admiring : oft he bowed 
 His turret-crest and sleek enamelled neck, 
 Fawning, and licked the ground whereon she trod. 
 His gentle dumb expression turned at length 
 The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad 
 Of "her attention gained, with serpent-tongue 
 Organic, or impulse of vocal air, 530 
 
 His fraudulent temptation thus began : 
 
 "Wonder not, sovran mistress— if perhaps 
 Thou canst, who art sole wonder — much less arm 
 Thy looks, the heaven of mildness, with disdain, 
 Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze 
 Insatiate, I thus single, nor have feared 
 Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. 
 Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair! 
 Tiiee all things living gaze on, all things thine 
 
294 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore, 540 
 
 With ravishment beheld, there best beheld 
 
 Where universally admired But here, 
 
 In this enclosure wild, these beasts among. 
 
 Beholders rude, and shallow to discern 
 
 Half what in thee is fair, one man except 
 
 Who sees thee? — and what is one? — who shouldst 
 
 be seen 
 A Goddess among Gods, adored and served , 
 
 By Angels numberless, thy daily train." 
 So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: 
 Into the heart of Eve his words made way, 550 
 Though at the voice much marvelling; at length. 
 Not unamazed, she thus in answer sj^ke: 
 
 "What may this mean? language of Man pro- 
 nounced 
 By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed ! 
 The first at least of these I thought denied 
 To beasts, whom God on their creation-da)^ 
 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 560 
 I knew, but not with human voice endued. 
 Redouble then this miracle, and say. 
 How earnest thou speakable of mute, and how 
 To me so friendly grown above the rest 
 Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight; 
 
BOCK IX. 295 
 
 Say, for such wonder claims attention due." 
 
 To whom the guileful, Tempter thus replied: 
 "Kmpress of this fair world, resplendent Kve ! 
 Easy to me it is to tell thee all 
 What thou commandest, and right thou shouldst 
 be obeyed. 570 
 
 I was at first, as other beasts that graze 
 The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, 
 As was my food; nor aught but food discerned 
 Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: 
 Till on a day, roving the field, I chanced 
 A goodly tree far distant to behold, 
 Loaden with fruit of fairest colors mixed, 
 Ruddy and gold. I nearer drew to gaze; 
 When from the boughs a savory odor blown, 
 Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense 580 
 Than sniell of sweetest fennel, or the teats 
 Of ewe or goat, dropping with milk at even, 
 Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. 
 To satisfy the sharp desire I had 
 Of tasting those fair apples I resolved 
 Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once. 
 Powerful persuaders, quickened at the sent 
 Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. 
 About the moilsy trunk I wound me soon; 
 For, high from ground, the branches would require 
 Thy utmost reach or Adam's: round the tree 591 
 All other beasts that saw, with like desire 
 
296 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 lyOnging 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 spared 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 600 
 
 Wanted not long, though to this shape retained. 
 
 Thenceforth to speculations high or deep 
 
 I turned ni}^ thoughts, and with capacious mind 
 
 Considered 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 heavenlj^ raj^ 
 
 United I beheld; no fair to thine 
 
 Equivalent or second! which compelled 
 
 Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come 610 
 
 And gaze, and worship thee of right declared 
 
 v'^ovran of creatures, universal Dame!" 
 
 So talked the spirited sly Snake, and Eve, 
 Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied: 
 ''Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt 
 The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved. 
 But say, where grows the tree? froln hence how 
 
 far? 
 For many are the trees of God that grow 
 In Paradise, and various, 3'et unknown 
 
BOOK iX. 297 
 
 To us, in sncli abundance lies our choice, 620 
 As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, 
 Still hanging incorruptible, till men 
 Grow up to their provision, and mere hands 
 Help to disburden Nature of her birth." 
 
 To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad: 
 ''Empress, the way is ready, and not long; 
 Bej^ond a row of myrtles, on a flat. 
 Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past 
 Of blowing m3^rrh and balm. If thou accept 
 My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon." 630 
 "lycad then," said Eve. He leading swiftly 
 
 rolled 
 In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, 
 To mischief swift: hope elevates, and joy 
 Brightens his crest. As when a wandering fire, 
 Compact of unctuous vapor, which the night 
 Condenses, and the cold environs round, 
 Kindled through agitation to a flame 
 — Which oft, the}^ say, some evil spirit attends — • 
 Hovering and blazing with delusive light, 639 
 Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his 
 
 way, 
 To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; 
 There swallowed up and lost, from succour far: 
 So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud 
 Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree 
 Of prohibition, root of all our woe; 
 
298 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Which when she saw, thus to her guide she 
 spake: 
 
 ''Serpent, we might have spared our coming 
 hither, 
 Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, 
 The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; 
 Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. 650 
 But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; 
 God so commanded, and left that command 
 Sole daughter of his voice: the rest, we live 
 Law to ourselves; our reason is our law." 
 
 To whom the Tempter guilefully replied: 
 ''Indeed! Hath bod then said that of the fruit 
 Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, 
 Yet lords declared of all in earth or air?" 
 
 To whom thus Eve, yet sinless: — "Of the fruit 
 Of each tree in the garden we may eat; 660 
 
 But of the fruit of this fair tree, amidst 
 The garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat 
 Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest 3^e die.' " 
 
 She scarce had said, though brief, when now 
 more bold 
 The Tempter, but with shew of zeal and love 
 To Man, and indignation at his wrong, 
 New part puts on; and, as to passion moved. 
 Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely, and in act 
 Raised, as of some great matter to begin. 
 As when of old some orator renowned, 670 
 
BOOK IX. 299 
 
 « 
 
 In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence 
 Flourished, since mute, to some great cause 
 
 addressed, 
 Stood in himself collected; while each part, 
 Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; 
 Sometimes in highth began, as no delay 
 Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: 
 So standing, moving, or to highth up-grown, 
 The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began: 
 
 "O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant, 
 Mother of science ! now I feel thy power 6^0 
 
 Within me clear, not only to discern 
 Things in their causes, but to trace the ways 
 Of highest agents, deemed 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 threatener ? look on me, 
 Me who have touched and tasted, yet both live, 
 And life more perfect have attained than Fate 
 Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. 6r<7 
 Shall that be shut to Man, which to the beast 
 Is open ? or will God incense his ire 
 For such a petty trepass ? and not praise 
 Rathdr your dauntless virtue? whom the pain 
 Of death denounced — whatever thing death be ' 
 Deterred not from achieving what might lead 
 To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; 
 
300 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of good, how just ? of evil . . . if what is evil 
 Be real, \rhy not known, since easier shunned ? 
 God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; 700 
 Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed: 
 Your fear itself of death removes the fear. 
 Why then was this forbid ? Why, but to awe? 
 Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant. 
 His worshipers ? He knows that, in the day 
 Ye eat thereof, your eyes, that seem so clear, 
 Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then 
 Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods, 
 Knowing both good and evil, as they know. 
 That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, 710 
 Internal Man, is but proportion meet; 
 I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods. 
 So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off 
 Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished. 
 Though threatened, which no worse than this can 
 
 bring. 
 And what are Gods, that Man may not become 
 As they, participating godlike food ? . 
 The Gods are first, and that advantage use 
 On our belief, that all from them proceeds. 
 I question it; for this fair earth I see, 720 
 
 Warmed by the sun, producing ever}^ kind, 
 Them nothing. If they all things, who e:*^^-o«e(i 
 Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, 
 That whoso eats thereof forthwith i ittains 
 
BOOK IX. 30X 
 
 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 730 
 
 Causes import your need of this fair fruit 
 Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste !" 
 
 He ended, and his words, replete with guile. 
 Into her heart too easy entrance won. 
 Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold 
 Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound 
 Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned 
 With reason, to her seeming, and with truth. 
 Meanwhile the hour of noon drew on, and waked 
 An eager appetite, raised by the smell 740 
 
 So savorj^ of that fruit, which with desire, 
 Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, 
 Solicited her longing eye; j^et, first 
 Pausing awhile, thus to herself she mused: 
 
 ''Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, 
 Though kept from Man, and worthy to be 
 
 admired; 
 Whose taste, too long forborne, at first assay 
 Gave elocution to the mute, and taught 
 The tongue not made for speech to speak thy 
 
 praise. 
 
302 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Thy praise he also who forbids thy use 750 
 
 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 thee more, while it infers the good 
 
 By thee communicated, and our want; 
 
 For good unknown sure is not had; or had. 
 
 And yet unknowm, 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 760 
 
 Bind, us with after-band, 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 ? He 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 reserved ? 
 For beasts it seems; yet that one beast, which first 
 Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy 770 
 The good befall ep 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, 
 
BOOK IX. 303 
 
 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 . 780 
 Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat. 
 Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat, 
 Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, 
 That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk 
 The guilty Serpent; and well might, for Eve, 
 Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else 
 Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, p 
 In fruit she never tasted; whether true 
 Or fancied so, through expectation high 
 Of knowledge; nor was Godhead from her 
 
 thought. 
 Greedily shj^ ingorged without restraint, 791 
 
 And knew not eating death. Satiate at length, 
 And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, 
 Thus to herself she pleasingly began: 
 
 "O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees 
 In Paradise! of operation blest 
 To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed, 
 And \h.y fair fruit let hang, as to no end 
 Created ! but henceforth my earl}^ care, 
 Not without song, each morning, and due 
 praise, 800 
 
 Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease 
 Of thy full branches, offered free to all; 
 
304 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature 
 
 In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things 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 remained 
 
 In ignorance; thou openest Wisdom's way. 
 
 And givest access, though secret she retire. Cio 
 
 And I perhaps am secret. Heaven is high, 
 
 High, and remote to see from thence distinct 
 
 Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps 
 
 May have diverted from continual watch 
 
 Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies 
 
 About him. But to Adam in what sort 
 
 Shall I 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, 820 
 
 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 enjo3'ing, I extinct; 
 
 A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve, 830 
 
BOOK IX. 305 
 
 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 turned; 
 But first low reverence done, as to the Power 
 That dwelt within, whose presence had infused 
 Into the plant sciential sap, derived 
 From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, 
 Waiting desirous her return, had wove 
 Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn 84c 
 
 Her tresses, and her rural labors crown, 
 As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. 
 Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new 
 Solace in her return, so long delayed : 
 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 Ihey first parted. By the Tree 
 Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met, 
 Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand 850 
 A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, 
 New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. 
 To him she hasted; in her face Excuse 
 Came prologue, and apology to prompt, 
 Which, with bland words at will, she thus 
 addressed : 
 
 "Hast thou not wondered Adam, at my stay? 
 Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived 
 
3o6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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, 860 
 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; 
 And hath been tasted such. The Serpent wise, 
 Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, 
 Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become, 
 Not dead, as we are threatened, but thence- 
 forth 870 
 Endued with human voice and human sense, 
 Reasoning to admiration, and with me 
 Persuasively hath so prevailed, 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, unshared with thee, and odious soon. 880 
 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 
 
BOOK IX. 307 
 
 Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit." 
 
 Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told; 
 But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. 
 On the other side, A^am, soon as he heard 
 The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, 
 Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill 890 
 Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed. 
 From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve 
 Down dropped, 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 iu~whom excelled 
 Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, 
 Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! 
 How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, 900 
 Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote ! 
 Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress 
 The strict forbiddance, how to violate 
 The sacred fruit forbidden ! Some cursed fraud 
 Of enemy had beguiled thee, 3^et unknown, 
 And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee 
 Certain my resolution is to die. 
 How can I live without thee! how forgo 
 Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined/ 
 To live again in these wnld woods forlorn 1 910 
 Should God create another Eve, and I 
 Another rib afford, yet loss of thee 
 
3o8 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 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 disturbed, 
 Submitting to what seemed remxediless, 
 Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned: 920 
 
 "Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous 
 Eve, 
 And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared. — 
 Had it been ovXy 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, 
 Profaned first by the Serpent, by him first 930 
 Made common and unhallowed, ere our taste, 
 Nor yet on him found deadly; j^et he lives; 
 Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, 
 Higher degree 01 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 IX. 
 
 309 
 
 Us his pripie creatures, dignified so high, 940 
 
 Set over all his works, which, in our fall, 
 
 For us created, needs with us must fail, 
 
 Dependent made; so God shall uncreate. 
 
 Be frustrate, do, undo, and labor lose; 
 
 Not well conceived of God, who, though his power 
 
 Creation could repeat, yet would be loth 
 
 Us to abolish, lest thei'^ Adversary 
 
 Triumph and say: 'Fickle their state whom God 
 
 Most favors; who can please him long ? Me first 
 
 He ruined, now mankind; whom will he next?' 950 
 
 Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. — 
 
 However I with thee have fixedrmy lot. 
 
 Certain to undergo like doom; if death 
 
 Consort with thee, death is to me as life : 
 
 So forcible within my heart I feel 
 
 The bond of Nature draw me to my own ; 
 
 M}^ own in thee, for what thou art is mine. 
 
 Our state cannot be severed; we are one, 
 
 One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself" 
 
 So Adam, and thus Eve to him replied: 960 
 "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 gladl}^ of our union hear thee speak. 
 One heart, one soul in both; whereof good prooi' 
 
3IO PARADISE LOST. 
 
 This day affords, declaring thee resolved, 
 
 Rather than death, or aught than death more dread. 
 
 Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, 970 
 
 To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, 
 
 If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; 
 
 Whose virtue — for of good still good proceeds 
 
 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 menaced would ensue 
 
 This my attempt, I would sustain alone 
 
 The worst, and not pursuade thee, rather die 
 
 Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact 980 
 
 Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured 
 
 Remarkably so late of thy so true. 
 
 So faithful, love unequaled; but I feel 
 
 Far otherwise the event; not death, but life 
 
 Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, 
 
 Taste so divine, that what of sweet before 
 
 Hath touched 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 embraced hin^, and for joy' 990 
 Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love 
 Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur 
 Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. 
 In recompense — for such compliance bad 
 
BOOK IX. 311 
 
 Such recompense bCvSt merits — from the bough 
 She gave him of that fair enticing fruit 
 With liberal hand. He scrupled not to eat, 
 Against his better knowledge; not deceived, 
 But fondly overcome with female charm. 
 Earth trembled from her entrails, as again 1000 
 In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan; 
 Sky loured, 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 feared, jthe. more to soothe 
 Him with her loved society; that now. 
 As with new wine intoxicated both, 
 They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel 
 Divinity within them breeding wings, loio 
 
 Wherewith to scorn the earth. But that false fruit 
 Far other operation first displayed. 
 Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve 
 Began to cast lasc' ' ^as eyes; she him 
 As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn, 
 Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move: 
 
 '*Eve, nov/ I see thou are exact of taste 
 And elegant, of sapience no small part; 
 Since to each meaning savor we apply, 
 And palate call judicious. I the praise 1020 
 
 Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. 
 
312 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained 
 
 From this delightful fruit, nor known till now 
 
 True relish, tasting. If such pleasure be 
 
 In things to us forbidden, it might be wished 
 
 For this one tree had been forbidden ten. 
 
 But come, so well refreshed, now let us play. 
 
 As meet is, after such delicious fare; 
 
 For never did thy beauty, since the daj^ 
 
 I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned 103-0 
 
 With all perfections, so inflame \\\y sense 
 
 With ardor 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 Bve, whose eye darted contagious fire. 
 Her hand he seized, and to a shady bank, 
 Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowered, 
 He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, 
 Pansies and violets, and asphodel, 1040 
 
 And hyacinth, earth's freshest softest lap. 
 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 
 Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play. 
 Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 
 That with exhilarating vapor bland 
 About their spirits had played, and inmost powers 
 Made err, was now exhaled, and grosser sleep, 
 
BOOK IX. 313 
 
 Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious 
 dreams 1050 
 
 Incumbered, now had left them, up they rose 
 As from unrest, and, each the other viewing, 
 Soon found their eyes how opened, and their 
 
 minds 
 How darkened. Innocence, that as a veil 
 Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; 
 Just confidence, and native righteousness. 
 And honor, from about them, naked left 
 To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe 
 Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, 
 Herculean Samson from the harlot-lap 1060 
 
 Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked 
 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 abashed, 
 At length gave utterahce to these words con- 
 strained: 
 "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 promised rising; since our eyes 107c 
 Opened 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 honor void, 
 
314 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of innocence, of faith, ofpuritj^ 
 
 Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, 
 
 And in our faces evident the signs 
 
 Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store, 
 
 Even shame, the last of evils; of the first 
 
 Be sure then. How shall I behold the face 1080 
 
 Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy 
 
 And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shape?^ 
 
 Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze 
 
 Insufferably bright. Oh, might I here 
 
 In solitude live savage, in some glade 
 
 Obscured, 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! — 1090 
 
 But let us now, as in bad plight, devise 
 
 What best may for the present serve to hide 
 
 The parts of each from other, that seem most 
 
 To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; 
 
 Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together 
 
 sewed, 
 And girded on our loins, may cover round 
 Those middle parts, that this newrcomer. Shame, 
 There sit not, and reproach us as unclean." 
 So counselled he, and both together went 
 Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose 1 100 
 The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned, 
 
BOOK IX. 315 
 
 But such as at this da)- , 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 pillared shade, 
 High overarched, and echoing walks between : 
 There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat 
 Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds, 
 At loopholes cut through thickest shade. Those 
 
 leaves ) 
 
 They gathered, broad as Amazouian targe; mi 
 And, with what skill they h^d^, together sewed. 
 To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide 
 Their guilt and dreaded shamel Oh how unlike 
 To that first naked glory ! Such of late 
 Columbus found the American, so girt 
 With feathered cincture, naked else and wild. 
 Among the trees on isles and woody shores. 
 Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame 
 
 in part 
 Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, 1 120 
 They sat them down to weep; nor only tears 
 Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within 
 Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate. 
 Mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore 
 Their inward state of mind, calm region once 
 And full of peace, now tost and turbulent : 
 For Understanding ruled not, and the Will 
 
t,i6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Heard not her lore, both in subjection now 
 To sensual Appetite, who from beneath 
 Usurping-over sovran Reason claimed 1130 
 
 Superior sway. Fr'om thus distempered breast, 
 Adam, estranged in look and altered style, 
 Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed : 
 
 "Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and 
 stayed 
 With me, as I besought thee, when that strange 
 Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, 
 I know not whence possessed thee; we had then 
 Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled 
 Of all our good, shamed, naked, miserable! 
 Let none henceforth seek needless cause to ap- 
 prove 
 The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek 1 141 
 Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail." 
 To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, 
 thus Eve: 
 "What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe? 
 Imputest thou that to my default, or will 
 Of wandering, as thoucallestit, which who knows 
 But might as ill have happened thou being by, 
 Or to thyself perhaps ? Hadst thou been there, 
 Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have 
 
 discerned 
 PVaud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; 1 150 
 No ground of enmity between us known, 
 
BOOK IX. 317 
 
 Why 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, wh}^ didst not thouj the head, 
 Command me absolutely not to go ? 
 Going into such danger, as then saidst. 
 Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay, 
 Sa}^, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 
 Hadst thou been firm and fixed in tl^y dissent, i i6c 
 Neither had I transgressed, nor thdu with me." 
 To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied: 
 "Is this the love ? is this the recompense 
 Of mine to thee, in grateful Bve, expressed 
 Immutable when thou wert lost, not I ? 
 Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss, 
 Yet willingly chose rather death with thee. 
 And am I now upbraided as the cause 
 Of thy transgressing ? not enough severe. 
 It seems, in thy restraint. What could I more? 1 17a 
 I warned thee, I admonished jthee, foretold 
 The danger, and the lurking enemy 
 That lay in wait; beyond this had been force, 
 And force upon free will hath here no place. 
 But confidence then bore thee on, vsecure 
 Hither to meet no danger, or to find 
 Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps 
 I also erred, in overmuch admiring 
 What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought 
 
3i8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue 1180 
 
 That error now, which is become my crime, 
 Aud 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 appeared xm ^sd. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK X. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Man's transgression know, the g"iiardian Angels ior* 
 sake Paradise, and return up to HeaVen to approve 
 their vigilance, and are approved; God /declaring that 
 the entrance of ISatan could not be by thein prevented. 
 He sends his Son to judge the transgressors, who de- 
 scends and gives sentence accordingly: then in pity 
 clothes them both, and reascends. yin and Death 
 sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous 
 sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this nev/ 
 world, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve 
 to sit no long'er confined in Hell, but to follow Satan 
 their sire up to the place of Man: to make the way 
 easier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a 
 broad high-way or bridg'e over Chaos, according* to the 
 track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, 
 they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell; 
 their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pande- 
 monium, in full assembly relates with boasting his 
 success against Man; instead of applause is enter- 
 tained with a general hiss by all his audience, trans- 
 formed with himself also suddenly into serpents, 
 according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded 
 with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before 
 them, they, g'reedily reaching- to take of the fruit, 
 chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin 
 and Death; God fortels the final victory of his Son 
 over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the 
 present commands his Angels to make several altera- 
 
320 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 tions in the heavens and elements. Adam more and 
 more perceiving- his fallen condition heavily bewails, 
 rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at 
 length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely 
 to fall on their offspring, proposes to adopt violent 
 ways, which he approves not; but con3eiving better 
 hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, 
 that her seed should be revenged on the Serpent, and 
 exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended 
 Deity, by repentance and supplication. 
 
 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, 
 
 Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind 
 
 Of Man, with strength entire, and free-will armed 
 
 Complete to have discovered and repulsed lo 
 
 Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. 
 
 For still they knew, and ought to have still 
 
 remembered 
 The high injunction not to taste that fruit, 
 Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, 
 Incurred— what could they less?— the penalty; 
 And, manifold in sin, deserved 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. 
 
BOOK X. 321 
 
 Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had 
 stolen 20 
 
 Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news 
 From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased 
 All were who heard; dim sadness did not sj^are 
 That time celestial visages, yet, mixed 
 With pity, violated not their bliss. 
 About the new-arrived in multitudes 
 The ethereal people ran, to hear and know 
 How all befell. They toward the throne supreme, 
 Accountable, made haste to make appear 
 With righteous plea their utmost vigilance, 30 
 And easily approved; when the Most High 
 Eternal Father, from his secret cloud 
 Amidst, in thunder uttered thus his voice: 
 
 "Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned 
 From unsuccessful charge, be not dismayed, 
 Nor troubled at these tidings from the Earth, 
 Which youf sincerest care could not prevent; 
 Foretold so lateh^ what would come to pass, 
 When first this Tempter crossed the gulf from 
 
 Hell. 
 I told 3-e then he should prevail, and speed 40 
 On his bad errand; Man should be seduced 
 And flattered out of all, believing lies 
 Against his Maker, no decree of mine 
 Concurring to necessitate his fall, 
 Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 
 
322 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 His free-will, to her own inclining left 
 In even scale. But fallen lie is; and now 
 What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass 
 On his transgression, death denounced that day ? 
 Which he persumes already vain and void, 50 
 Because not yet inflicted, as he feared. 
 By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find 
 Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end: 
 Justice shall not return, as Bounty, scorned. 
 But whom send I to judge them ? whom but thee, 
 Vicegerent Son ? To thee I have transferred 
 All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or 
 
 Hell. 
 Easj^ it may be seen that I intend 
 Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee 
 Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed 60 
 
 Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, 
 And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen," 
 
 So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright 
 Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son 
 Blazed forth unclouded deity: he full 
 Resplendent all his Father manifest 
 Express, and thus divinely* answered mild: 
 
 "Father Eternal, thine is to decree; 
 Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will 
 Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, 70 
 Ma^^est ever rest well pleased. I go to judge 
 On Earth these transgressors; but thou knowc't. 
 
BOOK X. 323 
 
 Whoever judged, the worst on me must 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 derived; yet I shall temper so 
 Justicewith mercy, as may illustrate most 
 Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. 
 Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 
 Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, 81 
 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 90 
 Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes 
 winged. 
 
 Now was the sun in western cadence low 
 From noon, and gentle airs, due at tlieir hour, 
 To fan the earth now waked, and uslu r in 
 The evening ccTol, when he from wrath more coc! 
 Came, the mild judge and iiite'cessor ]) ith, 
 To sentence Man. The voice cf GlkI ;liey heard, 
 
324 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Brought to their ears, while day declined; they 
 
 heard, 
 And from his presence hid themselves, among- loc 
 The thickest trees, both man and wife, till God 
 Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud: 
 
 "Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet 
 My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, 
 Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, 
 Where obvious dutv erewhile appeared, unsought 
 Or come I less conspicuously? or what change 
 Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come 
 
 forth." 
 He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though 
 
 first 
 To offend, discountenanced both, and discomposed. 
 I/)ve was not in their looks, either to God iii 
 Or to teach other, but apparent guiU, 
 And shame, and perturbation, and despair, 
 Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. 
 Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered 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 ha^t heard, and hast not feared, 
 But still rejoiced; how is it now become 120 
 
 So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked who 
 Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree. 
 Whereof 1 gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?" 
 
BOOK X, 325 
 
 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 1,-^0 
 By my complaint. But strict necessity 
 Subdues me, and calamitous constraint, 
 Lest on m^^ head both sin and punishment, 
 However insupportable, be all 
 Devolved; though should T hold my peace,yetthou 
 Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. 
 This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, 
 And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, 
 So fit, so acceptable, so divine, 
 That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 14c 
 And what she did, whatever in itself, 
 Her doing seemed to justify the deed — 
 She gave me of the tree, and I did eat." 
 
 To whom the sovran 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 excelled 150 
 Her^ in real dignity? Adorned 
 
326 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 She was indeed, and lovely, to attract 
 Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts 
 Were such as under government well seemeu; 
 Unseemly to bear rule, which was thy part 
 And person, hadst thou known thyself aright." 
 
 So having said, he thus to Eve in few: 
 "Saj^, Woman, what is this which thou hast done?" 
 
 To who sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, 
 Confessing soon, 3'et not before her Judge 160 
 Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied: 
 "The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat." 
 
 Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 
 To'judgment he proceeded on the accused 
 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 accursed, 
 As vitiated in nature. Mere to know 
 Concerned not Man-^since he no farther knew— 
 Nor altered his offence. Yet God at last 171 
 To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied, 
 Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best; 
 And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall: 
 
 ''Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed 
 -vbove 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 
 
BOOK X. 327 
 
 Enmity, and between thine and her seed; 180 
 
 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. 
 Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed 
 In open shew, and, with ascension bright, 
 Captivity led captive through the air, 
 The realm itself of Satan, long usurped. 
 Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; 190 
 Even he who now foretold his fatal bruise. 
 And to the Woman thus his sentence turned: 
 
 "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 pronounced: 
 "Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of th-' 
 
 wife. 
 And eaten of the tree, concerning which 199 
 
 I charged thee, saying, Tho2i shalt not eat thereof y 
 Cursed is the ground for th}' sake; thou in sorrow 
 Shalt eat thereof all the da3's 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 then c: t r-read, 
 
326 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Till thou returu unto the ground; for thou 
 Out of the ground was taken, know thy birth, 
 For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return." 
 
 So judged he Man, both Judge and Savior sent, 
 And the instant stroke of death, denounced that 
 
 day, 
 Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood 2 1 1 
 Before him naked to the air, that now 
 Must suffer change, disdained not to begin 
 Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; 
 As when he washed his servants' feet, 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 22O 
 Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more 
 Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness 
 Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. 
 To him with swift ascent he up returned, 
 Into his blissful bosom reassumed 
 In glory, as of old; to him appeased 
 All, though all-knowing, what had passed with 
 
 Man 
 Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 
 
 Meanwhile, ere thus was sinned and judge 
 
 on Earth, 
 Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death 230 
 
BOOK X. 32V 
 
 In counterview, within the gates, that now 
 Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame 
 Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed 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 returned, with fury driven 240 
 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; w^hatever 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; 25a 
 
 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 miae 
 Not unagreeable — to found a path, 
 Over this main, from Hell to that new World, 
 Where Satan now prevails; a monument 
 
330 PARADISE I OST. 
 
 Of merit high to all the infernal host, 
 lEasing their passage hence, for intercourse 260 
 'Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. 
 -Kor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn 
 By this new-felt attraction and instinct." 
 
 Whom thus the meagre shadow answered soon: 
 ■**Go whither Fate and inclination strong 
 Xead thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err 
 "The way, thou leading; such a sent I draw 
 'Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste 
 "The savor of death from all things there that 
 
 live. 
 ."Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest 270 
 'B^ wanting, but afford thee equal aid." . 
 
 So saying, with delight he snuifed the smell 
 Of mortal change on earth. As w^hen a flock 
 Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, 
 Against the day of battle, to a field, 
 "Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured 
 With sent of living carcases designed 
 For death, the following daj^ in bloody fight: 
 •So sented the grim Feature, and upturned 
 His nostril wide into tlie murky air, 280 
 
 Sagacious of his quarry from so far. 
 Then both, from out Hell -gates, into the waste 
 "Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, 
 Flew diverse; and with power — their power was 
 great — 
 
BOOKX. 33U 
 
 Hovering upon the waters, what they met 
 Solid or slimy, as in raging sea 
 Tost up and down, together cro\Vded drove. 
 From each side shoaling, toward the mouth of hell; 
 — As when two polar winds, blowing adverse 
 Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 290 
 
 Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined wa;^ 
 Beyond Petsora eastward to the rich 
 Cathaian coast. — The aggregated soil 
 Death with his mace petrific, cold and dr}^. 
 As with a trident smote, and fixed as firm 
 As Delos, floating once; the rest his look 
 Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move, 
 And with asphaltic slime. Broad as the gate. 
 Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach 
 They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on. 
 Over the foaming Deep high arched, abridge 301 
 Of length prodigious, joining to the wall 
 Immovable 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 compared, 
 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 joined; 310 
 And scourged with man}' a stroke the indignant 
 waves. 
 
332 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Now had they brought the work by wondrous art 
 Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock, 
 Over the vexed Abyss, following the track 
 Of Satan, to the selfsame 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 32c 
 
 The confines met of empyrean Heaven 
 And of this World, and on the left hand Hell, 
 With long reach interposed; three several ways, 
 In sight, to each of these three places led. 
 And now their way to Earth they had descried, 
 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! 
 Disguised he came; but those his children 
 dear 33^ 
 
 Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. — - 
 He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk 
 Into the wood fast by, and, changing shape 
 To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act 
 By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded 
 Upon her husband, saw their shame that sought 
 Vain covertures; but when he saw descend 
 The Son of God to judge them, terrified 
 
BOOKX. , 3 
 
 He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun 
 The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath 340 
 Might suddenly inflict. That past, returned 
 By night, and, listening where the hapless pair 
 Sat in their sad discourse and various plaint, 
 Thence gathered his own doom, which understood. 
 Not instant, but of future time, with joy 
 And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned; 
 And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot 
 Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhoped 
 Met who to meet him came, his ofispring dear. 
 Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight 350 
 Of that stupendous bridge his joy increased. 
 Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair 
 Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke : 
 
 *'0 parent, these are thy magnific deeds, 
 Thy trophies! which thou viewestasnot thine own; 
 Thou art their author and prime architect. 
 For I no sooner in my heart divined, 
 My heart, which by a secret harmony 
 Still moves with thine, joined in connection sweet. 
 That thou on Earth hadst prospered, which thy 
 
 looks 
 Now also evidence, but straight I felt 361 
 
 Though distant from thee, worlds between, yet 
 
 felt 
 That I must after thee with this thy son; 
 Such fatal consequence unites us three ! 
 
334 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, 
 Nor this unv05^ageable gulf obscure 
 Detain from following thy illustrious track. 
 Thou hast achieved our libert}^ confined 
 Within Hell-gates till now, thou us impowered 
 To fortify thus far, and overlay 370 
 
 With this portentous bridge the dark Ab5^ss. 
 Thine now is all this World; thy virtue hath won 
 What thy hands builded not, th}^ wisdom gained 
 With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged 
 Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch 
 
 reign, 
 There didst not. There let him still victor sway. 
 As battle hath adjudged, from this new World 
 Retiring, by his own doom alienated. 
 And henceforth monarchy with thee divide 
 Of all thnigs, parted by theemp3^Feal bounds, 380 
 His quadrature, from thy orbicular World; 
 Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne." 
 Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answered 
 
 glad: 
 Fair daughter, and thou, son and grandchild 
 
 both, 
 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, 
 
BOOK X. 335 
 
 Triumphal witli triumphal act, have met 390 
 Mine with this glorious work, and made one realm 
 Hell and this World, one realm, one continent 
 Of easy thoroughfare. Therefore while I 
 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, 40c 
 
 Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; 
 Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. 
 My substitutes I send ye, and create 
 Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might 
 Issuing from me. On your joint vigor now 
 My hold of this new kingdom all depends, 
 Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. 
 If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell 
 No detriment need fear; go, and be strong!" 
 So saying he dismissed them: thej^ with 
 
 speed 410 
 
 Their course through thickest constellations held, 
 Spreading their bane — the blasted stars looked 
 
 wan, 
 And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse 
 Then suffered — The other wav Satan went down 
 
336 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 The causey to Hell-gate. On either side 
 
 Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, 
 
 And with rebounding surge the bars assailed 
 
 That scorned his indignation. Through the gate, 
 
 Wide-open and unguarded, Satan passed, 
 
 And all about found desolate; for those 420 
 
 Appointed to sit there had left their charge, 
 
 Flown to the upper World; the rest were all 
 
 Far to the inland retired, about the walls 
 
 Of Pandemonium, cit}^ and proud seat 
 
 Of Lucifer, so by allusion called 
 
 Of that bright star to Satan paragoned. 
 
 There kept their watch the legions, while tbe 
 
 Grand 
 In council sat, solicitous what chance 
 Might intercept their emperor sent; so he 
 Departing gave command, and thc}^ observed. 43c* 
 As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, 
 By Astracan, over the snowy plains. 
 Retires; or Bactrian Soplii, from the horns 
 Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond 
 The realm af Aladule, in his retreat 
 To Tauris or Casbeen: so these, the late 
 Heaven-banished host, left desert utmost Hell 
 Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch 
 Round their metropolis, and now expecting 
 Each hour their great adventurer from the 
 
 search 440 
 
BOOK X, i2>'I 
 
 Of) foreign worlds. He through the midst un- 
 marked, 
 In shew plebeian Angel militant 
 Of lowest order, passed; 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 placed in regal lustre. Down awhile 
 He sat, and round about him saw unseen. 
 At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head 
 And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter, 
 clad 450 
 
 With what permissive glory since his fall 
 Was left him, or false glitter. All amazed 
 At that so sudden blaze, the Stygian throng 
 Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, 
 Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim. 
 Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, 
 Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy 
 Congratulant approached him, who with hand 
 Silence, and with these words attention, won: 
 "Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues. 
 Powers! 460 
 
 For in possession such, not only of right, 
 I call ye, and declare ye now, returned. 
 Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth 
 Triumphant out of this infernal pit,^ 
 Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, 
 
338 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And dungeon of our t^^ant — now possess, 
 As lords, a spacious world, to our native Heavet 
 I^ittle inferior, by my adventure hard 
 With peril great achieved. Long were to tell 
 What I have done, what suffered, wnth what 
 pain 470 
 
 Voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded Deep 
 Of horrible confusion, over which 
 By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved. 
 To expedite your glorious march; but I 
 Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride 
 The untractable Abyss, plunged in the womb 
 Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild, 
 That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed 
 My journey strange, with clamorous uproar. 
 Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found 480 
 The new-created World, which fame in Heaven 
 Long had foretold, a fabric wonderful, 
 Of absolute perfection; therein Man 
 Placed in a paradise, by our exile 
 Made happy. Him by fraud I have seduced 
 From his Creator, and, the more to increase 
 Your wonder, with an apple! He thereat 
 Offended — worth 3^our laughter— hath given up 
 Both his beloved Man and all his World 
 To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, 490 
 
 Without our hazard, labor or alarm, 
 Vo rau^c iu, 'ind to dwell, and over Mar 
 
BOOK X. 
 
 ;39 
 
 To rule, as over all he should have ruled. 
 True is, me also he hath judged, or rather 
 Me not, but the brute serpent, in whose shape 
 Man I deceived. That which to me belongs, 
 Is enmity, which he will put between 
 Me and mankind: I am to bruise his heel; 
 His seed — when is not set— shall bruise my head. 
 A world who would not purchase with a 
 bruise, 500 
 
 Or much more grievous pain ? Ye have the account 
 Of my performance. What remains, ye Gods, 
 But up, and enter now into full bliss?" 
 
 So having said, awhile he stood, expecting 
 Their universal shout 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 wondered, but not long 
 Had leisure, wondering at himself now more. 510 
 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 ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, 
 According to his doom. He would have spoke, 
 But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue 
 To forked tongue; for now were all transformed 
 
2AO PA J^ AD IS E LOST. 
 
 Alike to serpents, all as accessories 520 
 
 To his bold riot. iJreadful was the din 
 
 Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now 
 
 With complicated monsters, head and tail, 
 
 Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, 
 
 Cerastes horned, Hydrus and EUops drear 
 
 And Dipsas — not so thick sw^armed 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 Sun 
 
 Ingendered in the P3'thian vale on slime, 530 
 
 Huge Python; and his power no less he seemed 
 
 Above the rest still to retain. They all 
 
 Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, 
 
 Where all yet left of that revolted rout. 
 
 Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array, 
 
 Sublime with expectation when to see 
 
 In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief; 
 
 They saw, but other sight instead ! a crowd 
 
 Of ugly serpents. Horror on them fell, 
 
 And horrid sympathy; for what they saw 540 
 
 They felt themselves now changing. Down their 
 
 arms, 
 Down fell both spear and shield, down they as fast, 
 And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form 
 Catched by contagion, like in punishment. 
 As in their crime. Thus was the applause they 
 
 meant 
 
book: X. 341 
 
 Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame, 
 Cast on themselves from their own mouths. — 
 
 There stood 
 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 550 
 Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Kve 
 Used by the Tempter. On that prospect strange 
 Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining 
 For one forbidden tree a multitude 
 Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; 
 Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce. 
 Though to delude them sent, could not abstain ; 
 But on they rolled in heaps, and up the trees 
 Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks 
 That curled Megaera. Greedily they plucked 560 
 The fruitage, fair to sight, like that which grew 
 Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; 
 This, more delusive, not the touch, but taste 
 Deceived. They, fondly thinking to allay 
 Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit 
 Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste 
 With spattering noise rejected. Oft they assayed, 
 Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, 
 With hatefulest disrelish, writhed their jaws 
 With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell 570 
 Into the same illusion, not as Man 
 
342 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were 
 
 they plagued; 
 And, worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, 
 Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; 
 Yearly enjo5^ed, some vSay, to undergo 
 This annual humbling, certain numbered days, 
 To dash their pride and joy for man seduced. 
 However, some tradition they dispersed 
 Among the Heathen of their purchase got. 
 And fabled how the Serpent,whom they called 580 
 Opliion with Hurynome — the wide 
 Encroaching Eve perhaps — had first the rule 
 Of high Olympus, thence by S'aturn driven 
 And Ops, ere 3^et Dictaean Jove was born. 
 Meanwhile m Paradise the hellish pair 
 Too vsoon arrived; Sin, there in power before, 
 Once actual, now in bod}^ and to dwell 
 Habitual habitant; behind her Death, 
 Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet 
 On his pale horse; to whom Sin thus began: 590 
 ' 'Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death! 
 What thinkest thou of our empire now, though 
 
 earned 
 With travail difficult ? Not better far 
 Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat 
 
 watch 
 Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half-starved?" 
 
