O For that warning voice, which he who saw

Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,

Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,

Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,

Wo To The Inhabitants On Earth! that now,

While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd

The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd

Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now

Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,

The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind, 10

To wreck on innocent frail man his loss

Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:

Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,

Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,

Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth

Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest,

And like a devillish Engine back recoiles

Upon himself; horror and doubt distract

His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom stirr

The Hell within him, for within him Hell 20

He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

One step no more then from himself can fly

By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair

That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie

Of what he was, what is, and what must be

Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.

Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view

Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,

Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun,

Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre: 30

Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.

O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd,

Look'st from thy sole Dominion like the God

Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs

Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call,

But with no friendly voice, and add thy name

O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams

That bring to my remembrance from what state

I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare;

Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down 40

Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King:

Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return

From me, whom he created what I was

In that bright eminence, and with his good

Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.

What could be less then to afford him praise,

The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,

How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me,

And wrought but malice; lifted up so high

I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher 50

Would set me highest, and in a moment quit

The debt immense of endless gratitude,

So burthensome, still paying, still to ow;

Forgetful what from him I still receivd,

And understood not that a grateful mind

By owing owes not, but still pays, at once

Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?

O had his powerful Destiny ordaind

Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood

Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60

Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power

As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean

Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great

Fell not, but stand unshak'n, from within

Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.

Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?

Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,

But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all?

Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,

To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 70

Nay curs'd be thou; since against his thy will

Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

Me miserable! which way shall I flie

Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire?

Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell;

And in the lowest deep a lower deep

Still threatning to devour me opens wide,

To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n.

O then at last relent: is there no place

Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? 80

None left but by submission; and that word

Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame

Among the spirits beneath, whom I seduc'd

With other promises and other vaunts

Then to submit, boasting I could subdue

Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know

How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,

Under what torments inwardly I groane;

While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,

With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd 90

The lower still I fall, onely Supream

In miserie; such joy Ambition findes.

But say I could repent and could obtaine

By Act of Grace my former state; how soon

Would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay

What feign'd submission swore: ease would recant

Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

For never can true reconcilement grow

Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep:

Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 100

And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare

Short intermission bought with double smart.

This knows my punisher; therefore as farr

From granting hee, as I from begging peace:

All hope excluded thus, behold in stead

Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight,

Mankind created, and for him this World.

So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,

Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;

Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least 110

Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold

By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;

As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.

Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face

Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair,

Which marrd his borrow'd visage, and betraid

Him counterfet, if any eye beheld.

For heav'nly mindes from such distempers foule

Are ever cleer. Whereof hee soon aware,

Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calme, 120

Artificer of fraud; and was the first

That practisd falshood under saintly shew,

Deep malice to conceale, couch't with revenge:

Yet not anough had practisd to deceive

Uriel once warnd; whose eye pursu'd him down

The way he went, and on th' Assyrian mount

Saw him disfigur'd, more then could befall

Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce

He markd and mad demeanour, then alone,

As he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen. 130

So on he fares, and to the border comes

Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,

As with a rural mound the champain head

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides

With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde,

Access deni'd; and over head up grew

Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,

Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm,

A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend 140

Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre

Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops

The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:

Which to our general Sire gave prospect large

Into his neather Empire neighbouring round.

And higher then that Wall a circling row

Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,

Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue

Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:

On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams 150

Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,

When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd

That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

Vernal delight and joy, able to drive

All sadness but despair: now gentle gales

Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile

Beyond the Cape Of Hope, and now are past 160

Mozambic, off at Sea North-East windes blow

Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare

Of Arabie the blest, with such delay

Well pleas'd they slack thir course, and many a League

Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles.

So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend

Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd

Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume,

That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse

Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent 170

From Media post to Aegypt, there fast bound.

Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill

Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;

But further way found none, so thick entwin'd,

As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext

All path of Man or Beast that past that way:

One Gate there onely was, and that look'd East

On th' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw

Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, 180

At one slight bound high overleap'd all bound

Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve

In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure,

Leaps o're the fence with ease into the Fould:

Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash

Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,

Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, 190

In at the window climbes, or o're the tiles;

So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:

So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe.

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

The middle Tree and highest there that grew,

Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life

Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death

To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought

Of that life-giving Plant, but only us'd

For prospect, what well us'd had bin the pledge 200

Of immortalitie. So little knows

Any, but God alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts best things

To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.

Beneath him with new wonder now he views

To all delight of human sense expos'd

In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,

A Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise

Of God the Garden was, by him in the East

Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line 210

From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs

Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings,

Or where the Sons of Eden long before

Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile

His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind;

Out of the fertil ground he caus'd to grow

All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit

Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life 220

Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,

Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.

Southward through Eden went a River large,

Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggie hill

Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown

That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd

Upon the rapid current, which through veins

Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,

Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill

Waterd the Garden; thence united fell 230

Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood,

Which from his darksom passage now appeers,

And now divided into four main Streams,

Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme

And Country whereof here needs no account,

But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,

How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks,

Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,

With mazie error under pendant shades

Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 240

Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art

In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon

Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine,

Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote

The open field, and where the unpierc't shade

Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place,

A happy rural seat of various view;

Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme,

Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde

Hung amiable, Hesperian Fables true, 250

If true, here onely, and of delicious taste:

Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks

Grasing the tender herb, were interpos'd,

Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap

Of som irriguous Valley spread her store,

Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:

Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves

Of coole recess, o're which the mantling Vine

Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps

Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall 260

Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake,

That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd,

Her chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams.

The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires,

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune

The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance

Led on th' Eternal Spring. Not that faire field

Of Enna, where Proserpin gathring flours

Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie Dis 270

Was gatherd, which cost Ceres all that pain

To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove

Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd

Castalian Spring might with this Paradise

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian Ile

Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham,

Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove,

Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son

Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rhea's eye;

Nor where Abassin Kings thir issue Guard, 280

Mount Amara, though this by som suppos'd

True Paradise under the Ethiop Line

By Nilus head, enclos'd with shining Rock,

A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote

From this Assyrian Garden, where the Fiend

Saw undelighted all delight, all kind

Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:

Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,

Godlike erect, with native Honour clad

In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all, 290

And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine

The image of thir glorious Maker shon,

Truth, Wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure,

Severe, but in true filial freedom plac't;

Whence true autoritie in men; though both

Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;

For contemplation hee and valour formd,

For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace,

Hee for God only, shee for God in him:

His fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd 300

Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks

Round from his parted forelock manly hung

Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:

Shee as a vail down to the slender waste

Her unadorned golden tresses wore

Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav'd

As the Vine curles her tendrils, which impli'd

Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway,

And by her yeilded, by him best receivd,

Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride, 310

And sweet reluctant amorous delay.

Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald,

Then was not guiltie shame, dishonest shame

Of natures works, honor dishonorable,

Sin-bred, how have ye troubl'd all mankind

With shews instead, meer shews of seeming pure,

And banisht from mans life his happiest life,

Simplicitie and spotless innocence.

So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight

Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: 320

So hand in hand they passd, the lovliest pair

That ever since in loves imbraces met,

Adam the goodliest man of men since borne

His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters Eve.

Under a tuft of shade that on a green

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side

They sat them down, and after no more toil

Of thir sweet Gardning labour then suffic'd

To recommend coole Zephyr, and made ease

More easie, wholsom thirst and appetite 330

More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell,

Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughes

Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline

On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours:

The savourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde

Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;

Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles

Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems

Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League,

Alone as they. About them frisking playd 340

All Beasts of th' Earth, since wilde, and of all chase

In Wood or Wilderness, Forrest or Den;

Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw

Dandl'd the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards

Gambold before them, th' unwieldy Elephant

To make them mirth us'd all his might, and wreathd

His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly

Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

His breaded train, and of his fatal guile

Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 350

Coucht, and now fild with pasture gazing sat,

Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun

Declin'd was hasting now with prone carreer

To th' Ocean Iles, and in th' ascending Scale

Of Heav'n the Starrs that usher Evening rose:

When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,

Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad.

O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold,

Into our room of bliss thus high advanc't

Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, 360

Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright

Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue

With wonder, and could love, so lively shines

In them Divine resemblance, and such grace

The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd.

Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh

Your change approaches, when all these delights

Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;

Happie, but for so happie ill secur'd 370

Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav'n

Ill fenc't for Heav'n to keep out such a foe

As now is enterd; yet no purpos'd foe

To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne

Though I unpittied: League with you I seek,

And mutual amitie so streight, so close,

That I with you must dwell, or you with me

Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please

Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such

Accept your Makers work; he gave it me, 380

Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfould,

To entertain you two, her widest Gates,

And send forth all her Kings; there will be room,

Not like these narrow limits, to receive

Your numerous ofspring; if no better place,

Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge

On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd.

And should I at your harmless innocence

Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just,

Honour and Empire with revenge enlarg'd, 390

By conquering this new World, compels me now

To do what else though damnd I should abhorre.

So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie,

The Tyrants plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.

Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree

Down he alights among the sportful Herd

Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one,

Now other, as thir shape servd best his end

Neerer to view his prey, and unespi'd

To mark what of thir state he more might learn 400

By word or action markt: about them round

A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare,

Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd

In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play,

Strait couches close, then rising changes oft

His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground

Whence rushing he might surest seise them both

Grip't in each paw: when Adam first of men

To first of women Eve thus moving speech,

Turnd him all eare to heare new utterance flow. 410

Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,

Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power

That made us, and for us this ample World

Be infinitly good, and of his good

As liberal and free as infinite,

That rais'd us from the dust and plac't us here

In all this happiness, who at his hand

Have nothing merited, nor can performe

Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires

From us no other service then to keep 420

This one, this easie charge, of all the Trees

In Paradise that beare delicious fruit

So various, not to taste that onely Tree

Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,

So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is,

Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst

God hath pronounc't it death to taste that Tree,

The only sign of our obedience left

Among so many signes of power and rule

Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n 430

Over all other Creatures that possesse

Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard

One easie prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

Unlimited of manifold delights:

But let us ever praise him, and extoll

His bountie, following our delightful task

To prune these growing Plants, & tend these Flours,

Which were it toilsom, yet with thee were sweet.

To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom 440

And from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh,

And without whom am to no end, my Guide

And Head, what thou hast said is just and right.

For wee to him indeed all praises owe,

And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy

So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee

Preeminent by so much odds, while thou

Like consort to thy self canst no where find.

That day I oft remember, when from sleep

I first awak't, and found my self repos'd 450

Under a shade on flours, much wondring where

And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

Of waters issu'd from a Cave and spread

Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd

Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went

With unexperienc't thought, and laid me downe

On the green bank, to look into the cleer

Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie.

As I bent down to look, just opposite, 460

A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd

Bending to look on me, I started back,

It started back, but pleasd I soon returnd,

Pleas'd it returnd as soon with answering looks

Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt

Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,

Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest,

What there thou seest fair Creature is thy self,

With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

And I will bring thee where no shadow staies 470

Thy coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee

Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy

Inseparablie thine, to him shalt beare

Multitudes like thy self, and thence be call'd

Mother of human Race: what could I doe,

But follow strait, invisibly thus led?

Till I espi'd thee, fair indeed and tall,

Under a Platan, yet methought less faire,

Less winning soft, less amiablie milde,

Then that smooth watry image; back I turnd, 480

Thou following cryd'st aloud, Return fair Eve,

Whom fli'st thou? whom thou fli'st, of him thou art,

His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

Out of my side to thee, neerest my heart

Substantial Life, to have thee by my side

Henceforth an individual solace dear;

Part of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim

My other half: with that thy gentle hand

Seisd mine, I yeilded, and from that time see

How beauty is excelld by manly grace 490

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.

So spake our general Mother, and with eyes

Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,

And meek surrender, half imbracing leand

On our first Father, half her swelling Breast

Naked met his under the flowing Gold

Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms

Smil'd with superior Love, as Jupiter

On Juno smiles, when he impregns the Clouds 500

That shed May Flowers; and press'd her Matron lip

With kisses pure: aside the Devil turnd

For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne

Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind.

Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two

Imparadis't in one anothers arms

The happier Eden, shall enjoy thir fill

Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,

Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,

Among our other torments not the least, 510

Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines;

Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd

From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems:

One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge call'd,

Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidd'n?

Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir Lord

Envie them that? can it be sin to know,

Can it be death? and do they onely stand

By Ignorance, is that thir happie state,

The proof of thir obedience and thir faith? 520

O fair foundation laid whereon to build

Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds

With more desire to know, and to reject

Envious commands, invented with designe

To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt

Equal with Gods; aspiring to be such,

They taste and die: what likelier can ensue?