BOOK X 343 
 
 Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered 
 
 soon : 
 *'To me, who with eternal famine pine, 
 Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven; 
 There best, where most with ravin I may meet; 
 Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems 
 To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corpse." 
 To whom the incestuous mother thus re. 
 
 plied:' ' 602 
 
 *-Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and 
 
 flowers 
 Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl — 
 No hrmely morsels — and, whatever thing 
 The scythe of Time^mows down, devour unspared; 
 Till I, in Man residing, through the race. 
 His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect, 
 And season him thy last and sweetest prey. " 
 
 This said, they both betook them several ways, 
 Both to destroy, or unimmortal make 611 
 
 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 uttered thus his voice : 
 "See with what heat these dogs of Hell ad' 
 
 vance 
 To waste and havoc yonder World, which I 
 So fair and good created, and had still 
 Kept in that vState, had not the folly of Man 
 
344 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Let in these wasteful furies, who impute 620 
 
 Folly to me — so doth the Prince of Hel! 
 
 And his adherents — that with so much ease 
 
 I suffer them to enter and possess 
 
 k. 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 called and drew them thither, 
 
 My hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth 630 
 
 Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed 
 
 On what was pure; till, crammed and gorged. 
 
 nigh burst, ' 
 
 With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling 
 Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, 
 Both Sin and Death, and yawning Grave at last, 
 Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell 
 For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. 
 Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made 
 
 pure 
 To sanctity that shall receive no stain. 
 Till then the curse pronounced on both precedes." 
 He ended, and the heavenly audience loud 641 
 Sung Hallelujah, as the sound of seas, 
 Through multitude that sung: — "Just are thy 
 
 ways. 
 Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works; 
 
 / 
 
BOOK X. 345 
 
 Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son, 
 Destined restorer of mankind, by whom 
 New heaven and earth shall to the ages rise, 
 Or down from Heaven descend." — Such was 
 
 their song; 
 While the Creator, calling forth by name 
 His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, 650 
 As sorted best with present things. The sun 
 Had first his precept so to move, so shine, 
 As might affect the earth with cold and heat 
 Scarce tolerable, and from the north to call 
 Decrepit winter, from the south to bring 
 Solstitial summer's heat; to the blanc moon 
 Her office J;he3^ prescribed; to the other five 
 Their planetary motions and aspects. 
 In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite 
 Of noxious efficacy, and when to join 660 
 
 Insjaiod unbenign; and taught the fixed 
 Their influence malignant when to shower, 
 Which of them, rising with the sun or falling, 
 Should prove tempestuous: to the winds they set 
 Their corners, when with bluster to confound 
 Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll 
 With terror through the dark aerial hall. 
 Some say, he bid his Angels turn askance 
 The poles of earth twice ten degrees and more 
 From the sun's axle; the^^ with labor pushed 67c 
 Oblique the centric globe: some saj^, the sun. 
 
346 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 vSpring 
 Perpetual smiled on Earth with vernant flowers, 
 Equal in days and nights, except to those 680 
 Beyond the polar circles; to them day 
 Had unbenighted shone, wliile the low^ sun, 
 To recompense his distance, in their sig*ht 
 Had rounded still the horizon, and not known 
 Or east or west; which had forbid the snow 
 From cold. Estotil and, and south as far 
 Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit 
 The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned 
 His-cour.se intended; el.se how had the world 
 Inhabited, though sinless, more than now 69O 
 Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? 
 
 These changes in the heavens, though slow, 
 produced 
 Like change on sea and land, sideral blast, 
 Vapor, and mist, and exhalation hot, 
 Corrupt and pestilent. Now from the north 
 Of Norumbtga, and the Samoed shore, 
 Bursting their brazen dungei n, armed with ice, 
 And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, 
 
BOOK X. 347 
 
 Boreas, and Csecias, and Argestes loud, 
 
 And Thrascias rend the woods and seas 
 
 upturn; 700 
 
 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 introduced, through fierce antipathy. 
 'Beast now with beast gan war, and fowl with fowl, 
 And fish with fish; to graze the herb all 
 
 leaving 711 
 
 Devoured each other; nor stood much in aw-e 
 Of Man, but fled him, or with countenance grim 
 Glared on him passing. These were from without 
 The growing miseries, which Adam saw 
 Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, 
 To sorrow^ abandoned, but wor^e felt within, " 
 And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, 
 Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint: 
 
 '*0 miserable of happy! is this the end 720 
 Of this new glorious World ? and me so late 
 The glory of that glory ? who now, become 
 Accursed of blessed, hide me from the face 
 Of God, whom to behold was then my highth 
 
348 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of happiness. Yet well, if here would end 
 
 The misery; I deserved it, and would bear 
 
 My owi deservings. But this will not serve; 
 
 All that 1 eat and drink, or shall beget, 
 
 Is 'propagated curse. O voice once heard 
 
 Delightfully, Encrease a7id multiply , 73c 
 
 Now death to hear! for what can I encrease 
 
 Or multiply, but curses on my head? 
 
 Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling 
 
 The evil on him brought by me, will curse 
 
 My head ? Ill fare our ancestor impure 
 
 For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks 
 
 Shall be the execration. So, besides 
 
 Mine own that bide upon me, all from me 
 
 Shall with a fierce reflux on me redound; 
 
 On me, as on their natural centre, light, 74^ 
 
 Heavy though in their place O fleeting joys 
 
 Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woe ! 
 
 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 niy will 
 
 Concurred not to my being, it were but right 
 
 And equal to reduce me to my dust, 
 
 Desirous to resign and render back 
 
 All I received, unable to perform 750 
 
 Thy terms too hard, b}^ which I was to hold 
 
 The good I sought not. To the loss of that. 
 
BOOK X. ^49 
 
 Sufficient 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 refused 
 
 Those terms whatever, when they were proposed. 
 
 Thou didst accept them: wilt thou enjoy the good, 
 
 Then cavil the condition ? And, though God 
 
 Made thee without thy leave, what if thy son 760 
 
 Prove disobedient, and reproved retort: 
 
 Wherefore didst thou beget me f I sought it not ! 
 
 Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee 
 
 That proud excuse ? yet him not thy election. 
 
 But natural necessity, begot. 
 
 God made thee of choice his own, and of his own 
 
 To serve him; thy reward was of his grace, 
 
 Thy punishment then justly is at his will. 
 
 Be it so, for I submit; his doom is fair, 
 
 That dust I am, and shall to dust return. 770 
 
 welcome hour whenever ! Why delays 
 
 His hand to execute what his decree 
 
 Fixed on this day ? Why do I overlive ? 
 
 Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out 
 
 To deathless pain ? How gladl}^ would I meet 
 
 Mortality, my sentence, and be 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 780 
 
^5o PARADISE LOST, 
 
 To me and to my ofFspring would torment m« 
 With 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 inspired, 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 wh}^ ? it was but breath 
 Of life that sii-ned. What dies but what had 
 life 79a 
 
 And sin ? the body properly hath neither. 
 All of me then shall die. Let this appease 
 The doubt, since human reach no farther knows. 
 For though the Lord of all be infinite, 
 Is his wrath also ? Be it, Man is not so, ' 
 
 But mortal doomed. How can he exercise 
 Wrath v/ithout end on Man, whom deatli must end? 
 Can he make deathless death ? That were to make 
 Strange contradiction, which to God himself 
 Impossible is held, as argument 80c 
 
 Oi weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, 
 For anger's sake, finite to infinite 
 In punished Man, to satisfy his rigor 
 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. 
 
BOOK X. 351 
 
 Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say- 
 That death be not one stroke, as I supposed. 
 Bereaving sense, but endless misery 810 
 
 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 revolutioH 
 On my defenceless head. Both Death and I 
 Am found eternal, and incorporate both; 
 Nor I on my part single; in me all 
 Posterity stands cursed. Fair patrimony 
 That I must leave ye, sons ! Oh, were I able 
 To waste it all myself, and leave ye none ! 820 
 So disinherited, how would 5'e bless 
 Me, now you curse ! Ah, why should all mankind 
 For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned?- 
 If guiltless; but from me what can proceed 
 But all corrupt, both mind and will depraved 
 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. 
 Forced I absolve; all my evasions vain. 
 And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me 
 
 still 
 But to ni}' own conviction: first and last 831 
 
 On me, me only, as the source and f>pring 
 Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; 
 
352 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 So might the wrath ! Fond wish ! couldst thou 
 
 support 
 That burden, heavier than the Earth to bear; 
 Than all the World much heavier, though divided 
 With that bad Woman ? Thus, what thou desirest, 
 And what thou fearest, alike destro3'S all hope 
 Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable, 
 Beyond all past example and future; 840 
 
 To Satan only like, both crime and doom. 
 
 Conscience, into what ab3'SS of fears 
 
 And horrors hast thou driven me ! out of which 
 
 1 find no wa}^, from deep to deeper plunged." 
 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 85a 
 
 Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground, and oft 
 
 Cursed his creation. Death as oft accused 
 
 Of tardy execution, since denounced 
 
 The day of his offence. ' '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! 
 
BOOK X. 353 
 
 With other echo late I taught 3^our sh£.des 86 1 
 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 assayed; 
 But her with stern regard he thus repelled: 
 
 "Out of my sight, thou serpent ! that name best 
 Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false 
 And hateful. Nothing wants, but that thy shape 
 Like his, and color serpentine, may shew 870 
 Thy inward fraud, to warn all creatures from thee 
 Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pre- 
 tended 
 To hellish falsehood, snare them. But for thee 
 I had persisted happ3^; had not thy pride 
 And wandering vanity, when least was safe. 
 Rejected my forewarning, and disdained 
 Not to be trusted; longin-g to be seen, 
 Though by the Devil himself; him overweening 
 To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting. 
 Fooled and beguiled, by him thou, I by thee, 880 
 To trust thee from my side; imagined wdse, 
 Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; 
 And understood not all was but a shew. 
 Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib 
 Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, 
 More to the part sinister, from me drawn: 
 Well if thrown out, as supernumerary 
 
354 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 To my just number found: Oh, why did God, 
 Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven 
 With Spirits masculine, create at last ^i^ 
 
 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 wa}^ to generate 
 Mankind? This mischief had not then befallen, 
 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; 900 
 Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain, 
 Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained 
 By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld 
 By parents; or his happiest choice too late 
 Shall meet; already linked 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 turned; but Eve, 
 Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing, 
 And tresses all disordered at his feet 91 t 
 
 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 
 
BOOK X. 355 
 
 I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, 
 
 Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant 
 
 I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, 
 
 Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, 
 
 Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress 920 
 
 My only strength 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 rejoining^ 
 
 As joined in injuries, one enmity 
 
 Against a foe by doom express assigned us. 
 
 That cruel Serpent. On me exercise not 
 
 Thy hatred for this misery befallen, 
 
 On me already lost, me th4n thyself 
 
 More miserable. Both have sinned, but thou 930 
 
 Against God only, I against God and thee; 
 
 And to the place of judgement will return, 
 
 There with my cries importune Heaven, that all 
 
 The sentence, from thy head removed, 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 lowl}^ plight, 
 Immovable till peace obtained from fault 
 Acknowledged and deplored, to Adam wrought 
 Commiseration, Soon his heart relented 940 
 
 Toward her, his life so late and sole delight, 
 Now at his feet submissive in distress; 
 Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, 
 
356 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid. 
 
 As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, 
 
 And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon: 
 
 "Unwary, and too desirous, as before 
 So now, of what thou knowest not, who desirest 
 The punishment all on thyself. Alas! 
 Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain 950 
 
 His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part, 
 And ni3^ displeasure bearest 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 : 
 Th}^ frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, 
 To me committed, and hy me exposed. 
 But rise; let us no more contend, nor blame 
 Kach other, blamed enough elsewhere, but strive. 
 In offices of love, how we may lighten 960 
 
 Kach other's burden, in our share of woe; 
 Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, 
 Will prove no vSudden, but a slow-paced evil, 
 A long day's dying, to augment our pain, 
 And to our seed — O hapless seed! —derived." 
 
 To whom thus Eve, reco veering heart, replied: 
 "Adam, by sad experiment I know 
 How little weight my words with thee can find, 
 Found so erroneous; thence by just event 
 Found so unfortunate. Nevertheless, 970 
 
 Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place 
 
BOOKX. 357 
 
 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, devoured 980 
 
 By Death at last — and miserable it is 
 
 To be to others cause of misery. 
 
 Our own begotten, and of our loins to ])ring 
 
 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 
 
 The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. 
 
 Childless thou art, childless remain; so Death 
 
 Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two 990 
 
 Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. 
 
 But if thou judge it hard and difficult, 
 
 Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain 
 
 From love's due rights, nuptial eihbraces sweet, 
 
 And with desire to languish without hope.. 
 
 Before the present object languishing 
 
 With like desire, which would be misery 
 
 And torment less than none of what we dread; 
 
 Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free 
 
358 PAkADISE lost. 
 
 From what we fear for both, let usmakeshort. looo 
 Let us seek Death, or, he not found, supply 
 With our own hands his office on ourselves. 
 Why stand we longer shivering under fears, 
 That shew no end but death, and have the power, 
 Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, 
 Destruction with destruction to destroy?" 
 