But first with narrow search I must walk round

This Garden, and no corner leave unspi'd;

A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 530

Some wandring Spirit of Heav'n, by Fountain side,

Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw

What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,

Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return,

Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.

So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,

But with sly circumspection, and began

Through wood, through waste, o're hil, o're dale his roam.

Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heav'n

With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun 540

Slowly descended, and with right aspect

Against the eastern Gate of Paradise

Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock

Of Alablaster, pil'd up to the Clouds,

Conspicuous farr, winding with one ascent

Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;

The rest was craggie cliff, that overhung

Still as it rose, impossible to climbe.

Betwixt these rockie Pillars Gabriel sat

Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night; 550

About him exercis'd Heroic Games

Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand

Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares

Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold.

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the Eeven

On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr

In Autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd

Impress the Air, and shews the Mariner

From what point of his Compass to beware

Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste. 560

Gabriel, to thee thy cours by Lot hath giv'n

Charge and strict watch that to this happie place

No evil thing approach or enter in;

This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare

A Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know

More of th' Almighties works, and chiefly Man

Gods latest Image: I describ'd his way

Bent all on speed, and markt his Aerie Gate;

But in the Mount that lies from Eden North,

Where he first lighted, soon discernd his looks 570

Alien from Heav'n, with passions foul obscur'd:

Mine eye pursu'd him still, but under shade

Lost sight of him; one of the banisht crew

I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise

New troubles; him thy care must be to find.

To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd:

Uriel, no wonder if thy perfet sight,

Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst,

See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pass

The vigilance here plac't, but such as come 580

Well known from Heav'n; and since Meridian hour

No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort,

So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds

On purpose, hard thou knowst it to exclude

Spiritual substance with corporeal barr.

But if within the circuit of these walks

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know.

So promis'd hee, and Uriel to his charge

Returnd on that bright beam, whose point now raisd 590

Bore him slope downward to the Sun now fall'n

Beneath th' Azores; whither the prime Orb,

Incredible how swift, had thither rowl'd

Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth

By shorter flight to th' East, had left him there

Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold

The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend:

Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray

Had in her sober Liverie all things clad;

Silence accompanied, for Beast and Bird, 600

They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests

Were slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale;

She all night long her amorous descant sung;

Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament

With living Saphirs: Hesperus that led

The starrie Host, rode brightest, till the Moon

Rising in clouded Majestie, at length

Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light,

And o're the dark her Silver Mantle threw.

When Adam thus to Eve: Fair Consort, th' hour 610

Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest

Mind us of like repose, since God hath set

Labour and rest, as day and night to men

Successive, and the timely dew of sleep

Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines

Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long

Rove idle unimploid, and less need rest;

Man hath his daily work of body or mind

Appointed, which declares his Dignitie,

And the regard of Heav'n on all his waies; 620

While other Animals unactive range,

And of thir doings God takes no account.

Tomorrow ere fresh Morning streak the East

With first approach of light, we must be ris'n,

And at our pleasant labour, to reform

Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green,

Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown,

That mock our scant manuring, and require

More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth:

Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms, 630

That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth,

Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;

Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest.

To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd.

My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst

Unargu'd I obey; so God ordains,

God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more

Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise.

With thee conversing I forget all time,

All seasons and thir change, all please alike. 640

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun

When first on this delightful Land he spreads

His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,

Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth

After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night

With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,

And these the Gemms of Heav'n, her starrie train:

But neither breath of Morn when she ascends 650

With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun

On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure,

Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,

Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night

With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,

Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.

But wherfore all night long shine these, for whom

This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?

To whom our general Ancestor repli'd.

Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht Eve, 660

Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth,

By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land

In order, though to Nations yet unborn,

Ministring light prepar'd, they set and rise;

Least total darkness should by Night regaine

Her old possession, and extinguish life

In Nature and all things, which these soft fires

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate

Of various influence foment and warme,

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 670

Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow

On Earth, made hereby apter to receive

Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray.