 She ended here, or vehement despair 
 Broke off the rest; so much of death her thoughts 
 Had entertained as dyed her cheeks with pale. 
 But Adam,with such counsel nothing swayed, loio 
 To better hopes his more attentive mind 
 Laboring had raised, and thus to Eve replied: 
 
 "Kve, 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 sougflit refutes 
 That excellence thought in thee, and implies 
 Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret 
 For loss of life and pleasure overloved. 
 Or if thou covet death, as utmost end i o'^o 
 
 Of misery, so thinking to evade 
 The penalty pronounced, doubt not but God 
 Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire than so 
 To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, 
 So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain 
 We are by doom to pay; rather such acts 
 Of contumacy will provoke the Highest 
 
BOOK X. 359 
 
 To make death in us live. Then let us se.ek 
 Some safer resolution, which methinks 
 I have in view, calling to mind with heed 1030. 
 Part of our sentence, that th)^ seed shall bruise 
 The Serpent's head: piteous amends! unless 
 Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, 
 Satan, who in the serpent hath contrived 
 Against us this deceit. To crush his head 
 Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost 
 By death brought on ourselves, or childless days 
 Resolved as thoii proposest; so our foe 
 Shall scape his punishment ordained, and we 
 Instead shall double ours upon our heads. 104c- 
 No more be mentioned then of violence 
 Against ourselves, and wilful barrenness, 
 That cuts us off from hope, and savors 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 judged, 
 Without wTath 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, 105 1 
 And bringing forth, soon recompensed w^ith joy, 
 Fruit of thy womb; on me the curse aslope 
 Glanced on the ground. With labor I must earn 
 My bread; what harm ? Idleness had been worse. 
 
36o PARADISE L0S7. 
 
 My labor will sustain me; and, lest cold 
 Or heat should injure us, his timel}^ care 
 Hath unbesought provided, and his hands 
 Clothed us unworth}-, pitying while he judged. 
 How much more,if wepray hini,willhisear io6a 
 Be open, and his heart to pity incline, 
 And teach us further by what means to shun 
 The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow! 
 Which now the sk}^ Y\dth various face, begins 
 To shew us in this mountain, while the winds 
 Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks 
 Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek 
 vSome better shroud, some better v,armtli, to 
 
 cherish 
 Onr limbs benumbed, ere this diurnal star 
 Leave cold the night; how we his^gathered beams 
 Reflected may with matter sere foment, 1071 
 
 Or by collision of two bodies grind 
 The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds, 
 Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their 
 
 shock. 
 Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame 
 
 driven down 
 Kindles the gunnny 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, 
 
BOOK X. ^61 
 
 He will instruct us praying, and of grace 108 1 
 Beseeching him; so as we need not fear 
 To pass commodiously this life, sustained 
 By him with many comforts, till we end 
 In dust, our final rest and native home. 
 What better ca^ we do, than to the place 
 Repairing where he judged 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 1091 
 
 Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek ? 
 Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn 
 From his displeasure, in whose look, serene. 
 When angry most he seemed and most severe, 
 What else but favor, grace, and mercy .shone ?" 
 
 So spake our father penitent, nor Kve 
 Felt less remorse. They forthwith, to the place 
 Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell 
 Before him, reverent, and both confessed iioo 
 Humbly, their faults and pardon begged, with 
 
 tears * 
 
 Watering the ground, and with their sighs the 
 
 air 
 Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 
 Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK XI. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Son of God presents to his Father the praysrs 
 of our first parents now repenting-, and intercedes for 
 them. God accepts them, but declares that they must 
 no longer abide in Paradise: sends Michael with a 
 band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to 
 reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming- down. 
 Adam shews to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns 
 Michaers 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. 
 
 Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stood, 
 Praying; for from the mercy-seat above 
 Prevenient grace descending had removed 
 The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh 
 Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breathed 
 Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer 
 Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier 
 
 flight 
 Than loudest oratory. Yet their port 
 Not ot mean suitors, nor important less 
 
BOOK XL 363 
 
 Seemed their petition, than when the ancient 
 
 pair, 
 In fables old, less ancient j^et than these, 1 1 
 
 Deucalion and chaste Pyrrlia, to restore 
 The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine 
 Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their pra^^ers 
 Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious 'winds 
 Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed 
 Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad 
 With incense, where the golden altar fumed, 
 By their great Intercessor, came in sight 
 Before the Father's throne. Them the glad Son 
 Presenting thus to intercede began: 21 
 
 "See, Father, what first-fruits on Earth are 
 
 sprung 
 From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs 
 And prayers, which in this golden censor, mixed 
 With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; 
 Fruits of more pleasing savor, from thy seed 
 Sown with contrition in his heart, than those 
 Which, his own han^ manuring, all the trees 
 Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen 
 From innocence. Now therefore bend thine ear 30 
 To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; 
 Unskillful 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 
 
364 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 reconciled, at least his da3-s 
 Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom — 
 
 which I 
 To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse — 41 
 
 To better life shall yield him, where^with m*; 
 All my redeemed may dwell in joy and blis£, 
 Made one with me, as I with thee am one." 
 
 To whom the Father, without cloud, serene: 
 "Ail thy request for Man, accepted Son, 
 Obtain; all thy request was my decree. 
 But, longer ^1 that Paradise to dwell 
 The law I gave to Nature him forbids; 
 Those pure immortal elements, that know 50 
 No gross, no uiiharmonious mixture foul, 
 Eject him, tainted now, and purge him oflf. 
 As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, 
 And mortal food, as may dispose him best 
 For dissolution wrought by^in, that first 
 Distempered all things, and of incorrupt 
 Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts 
 Created him endowed, with happiness 
 And immortality; that fondly lost. 
 This other served but to eternize woe, 60 
 
 Till I provided death: so death becomes 
 His final remedy, and, after life 
 
BOOK XL 36s 
 
 Tried in sharp tribulation and refined 
 
 By faith and faithful works, to second life, 
 
 Waked in the renovation of the just. 
 
 Resigns him up with heaven and earth renewed.— 
 
 But let us call to synod all the Blest 
 
 Through Heaven's wide bounds; from them I will 
 
 not bide 
 M}'- judgments, how^with Mankind I proceed, 
 As how with peccant Angels late they saw, 70 
 And in their state, though firm, stood more con- 
 firmed." 
 
 He ended, and the Son gave signal high 
 To the bright minister that watched. He blew 
 His trumpet, heard in Oreb since^ perhaps 
 When God descended, and perhaps once more 
 To sound at general doom. The angelic blast 
 Filled all the regions. From their blissful bowers 
 Ofamarantine shade, fountain or spring, 
 B}" the waters of life, VN'here'er they sat 
 In fellow^ships of jo}^ the Sons of Light 80 
 
 Hasted, resorting to the summons high, 
 And took their seats, till from his throne supreme 
 The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will : 
 
 "O Sons, like one of us Man is become 
 To know both good and evil, since his taste 
 Of that defended fruit. But let him boast 
 His knowledge of good lost and evil got, 
 Happier, had it sufficed him to have known 
 
566 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Good by itself, and evil not"^at all. 
 
 His sorrows now, repents, and pra^^s contrite, 90 
 
 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, 100 
 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 hallowed ground the unholy, and denounce 
 To them and to their progeny from thence 
 Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint 
 At the sad sentence rigorously urged — 
 For I behold them softened, and with tears no 
 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 renewed. 
 
BOOK XL 367 
 
 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 120 
 Wide- waving, all approach far off to fright, 
 And guard all passage to the Tree of lyife; 
 Lest Paradise a receptacle prove 
 To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey, 
 With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude." 
 
 He ceased, and the archangelic Power prepared 
 For swift descent; with him the cohort bright 
 Of watchful Cherubim. Four faces each 
 Had, like a double Janus, all their shape 
 Spangled with eyes, more numerous than those 130 
 Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drowse, 
 Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed 
 Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Meanwhile, 
 To resolute the World with sacred light, 
 Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalmed 
 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 dispair, joy, but with fear yet linked; 
 Which thus to Eve his welcome words re- 
 newed : 140 
 
 "Eve, easily may faith admit that all 
 The good which we enjoy from Heaven descend. 
 
368 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 But that from lis aught should ascend to Heaven 
 So prevalent as to concern the mind 
 Of God high-biest, or to incline his will, 
 Hard to belief maj^ seem; j-et this will prayer 
 Or one short sigh of human breath, up-borne 
 Even to the seat of God. For since I sought 
 By prayer the offended Deity to appease, 
 Kneeled and before him humbled all my heart, 1 5c 
 Methought I saw him, placable and mild, 
 Bending his ear; persuasion in m.e grew 
 That I was heard with favor; peace returned 
 Home to my breast, and to my memory 
 His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our Foe; 
 Which, then not minded in disma}-, yet now 
 Assures me that the bitterness of death 
 Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee! 
 Eve rightly called, Mother of all Mankind, 
 Mother of all things living, since by thee 160 
 Man is to live, and all things live for Man." 
 
 To whom thus Eve with sad demeanor meek; 
 "111 -worthy I such title vShould belong- 
 To me tran.sgressor, who, for thee ordained 
 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 graced 
 The source of life; next favorable thou, 
 Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsafest, 170^ 
 
BOOK XL 369 
 
 Far other name deserving. — But the field 
 To labor calls us, now with sweat imposed, 
 Though after sleepless night; for see! the Morn, 
 All unconcerned with our unrest, begins 
 Her rosy progress smiling. Let us forth, 
 I never from thy side henceforth to stray, 
 Where'er our da}^' s w^ork lies, though now enjoined 
 Laborious, till day droop. While here we dwell 
 — What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? — 
 Here let us live, though in fallen state, con- 
 tent." ■ 180 
 So spake, so wished much-humbled Eve, but 
 Fate 
 Subscribed not. Nature f^rst gave signs, impressed 
 On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed. 
 After short blush of morn. Nigh in her sight 
 The bird of Jove, stooped 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. 
 Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; 
 Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. 190 
 A.dani observed, and, with his eye the chase 
 Pursuing, not unmoved to Eve thus spake: 
 
 "O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, 
 Which Heaven b)* these mute signs in Nature 
 
 shews, 
 Foremnners of his purpose; or to warn 
 
370 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Us, haply too secure of our discharge 
 From penalty, because froru death released 
 Some days; how long, and what till then our life, 
 Who knows, or more than this, that we are dust, 
 And thither must return, and be no more? 200 
 Why else this double object in our sight 
 Of flight, pursued in the air and o'er the ground, 
 One way the selfsame 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, wath something, heavenly 
 
 fraught?" 
 He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands. 
 Down from a sky of jasper, lighted now 
 In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; z^iy 
 
 A glorious apparition, had not doubt 
 And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. 
 Not that more glorious, w^hen the Angels met 
 Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw 
 The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; 
 Nor that which on the flaming moun^ appeared. 
 In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire, 
 Against the Syrian king, who to surprise 
 One man, assassin-like, had levied war, 
 War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch 220 
 In their bright stand there left his powers, to seize 
 Possession of the garden: he alone, 
 
BOOK XL 371 
 
 To find where Adam sheltered, took his way, 
 
 Not unperceived of Adam, who to Eve, 
 
 While the great visitant approached, thus spake : 
 
 "Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps 
 Of us will soon determine, or impose 
 New laws to be observed; for I descry, 
 From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, 
 One of the heavenly host, and by his gait 230 
 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 Archangel soon drew nigh, 
 Not in his shape celestial, but as man 
 Clad to meet man. Over his lucid arms 240 
 
 A military vest of purple flowed, 
 lyivelier than Meliboean, or the grain 
 Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old, 
 In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof. 
 His starry helm unbuckled shewed him prime 
 In manhood where youth ended; by his side. 
 As in a glistering zodiac, hung the sword, 
 Satan's dire dread, arxd in his hand the spear. 
 Adam bowed low; he kingly from his state 
 Inclined n6t, but his coming thus declared : 250 
 
372 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 "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 raa^-est repent, 
 And one bad act with many deeds well done 
 Mayst cover. Well may then thy Lord, appeased, 
 Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; 
 But longer in this Paradise to dwell 
 Permits not : to remove thee I am come, 26c 
 
 And send thee from the garden forth, to till 
 The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil." 
 
 He added not; for Adam at the news 
 Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, 
 That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen 
 Yet all had heard, with audible lament 
 Discovered 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 happ)' walks and 
 shades, 270 
 
 Fit haunt of Gods ? where I had hope to spend, 
 Quiet though sad, the respite of that day 
 That must be mortal to us botl^ 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 namesl 
 
BOOK Xr. 373 
 
 Who now siiall rear }-e to the sun, or laiik 
 Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount ? 
 Thee lastl}^ nuptial bowser 1 by me adorned 280 
 With what to sight or smell was sweet, from thee 
 How shall I part, and whither wander down 
 Into a lower world, to this obscure 
 And wild ? How shall we breathe in other air 
 Less pure, accustomed 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. 
 Th}- going is not lonely; with thee goes 290 
 
 Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound; 
 Where he abides, think there thy native soil." 
 
 Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp 
 Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned, 
 To Michael thus his humble words addressed: 
 
 "Celestial !' whether among the -Thrones, or 
 named 
 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 300 
 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. 
 
374 PARADISK LOST. 
 
 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 wall 
 
 Of Him who all things can, I would not cease 
 
 To weary him with my assiduous cries. 310 
 
 But prayer against his absolute decree 
 
 No more avails than breath against the wind. 
 
 Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: 
 
 Therefore to his great bidding I submit. 
 
 This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, 
 
 As from his face I shall be hid, deprived 
 
 His blessed countenance. Here I could frequent 
 
 With worship place by place where he vouchsafed 
 
 Presence Divine, and to my sons relate. 
 
 On this mount he appeared, under this tree 320 
 
 Stood visible, among these pines his voice 
 
 I heard, here with him at this ftmntain talked. 
 
 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 sw^eet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers. 
 
 In yonder nether world where shall I seek 
 
 His bright appearances, or footstep trace ? 
 
 For, though I fled him angry, yet, recalled 330 
 
 To life prolonged and promised race, I new 
 
 Gladly behold though but his utmost skiite 
 
BOOK XI. 375 
 
 Of glory, and far off his steps adore." 
 
 To whom thus Michael with regard benign: 
 "Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the 
 
 Earth; 
 Not this rock onh^; his omnipresence fills 
 Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, 
 Fomented by his virtual power and warmed. 
 All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule, 
 No despicable gift: surmise not then 340 
 
 His presence to these narrow bounds confined 
 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 earth, 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 350 
 
 Present; and of his presence many a sign. 
 Still following thee, still compassing thee round 
 With goodness and paternal love, his face 
 Express, and of his steps the track divine. 
 Which that thou mayst believe, and be confirmed 
 Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent 
 To shew thee what shall come in future days 
 To thee and to thy offspring. Good with bad 
 ExpecJ"to bear, .supernal g-^ace contendiii£^ 
 
376 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn 360 
 True patience, and to temper joy with fear 
 And pious sorrow, equally inured 
 By moderation either state to bear, 
 Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead 
 Safest thy life; and best prepared endure 
 Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend 
 Tkis hill; let Eve — for I have drenched her eyes — 
 Here sleep below, while thou to foresight wakesi ; 
 As once thou .sleptest, while she to life was 
 
 formed." 
 To whom thus Adam gratefulh^ replied: 370 
 "Ascend, I follow thee, safe guide, the path 
 Thou leadest 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 labor won, 
 If sol may attain." — So both ascend 
 In the visions of God. It was a hill. 
 Of Paradise tlie highest, from whose top 
 The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken. 
 Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect 
 
 lay. 
 Not higher that hill, nor wider looking 
 
 round, 381 
 
 Whereon for different causes the Tempter set 
 Our second Adam, in the wilderness, 
 
BOOK XL 377 
 
 To shew him all Earth's kingdoms and their 
 
 glory. 
 His eye might there command wherever stood 
 City of old or modern fame, the seat 
 Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls 
 Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, 
 And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne. 
 To Paquin of Sin^an kings; and thence 390 
 
 To Agra and Labor of great Mogul, 
 Down to the Golden Chersonese; or where 
 The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since 
 In Hispahan or where the Russian Ksar 
 In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance, 
 Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken 
 The empire of Negus, to his utmost port 
 Ercoco, and the less maritime kings, 
 Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, 
 And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm 400 
 Of Congo, and Ar.gola farthest south; 
 Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount. 
 The kingdoms of Alraansor, Fez and Sus, 
 Marocco and Algiers, and Tremisen; 
 On Europe thence, 'and where Rome was to sway 
 The world. In spirit perhaps he also saw 
 Rich Mexico, the seat of Motezume, 
 And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat 
 Of AtabaJipa; and yet unspoiled 
 Guiana, whos^ great city Geryon's sons 410 
 
378 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Call El Dorado. — But to nobler sio^hts 
 Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, 
 Which that false fruit, that promised clearer sight. 
 Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue 
 The visual nerve — for he had much to see — 
 And from the well of life three drops instilled. 
 So deep the power of these ingredients pierced, 
 Even to the inmost seat of men^^al sight, 
 That Adam, now enforced so close his eyes, 
 Sunk down, and all his spirits became en- 
 tranced; 420 
 But him the gentle Angel by the hand 
 Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled: 
 
 "Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold 
 The effects which thy original crime hath wrought 
 In some to spring from thee, who never touched 
 The excepted tree, nor with the Snake conspired, 
 Nor sinned thy sin, yet from that sin derive 
 Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds." 
 
 His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, 
 Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves 430 
 New reaped, the other part sheep-walks and folds; 
 In the midst an altar as the landmark stood, 
 Rustic, of grassy sord. Thither anon 
 A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought 
 First-fruits, the green ear and the yellow sheaf, 
 Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next. 
 More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, 
 
BOOK XI. 379 
 
 Choicest and best; then sacrificing laid 
 The inwards and their fat, with incense strewed, 
 On the cleft wood, and all due rites per- 
 formed. 440 
 His offering soon propitious fire from heaven 
 Consumed, with nimble glance and grateful steam; 
 The other's not, for his was not sincere. 
 Whereat he inly raged, and, as the}^ talked. 
 Smote him into the midriff with a stone 
 That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale 
 Groaned out his soul, with gushing blood effused. 
 Much at that sight was Adam in his heart 
 Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried: 
 
 ' '*0 Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen 
 To that meek man, who well had sacrificed. 451 
 Is piety thus and pure devotion paid?" 
 
 To whom Michael thus. he also moved, replied: 
 "These are two brethren, Adam, and to come 
 Out of thy loins. The unjust the just hath slain, 
 For envy that his brother's offering found 
 From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact 
 Will be avenged, and the other's faith approved 
 Lose no reward, though here thou see him die. 
 Rolling in dust and gore." — To which our 
 sire: 460 
 
 "Alas, both for the deed and for the cause! 
 But have I now seen death? Is this the way 
 I must return to native dust? O si.srht 
 
580 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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; 3'et to sense 
 More terrible at the entrance than within. 470 
 Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die. 
 By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more 
 In meats and drink, which on the earth shall 
 
 bring 
 Disease dire, of which amonstrous crew 
 Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know 
 What misery the inabstinence of Eve 
 Shall bring on men." — Immediately a place 
 Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; 
 A lazar-house it seemed, wherein were laid 
 Numbers of all diseased, all maladies 480 
 
 Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms 
 Of heartsick agony, all feverous kinds, 
 Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs. 
 Intestine stone and ulcer, colic pangs, 
 Demoniac phrenzy, moping melancholy. 
 And moonstruck madness, pining atrophy, 
 Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence. 
 Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking 
 
 rheums. 
 
BOOK XL 381 
 
 Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair 
 Tended the sick, busiest from couch to 
 couch ; 490 
 
 And over them triumphant Death his dart 
 Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked 
 With vows, as their chief good and final hope. 
 Sight so deform what heart of rock could long 
 Dry-eyed behold? Adam could not, but wept, 
 Though not of woman born: compassion quelled 
 His best of man, and gave him up to tears 
 A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; 
 And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed: 
 *'0 miserable mankind, to what fall 500 
 
 Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! 
 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 offered, or soon beg to lay it down. 
 Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus 
 The image of God in Man, created once 
 So goodly and erect, though faulty since, 
 To such unsightly sufferings be debased 510 
 
 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, ' ' answered Michael, "then 
 
382 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Forsook them, when themselves they vili6ed 
 To serve iin governed Appetite, and took 
 His image whom they served, a brutish vice, 
 Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. 
 Therefore so abject is their punishment 5a;: 
 
 Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; 
 Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced, 
 While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rule? 
 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 beside 
 These painful passages, how we may come 
 To death, and mix with our connatural 
 dust?" 529 
 
 ''There is," said Michael, "if thou well observe 
 The rule of N'ol too much, by temperance taught, 
 In what thou eatest and drinkest, seeking frooi 
 
 thence 
 Due nourishment, not gluttonous deligUr, 
 Till many years over thy head return. 
 So mayest thcu live, till, like ripe fruit, thou 
 
 drop 
 Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease 
 Gathered, not harshly plucked, for death mature. 
 This is old-age. But then thou must outlive 
 Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will 
 change 
 
BOOK^XL ^ 383 
 
 To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, 540 
 
 Obiuse, all taste of pleasure must forgo. 
 
 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 55G 
 Of rendering up, and patiently attend 
 My. dissolution. ' ' Michael replied: 
 
 "Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou 
 livest 
 Live well; how long or short, permit to Heaven. 
 And now prepare thee for another sight." 
 
 He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon 
 Were tents of various hue. By some were herds 
 Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound 
 Of instruments, that made the melodious chime, 
 Vas heard, of harp and organ, and who 
 moved 560 
 
 Their stops and chords were seen; his volent 
 
 touch 
 tnstinct, through all proportions low and high, 
 Fled, and pursued transverse the resonant fugue, 
 tn other part stood one, who at the forge s 
 
384 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 I^aboring, two massy clods of iron and brass 
 Had melted — whether found where casual fire 
 Had wasted woods, on mountain or in vale, 
 Down to the veins of earth, thence gliding hot 
 To some cave's mouth, or whether washed by 
 
 stream 
 From underground. The liquid ore he drained 570 
 Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed 
 First his own tools; then, what might else be 
 
 wrought 
 Fusil or graven in metal. After these, 
 But on the hither side, a different sort, 
 From the high neighboring hills, which was 
 
 the'r seat, 
 Down to the plain descended. By their guise 
 Just men they seemed, and all 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 580 
 Long had not walked, 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, eyed them, and let their 
 
 eyes 
 Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net 
 
BOOK XI. 355 
 
 Fast caught, they liked and each his liking 
 
 chose. 
 And now of love they treat, till the evening-star. 
 Love's harbinger, appeared; then all in heat 
 They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 590 
 Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: 
 With feast and music all the tents rescund. 
 Such happy interview, and fair event 
 Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, 
 
 flowers. 
 And charming symphonies, attached the heart 
 Of Adam, scon inclined to admit delight, 
 The bent of nature; which he thus expressed: 
 
 "True openef of mine eyes, prime Angel blest! 
 Much better seems this vision, and more hope 
 Of peaceful days portends, than those two 
 
 past. 600 
 
 Those viere of hate and death, or pain much 
 
 worse; 
 Here nature seems fulfilled in all her ends." 
 To whom thus Michael: — "Judge not what is 
 
 best 
 By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet. 
 Created, as thou art, to nobler end, 
 Holy and pure, comformity divine. 
 Those tents thou sawest so pleasant were the 
 
 tents 
 Of wickedness, wherein shall dw^ell his race 
 
386 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Who slew his brother. StndiouS'they appear 
 Of arts that poHsh Hfe, inventors rare; 6id 
 
 Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit 
 Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledge 
 
 none. 
 Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; 
 For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed 
 Of goddesses, so bliihe, so smooth, so gay, 
 Yet empty of all good, wherein consists 
 Woman's oomestic honor and chief praise; 
 Bred only and completed to the taste 
 Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance. 
 To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the 
 
 eye . . . 620 
 
 To these that sober race of men, whose lives 
 Religious titled them the sons of God, 
 Shall yield up all their virtue, all thais fame 
 Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles 
 Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy 
 — Erelong to swim at large — and laugh; for whicH 
 The world erelong a world of tears must weep." 
 
 To which thus Adam, of short joy bereft: 
 ''O pity and shame, that they, who to live well 
 Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread 630 
 Paths indirect, or in the midway faint I 
 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,'* 
 
BOOK XL 387 
 
 Said the Angel, ' 'who should better hold his place, 
 By wisdom and superior gifts received. — 
 But now prepare thee for another scene." 
 
 He looked, and saw wide territory spread 
 Before him, towns, and rural works between, 
 Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, 640 
 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 ranged, 
 Both hoise 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 th€ plain, 
 Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, 650 
 But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray. 
 With cruel tournament the squadrons join; 
 Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies 
 With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, 
 Deserted.'* Others to a city strong 
 Lay siege, encamped, 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 sceptred haralds call 660 
 
 To council, in the city-gates. Anon 
 Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mixed. 
 
388 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon 
 
 In factious opposition; till at last, 
 
 Of middle-age one rising, eminent 
 
 In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, 
 
 Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace, 
 
 And judgement from above. Him old and young 
 
 Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, 
 
 Had not a cloud descending snatched him 
 
 thence, 670 
 
 Unseen amid the throng. So violence 
 Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, 
 Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. 
 Adam was all in tears, and to his guide 
 Lamenting turned full sad: — ' 'Oh, what are these ? 
 Death's iTiinisters, 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? 680 
 But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven 
 Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?" 
 
 To whom thus Michael :— "These are the product 
 Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest. 
 Where good with bad were matched, who of 
 
 themselves 
 Abhor to join, and, by imprudence mixed, 
 Produce prodigious births of body or mind. 
 Such were these Giants, men of high renown; 
 
BOOK XI. 389 
 
 For in those days might onl}^ shall be admired, 
 
 And valor and heroic virtue called. 690 
 
 To overcome in battle, and $ubdue 
 
 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 styled great Conquerors, 
 
 Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods; 
 
 Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. 
 
 Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth, 
 
 And what most merits fame in silence hid. 
 
 But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldest 
 
 The only righteous in a world perverse, 701 
 
 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, 
 Wrapped in a balmy cloud, with winged steeds, 
 Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God, 
 High in salvation and the climes of bliss, 
 Exempt from death: to shew thee what reward 
 Awaits the good, the rest what punishment; 710 
 Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold." 
 He looked, and saw the face of things quite 
 changed. 
 The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; 
 All now was turned to jollity and game, 
 
390 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 To luxur}^ and riot, feast and dance, 
 Marrying or prostituting, as befell, 
 Rape or adulter}^, \^fcere passing fair 
 Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. 
 At length a reverend sire among them came . 
 And of their doings great dislike declared, 720 
 And testified against their ways: he oft 
 Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, 
 Triumphs or festivals, and to them preached 
 Conversion and repentance, as to souls 
 In prison, under judgements imminent; 
 But all in vain. Which when he saw, he ceased 
 Contending, and removed his tents far off. 
 Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, 
 Began to build a vessel of huge bulk, 729 
 
 Measured bycubic, length, and breadth, and highth, 
 Smeared round with pitch, and in the side a door 
 Contrived, 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 entered in, as taught 
 Their order; last the sire, and his three sons, 
 With their four wives; and God made fast the door. 
 Meanwhile*the south- wind arose, and, with black 
 
 wings 
 Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove 
 From under heaven; the hills, to their supply, 740 
 Vapor and exhalation, dusk and moist, 
 
BOOK XL 391 
 
 l^tit up amain; and now the thickened sky 
 I^ike a dark ceiling stood: down rushed the rain 
 Impetuous, and continued till the ^arth 
 No more was seen. The floating vessel swum 
 Uplifted, and secure, with beaked prow, 
 Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else 
 Flood overwhelmed, and them, with all their pomp, 
 Deep underwater rolled; sea covered sea. 
 Sea without shore; and in their palaces, 750 
 
 Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped 
 ^nd stabled: of mankind, so numerous late. 
 All left in one small bottom swum embarked. 
 How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold 
 The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, 
 Depopulation! Thee another flood. 
 Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned, 
 And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared 
 By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last, 
 Though comfortless; as when a father mourns 760 
 His children, all in view destroyed at once; 
 And scarce to the Angel utteredst thus thy plaint : 
 
 "O visions ill foreseen! better had I 
 Lived ignorant of future, so had borne 
 My part of evil only, each day's lot 
 Enough to bear. Those now, that were dispensed 
 The burden of many ages, on me light 
 At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth 
 Abortive, to torment me ere their being, 
 
 I 
 
392 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 With thought that they must be. Let no man 
 
 seek 
 Henceforth to4>e foretold what shall befall 771 
 Him or his children; evil he may be sure, 
 Which neither his foreknowing can prevent, 
 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 escaped 
 Famine and anguish will at last consume, 
 Wandering that watery desert. I had hope, 
 When violence was ceased and war on earth, 780 
 All would have then gone well, peace would have 
 
 crowned 
 With length of happy days the race of Man. 
 But I was far deceived; 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 
 
 thow sawest 
 In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they 
 First seen in acts of prowess eminent 
 And great exploits, but of true virtue void; 790 
 Who having spilt much blood, and done much 
 
 waste, 
 Subduing nations, and achieved thereby 
 Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey, 
 
BOOK XL 393 
 
 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 conquered also and enslaved by war 
 Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose 
 And fear of God, from whom their piety feigned 
 In sharp contest of battle found no aid 800 
 
 Against invaders; therefore, cooled 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 all shall turn degenerate, all depraved, 
 Justice and temperance, truth and faith forgot; 
 One man except, the only sun of light 
 In a dark age, against example good, 
 Against allurement, custom, and a world 810 
 Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn, 
 Or violence, he of their wicked ways 
 Shall them admonish, and before them set 
 The paths of righteousness, how much more safe^ 
 And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come 
 On their impenitence; and shall return 
 Of them derided, but of God observed 
 The one just man alive: by his command 
 Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou bcheldest, 
 To save himself and household, from amidst 820 
 
394 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 A world devote to universal wrack. 
 ]N'o sooner lie, with them of man and beast 
 Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, 
 And sheltered round, but all the cataracts 
 Of heaven set open on the earth shall pour 
 "Rain day and night; all fountains of the deep, 
 Eroke up, shall heave the ocean to 'usurp 
 Eeyond all bounds, till inundation rise 
 Above the highest hills. Then shall this mount 
 Of Paradise by might of waves be moved 830 
 Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, 
 With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, 
 IDowa the Great River to the opening Gulf, 
 And there take root an island salt and bare, 
 The haunt of seals, and ores, and seamews' clang; 
 To teach thee that God attributes to place 
 J!*Jo sanctity, if none be thither brought 
 Ey men who there frequent, or therein dwell. 
 And now what further shall ensue behold." 
 He looked, and saw the ark hull on the 
 flood, 840 
 
 Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, 
 Driven by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry 
 Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; 
 And the clear sun on his wide watery glass 
 Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew. 
 As after thirst, which made their flowing shrink 
 prom standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole 
 
BOOK XL 395 
 
 With soft foot toward the deep, who now had 
 
 stoped 
 His shiices, as the heaven his windows shut. 
 The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, 
 Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed 851 
 And now the tops of hills as rocks appear; 
 With clamor thence the rapid currents drive. 
 Toward 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. 860 
 
 Anon dr}^ ground appears, and trom 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. 
 Conspicuous with three listed colors gay. 
 Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. 
 Whereat. the heart of Adam erst so sad 
 Greatly rejoiced, and thus his joy broke forth: 
 
 ' 'O thou, who future things canst represent 870 
 As present, heavenly Instructor] I revive 
 At this last sight, assured that Man shall live, 
 With all the . creatures, and their seed preserve. 
 Far less I now lament for one whole world 
 
396 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Of wicked 30ns destroyed, 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 colored streaks in 
 
 heaven 
 Distended ? as the brow of God appeased ? 880 
 Or serve they as a flowery verge to bind 
 The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, 
 lyest it again dissolve and shower the earth ? '' 
 To whom the Archangel: — "Dexterously thou 
 
 aimest. 
 So willingly doth God remit his ire, 
 Though late repenting him of Man depraved; 
 Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw 
 The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh 
 Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, 
 Such grace shall one just man find in his 
 
 sight, 890 
 
 That he relents not to blot out mankind. 
 And makes a convenant never to destroy 
 The earth again by flood, nor let the se'a 
 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-colored bow, whereon to look. 
 And call to njind his covenant. Day and night, 
 
BOOK XL 397 
 
 Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost 899 
 Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things 
 
 new, 
 Both heaveii and earth, wherein the just shall 
 
 dwell. '* 
 
PARADISE LOST. 
 
 BOOK XII. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Angel Michael continues, from the Flood, to 
 relate what shah succeed; then, in the mention of 
 Abraham, comes by decrees to explain who that Seed 
 of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam 
 and Eve ia the Fall; his incarnation, death, resurrec- 
 tion, and ascension; the state of the Church till his 
 second coming-. Adam, greatly satisfied and recom- 
 i -forted by these reMtions and promises, descends the 
 hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while 
 had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quiet- 
 ness of mind and submission. ]Vliohael in either hand 
 leads them out of Paradise, the fiery sword waving 
 behind them, and the Cherubim taking their stations 
 to guard the place. 
 
 As one who in his journey baits at moon, 
 Though bent on speed, so here the Archangel 
 
 paused, 
 Betwixt the world destroyed and ^vorld restored, 
 If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; 
 Then with transition sweet new speech resumes: 
 "Thus thou hast seen one world begin and 
 
 end; 
 And Man as from a second stock proceed. 
 Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive 
 
BOOK XII. 
 
 399 
 
 ^hy mortal sight to fail; objects divine 
 Must needs impair and weary human sense. lo 
 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 judgement 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, . 
 Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, 
 Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock. 
 Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, 20 
 
 .With large wine-offerings poured, aijd sacred feast, 
 Shall spend their days in joy unblamed, and dwell 
 Long time in peace, by families and tribes, 
 Under paternal rule: till one shall rise 
 Of proud ambitious heart, who, nut content 
 With fair equality, fraternal state, 
 Will arrogate dominion undeserved 
 Over his brethren, and quite dispossess 
 Concord and law of Nature from the earth; 
 Hurting — and men not beasts shall be his game— 
 With war and hostile snare such as refuse 31 
 
 Subjection to his empire tyrannous. 
 A. mighty hunter thence he shall be styled 
 Before the Lord, as in despite of Hjaven, 
 Or from Heavien claiming second sovranty; 
 And from rebellion shall derive his name, 
 
400 ^ PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Though of rebellion others be accuse. 
 He, with a crew, whom like ambitici joins 
 With him, or under him to tyrannize, 
 Marching from Eden toward the west, sh^If 
 
 find 40 
 
 The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge 
 Boils out from underground, 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 dispersed 
 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, 50 
 Comes down to see their city, ere the tower , 
 Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets 
 Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase 
 Quite out their native language, and, instead, 
 To sow a jangling noise of words unknown. 
 Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud 
 Among the builders; each to other calls. 
 Not understood, all hoarse, and all in rage. 
 As mocked they storm. Great laughter was in 
 
 Heaven 
 And looking down, to see the hubbub strange 60 
 And hear the din : thus was the budding left 
 Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named." 
 
BOOK XII. 40I 
 
 Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased : 
 "O execrable son! so to aspire 
 Above his brethren, to himself assuming 
 Authority usurped, from God not given. 
 He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, 
 Dominion absolute; that right we hold 
 By his donation; but man over men 
 He made not lord; such title to himself 70 
 
 Reserving, human left from human free. 
 But this usurper his encroachment proud 
 Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends 
 Seige and defiance. Wretched 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 abhorrest 
 That son, who on the quiet state of men 80 
 
 Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue 
 Rational liberty; yet know withal, 
 Since thy briginal lapse, true liberty 
 Is lost, which always with right reason dwells, 
 Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being. 
 Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed. 
 Immediately inordinate desires 
 And upstart passions catch the government 
 From reason, and to servitude reduce 
 Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits 90 
 
402 
 
 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Within himself unworthy powers to reign 
 Over free reason, God, in judgement just, 
 Subjects him from without to violent lords. 
 Who, oft as undeservedly, enthral 
 His outward freedom. 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 annexed, 
 Deprives them of their outward liberty, loc 
 
 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 ey-^s; resolving from thenceforth 
 To leave them to their own polluted ways, no 
 And one peculiar nation to select 
 From all the rest, of whom to be invoked; 
 A nation from one faithful man to spring. 
 Him on this side Euphrates yet residing. 
 Bred up in idol-worship; Oh, that men 
 — Canst thou believe? — should be so stupid grown. 
 While yet the patriarch lived who scaped the 
 Flood, 
 
BOOK XI2. 403 
 
 As to forsake the living God, and fa^U 
 
 To worship their own work, in wood and stone, 
 
 For gods! Yet him God the Mosr High vouchsafes 
 
 To call by vision, from his father's house, 121 
 
 His kindred and false gods, into a 'and 
 
 Which he will shew him, and from him will raise 
 
 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, 
 
 "Dr of Chaldaea, passing now the ford 130 
 
 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 called him, in a land unknown. 
 
 Canaan he now attains; I see his tents 
 
 Pitched about Sechem, and the neighboring plain 
 
 Of Moreh; there by promise he receives 
 
 Gift to his progeny of all that land. 
 
 From Hamath northward to the desert south 
 
 — Things by their names I call, though yet 
 
 unnamed — 
 From Hermon east to the great western Sea; 141 
 Mount Hermon, yonder sea, each place behold 
 In prospect, as I point them- on the shore 
 Mount Carmelr here the double-founted stream. 
 
404 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons 
 
 Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. 
 
 This ponder, that all nations of^tlie earth 
 
 Shall in his seed be blessed. By that seed 
 
 Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise 
 
 The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon 150 
 
 Plainlier shall be revealed. This patriarch blest. 
 
 Whom fa thful Abraham due time shall call, , 
 
 A son, and of his son a grandchild, leaves, 
 
 Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown. 
 
 The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs 
 
 From Canaan, to a land hereafter called 
 
 Egypt, divided by the river Nile. 
 
 See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths 
 
 Into the sea. To st journ in that land 
 
 He comes, invited by a younger son 160 
 
 In time of dearth, a son whose wonhy 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 
 
 slaves, 
 Inhospitably, and kills their infant males: 
 Till by two brethren — those two brethren call 
 Moses and Aaron — sent from God to claim 170 
 His people from enthralment, they return, 
 
BOOK XIL 405 
 
 With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. 
 But -first the lawless tyrant, who denies 
 To know their God, or message to regard, 
 Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire. 
 To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; 
 Frogs, lice, and flies must all his palace fill 
 With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; 
 His cattle must of rot and murrian die; 
 Blotches and blains must all his flesh emboss, 180 
 And all his people; thunder mixed w4th hail. 
 Hail mixed 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; 
 I^ast, with one midnight-stroke, all the first-born 
 Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds 190 
 The river-dragon tamed at length submits 
 To let his sojourners depart, and oft 
 Humbles his stubborn heart, but still, as ice. 
 More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage, 
 Pursuing w^hom he late dismissed, the sea 
 Swallows him with his host; but them lets past, 
 As on dry land, between two crystal walls. 
 Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand 
 Divided, till his rescued gained their shore: 
 
4o6 PARADISE LOST, 
 
 Such wondrous power God to his Saint will- 
 lend, 200' 
 Though present in his Angel, who shall go 
 Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire 
 — 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 211 
 Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; 
 On their embattled ranks the waves return, 
 ^nd overwhelm thbir war. The race elect 
 Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance, 
 Through the wild Desert, not the readiest way; 
 Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, 
 War terrify them inexpert, and fear 
 Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather 
 Inglorious life with servitude; for life 220 
 To noble ana ignoble is more sweet 
 Untrained 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, 
 
BOOK XI I. 407 
 
 Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws 
 
 ordained. 
 God, from the Mount of Sinai, whose grey top 
 Shall tremble, he descending, will himself 
 In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpet^ sound, 
 Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain 230 
 To civil justice; part, religious rights 
 Of sacrifice, informing them, by types 
 And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise 
 The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve 
 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 240 
 Moses in figure bears, to introduce 
 One greater, of whose day he shall foretell, 
 And all the Prophets, in their age, the times 
 Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus laws and rites 
 Established, such delight hath God in men 
 Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes 
 Among them to set up his tabernacle, 
 The Holy One with mortal men to dwell. 
 By his prescript a sanctuary is framed 
 Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein 250 
 
 An ark, and in the ark his testimony, 
 The records of his covenant; over these 
 
4o8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings 
 
 Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn 
 
 Seven lamps, as in a Zodiac representing 
 
 The heavenly fires. Over the tent a cloud 
 
 Shall r^t by day, a fiery gleam by night, 
 
 Save when they journey; and at length they 
 
 come, ' 
 
 Conducted by his Angel, to the land 
 Promised to Abraham and his seed. The rest 260 
 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 Aialon, 
 Till Israel overcome! ' so call the third 
 From Abraham, son of Isaac, and from him 
 His whole descent, who thus shall Cailaan win." 
 Here Adam interposed: — "O sent from Heaven, 
 Enlightener of my darkness! gracious things 271 
 Thou hast revealed, those chiefly which concern 
 Just Abraham and his seed. Now first I find 
 Mine eyes true opening, and my heart much 
 
 eased, 
 Krewhile perplexed with thoughts what would 
 
 become 
 Of me and all mankind; but now I see 
 His day, in whom all nations shall be blest, 
 
BOOK XIL . 409 
 
 Favor unmerited by me, who sought 
 Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. 
 This 3^et I apprehend not, why to those 280 
 
 Among whom God will deign to dwell on Barth 
 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 
 sin 
 Will reign among them, as 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, 290 
 
 Save by those shadowy expiations weak 
 The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude 
 Some blood more precious must be paid for Man, 
 Just for unjust, that in such righteousness, 
 To them by faith imputed, they may find 
 Justification toward 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 300 
 
 With purpose to resign them in full time 
 Up to a better covenant, disciplined 
 From shadowy types to truth, from flesh to spirit. 
 From imposition of strict laws to free 
 
4IO PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 beloved, being but the minister 
 
 Of law, his people into Canaan lead; 
 
 But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, 310 
 
 His name and office bearing, who shall quell 
 
 The adversary Serpent, and bring back, 
 
 Through the world's wilderness long wandered 
 
 Man 
 Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. 
 Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan placed, 
 I^ong 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 320 
 The second, both for piety renowned 
 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 — sliall rise 
 A son, the Woman's Seed, to thee foretold, 
 Foretold to Abraham, as in whom vsliall trust 
 All nations, and to kings foretold of kings 
 The last, for of his reign shall be no end. 330 
 But firsc a lon^: succession must ensue, 
 
BOOK XII. 411 
 
 And his next son, for 'wealth and wisdom famed, 
 
 The clouded ark of God, till then in tents 
 
 Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. 
 
 Such follow him as shall be registered 
 
 Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll, 
 
 Whose foul idolatries and other faults, 
 
 Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense 
 
 God, as to leave them, and expose their land. 
 
 Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, 340 
 
 With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 
 
 To that proud city, whose high, walls thou sawest 
 
 Left in confusion, Babylon thence called. 
 
 There in captivity he lets them dwell. 
 
 The space of seventy years, then brings them 
 
 back, 
 Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn 
 To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. 
 Returned from Babylon,, by leave of kings. 
 Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of 
 
 God 
 They first re-edify, and for a while 350 
 
 In mean estate live moderate, till, grown 
 In wealth and multitude, factious they grow. 
 But first among the priests dissension springs, 
 Men who attend the altar, and should most 
 Endeavor peace! Their strife pollution brings 
 Upon the temple itself: at last they seize 
 The sceptre, and regard not David's sons, 
 
4if PARADISE LOST. 
 
 Then lose it to a stranger, that the true 
 Anointed King, Messiah, might be born 
 Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, 360 
 Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him come, 
 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 squadroned Angels, hear his carol sung. 
 A Virgin is his mother, but his sire 
 The Power of the Most High. He shall ascend 
 The throne heieditary, and bojind his reign 370 
 With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the 
 
 heavens." 
 He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy 
 Surcharged, as had, like grief, been dewed in 
 
 tears. 
 Without the vent of words, which these he 
 
 breathed: 
 "O prophet of glad tidings, finisher 
 Of utmost hope! now clear I understand 
 What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched 
 
 in vain; 
 Why our great Expectation should be called 
 The Seed of Woman, Virgin Mother, hail! 
 High in the love of Heaven, yet from my loins 380 
 Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son 
 
BOOK Xir. 413 
 
 Of God Most High: so God with Man unites. 
 Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise 
 Expect with mortal pain. Say where and when 
 Their fight, what stroke vshall bruise the victor's 
 
 heel." 
 To whom tHus Michael: — ** Dream not of their 
 
 fight, 
 As of a duel, or the local wounds 
 Of head or heel. Not therefore joins the Son 
 Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil 
 Thy enemy; nor so is overcome 390 
 
 Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, 
 Disabled not to give thee thy death's wound; 
 Which he, who comes thy Savior, shall recure. 
 Not by destroying Satan, but his works 
 In thee and in thy seed; nor can this be, 
 But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, 
 Obedience to the law of God, imposed 
 On penalty of death; and suffering death. 
 The penalty to thy transgression due, 
 And due to theirs which out of thine will 
 
 grow; 400 
 
 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 endpre, by coming in the flesh 
 To a reproachful life and cursed death; 
 
414 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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. ' 41a 
 
 For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, 
 Seized on by force, judged, and lo death con- 
 demned, 
 A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross, 
 By his own nation, slain for bringing life; 
 But 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 420, 
 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 f >r Man, as mau}^ as offered life 
 Neglect not, and the benefit embrace, 
 By faith not void of works. This godlike act 
 Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest hav< 
 
 died, 
 In sin forever lost from life; this act 
 Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his 
 strength, 430 
 
BOOK Xn. 415 
 
 r^efeating Sin and Death, his two main arms, 
 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 life. 
 Nor, after resurrection, shall he stay 
 Ivonger on earth than certain times to appear 
 To his disciples, men who in his life 
 Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge 
 To teach all nations what of him they learned 440 
 And his salvation, them who shall believe 
 Baptizing in the profluent stream; the sign 
 Of washing them from guilt of sin to life 
 Purcf and in mind prepared, if so befall, 
 For death, like that which the Redeemer died. 
 All nations they shall teach; for from that day 
 Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins 
 Salvation shall be preached, but to th<^ sons 
 Of Abraham's faith, wherever through the world; 
 So in his seed all nations shall be blest. 45a 
 
 Then to the Heaven-of-heavens he shall ascend 
 With victory, triumphing throtigh 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. 
 
4i6 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 When this World's dissolution shall be ripe, 
 With glory and power to judge both quick and 
 
 dead; 
 To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward 461 
 His faithful, and receive them into bliss. 
 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 Archangel Michael; then paused, 
 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, 470 
 
 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, 
 B}^ me done and occasioned, or rejoice 
 Much more, that much more good thereof shall 
 
 spring; 
 To God more glory, more good-will to men 
 From God, and over wrath grace shall abound 
 But sa)^, if our Deliverer up to Heaven 
 Must reascend, what will betide the few, 480 
 
 His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, 
 The enemies of truth ? Who then shall guide 
 His people, who defend? Will they not deal 
 
BOOK XII. 417 
 
 Wot5e with his followers than with him they 
 
 dealt?" 
 "Be sure they will," said the Angel; "but from 
 
 Heaven 
 He to his own a Comforter will send, 
 The promise of the Father, who shall dwell, 
 His Spirit, within them, and the law of faith 
 Working through love upon their hearts shall 
 
 write. 
 To guide them in all truth; and also arm 490 
 With spiritual armor, 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 recompensed, 
 And oft supported so as shall amaze 
 Their proudest persecutors. For the Spirit 
 Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends 
 To evangelize the Rations, then on all 
 Baptized, shall them with wondrous gifts 
 
 endue S^o 
 
 To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, 
 As did their Lord before theiu. Thus they win 
 Great numbers of each nation to receive 
 With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: at 
 
 length, 
 Their ministry performed, and race well run, 
 Their doctrine and their story written left, 
 
4i8 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 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 advantage shall turn 510 
 
 Of lucre and ambition, and the truth 
 With superstitions and traditions taint, 
 lyeft 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, promised alike and given 
 To all believers; and from that pretence 520 
 
 Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force 
 On every conscience; laws which none shall find 
 lyeft them inrolled, 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, en Earth, 
 Who against faith and conscience can be heard 
 Infallible? yet many will presume. 530 
 
 Whence heavy persecution shall arise 
 On all who in the worship persevere 
 Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater patt. 
 
BOOK XII. 4i<, 
 
 Will deem in outward rites and specious forms 
 Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire 
 Bestuck 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, 540 
 
 And vengeance to the wicked, at return 
 Of Him so lately promised to thy aid, - 
 The Woman's Seed, obscurely then foretold, 
 Now amplier known thy Savior and thy Lord; 
 Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed 
 In glory of the Father, to dissolve 
 Satan with his perverted world; then raise 
 From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, 
 New heavens, new earth, ages of endless date. 
 Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love, 550 
 To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss." 
 
 He ended; and thus Adam last replied: 
 "How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, 
 Measured this transient World, the race of Time, 
 Till Time stand fixed! 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. 560 
 
 Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best. 
 
420 PARADISE LOST. 
 
 And love with fear the only God, to walk 
 
 As in his presence, ever to observe 
 
 His providence, and on him sole depend, 
 
 Merciful over all his works, with ^ood 
 
 Still overcoming evil, and by small 
 
 Accomplishing great things, by things deemed 
 
 weak 
 Subverting worldly-strong, and worldly-wise 
 By simply-meek; that suffering for truth's sake 
 Is fortitude to highest victory, 570 
 
 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 learned, thou hast attained the sum 
 Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars 
 Thou knewest 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 enjoyedst, 580 
 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 called charity, the soul 
 Of all the rest; then wilt thou not be loth 
 To leave this Paradise, but shall possess 
 A Paradise within thee, happier far. — 
 
BOOK XII. 421 
 
 lyCt US descend now therefore from this top 
 Of speculation; for the hour precise 
 Kxacts our parting hence. And see! the 
 guards, 59Q 
 
 By me encamped on yonder hill, except 
 Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, 
 In signal of remove, waves fiercely round. 
 We may no longer stay: go, waken Kve. 
 Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed, 
 Portending good, and all her spirits composed 
 To meek submission thou, at season fit. 
 Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; 
 Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, 
 The great deliverance by her seed to come — 600 
 For by the Woman's Seed — on all mankind; 
 That 3^e may live, which wall be many days, 
 Both in one faith unanimous, though sad 
 With cause for evils past, yet much more cheered 
 With meditation on the happy end." 
 
 He ended, and they both descend the hill. 
 Descended, Adam to the bower where Kve 
 Lay sleeping ran before her, but found her waked, 
 And thus with words not sad she him received: 
 
 "Whence thou returnest, and whither wen test, 
 
 I know; • 610 
 
 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 
 
422 FAA\iDJSE LOST. 
 
 I 
 Wearied I fell asleep. But now lead onj 
 In me is no dela}^- with thee to go, 
 Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, 
 Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me 
 Art all tli'ngs under heaven, all places thou, 
 Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. 
 This further consolation yet secure 620 
 
 I carry hence; though all by me is lost, 
 inch favor I unworthy am vouchsafed, 
 By me the Promised Seed shall all restore." 
 
 So spake our mother Eve, and Adam heard 
 Well pleased, but answered not; for now too nigh 
 Tiie Archangel stood, and from the other hill 
 To their fixed 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, 630 
 And gathers round fast at the laborer's heel, 
 Homeward returning. High in front advanced, 
 The banished sword of God before them blazed, 
 Fierce as a comet, which with torrid heat, 
 And vapor 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 disappeared. 640 
 They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld 
 
BOOK XIl. 423 
 
 Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, 
 Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate 
 With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms. 
 Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them 
 
 soon; 
 The world was all before them, where to choose 
 Their place of rest, and Province their guide. 
 They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and 
 
 slow. 
 Through Eden took their solitary way. 
 
 V8B O^D. 
 

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