These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,

Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none,

That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise;

Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth

Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

All these with ceasless praise his works behold

Both day and night: how often from the steep 680

Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive each to others note

Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk

With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds

In full harmonic number joind, thir songs

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.

Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd

On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place 690

Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he fram'd

All things to mans delightful use; the roofe

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade

Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side

Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub

Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour,

Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin

Rear'd high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought

Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, 700

Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay

Broiderd the ground, more colour'd then with stone

Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here

Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;

Such was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower

More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,

Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph,

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess

With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs

Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed, 710

And heav'nly Quires the Hymenaean sung,

What day the genial Angel to our Sire

Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,

More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods

Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like

In sad event, when to the unwiser Son

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd

Mankind with her faire looks, to be aveng'd

On him who had stole Joves authentic fire.

Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood, 720

Both turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd

The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth & Heav'n

Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe

And starrie Pole: Thou also mad'st the Night,

Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day,

Which we in our appointed work imployd

Have finisht happie in our mutual help

And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss

Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place

For us too large, where thy abundance wants 730

Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.

But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race

To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.

This said unanimous, and other Rites

Observing none, but adoration pure

Which God likes best, into thir inmost bower

Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off

These troublesom disguises which wee wear, 740

Strait side by side were laid, nor turnd I weene

Adam from his fair Spouse, nor Eve the Rites

Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd:

Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk

Of puritie and place and innocence,

Defaming as impure what God declares

Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all.

Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain

But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?

Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source 750

Of human ofspring, sole proprietie,

In Paradise of all things common else.

By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men

Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee

Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure,

Relations dear, and all the Charities

Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known.

Farr be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets, 760

Whose Bed is undefil'd and chast pronounc't,

Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd.

Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights

His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,

Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile

Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard,

Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours

Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal,

Or Serenate, which the starv'd Lover sings

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 770

These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept,

And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof

Showrd Roses, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on,

Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek

No happier state, and know to know no more.

Now had night measur'd with her shaddowie Cone

Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault,

And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim

Forth issuing at th' accustomd hour stood armd

To thir night watches in warlike Parade, 780

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the South

With strictest watch; these other wheel the North,

Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part

Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear.

From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld

That neer him stood, and gave them thus in charge.

Ithuriel and Zephon, with wingd speed

Search through this Garden, leav unsearcht no nook,

But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge, 790

Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harme.

This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd

Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd

The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:

Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.

So saying, on he led his radiant Files,

Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct

In search of whom they sought: him there they found

Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve; 800

Assaying by his Devilish art to reach

The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge

Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,

Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arise

Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise

At least distemperd, discontented thoughts,

Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate desires

Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear 810

Touch'd lightly; for no falshood can endure

Touch of Celestial temper, but returns

Of force to its own likeness: up he starts

Discoverd and surpriz'd. As when a spark

Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid

Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store

Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine

With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire:

So started up in his own shape the Fiend.

Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd 820

So sudden to behold the grieslie King;

Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon.

Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell

Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison, and transform'd,

Why satst thou like an enemie in waite

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

Know ye not then said Satan, filld with scorn,

Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate

For you, there sitting where ye durst not soare;

Not to know mee argues your selves unknown, 830

The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.

Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,

Or undiminisht brightness, to be known

As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure;

That Glorie then, when thou no more wast good,

Departed from thee, and thou resembl'st now

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule. 840

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

This place inviolable, and these from harm.

So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke

Severe in youthful beautie, added grace

Invincible: abasht the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Vertue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pin'd

His loss; but chiefly to find here observd

His lustre visibly impar'd; yet seemd 850

Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,

Best with the best, the Sender not the sent,

Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn,

Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold,

Will save us trial what the least can doe

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage;

But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on,

Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie

He held it vain; awe from above had quelld 860

His heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh

The western point, where those half-rounding guards

Just met, & closing stood in squadron joind

Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief

Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud.

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet

Hasting this way, and now by glimps discerne

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,

And with them comes a third of Regal port,

But faded splendor wan; who by his gate 870

And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,

Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

He scarce had ended, when those two approachd

And brief related whom they brought, wher found,

How busied, in what form and posture coucht.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.

Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd

To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge

Of others, who approve not to transgress 880

By thy example, but have power and right

To question thy bold entrance on this place;

Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep, and those

Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.

Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise,

And such I held thee; but this question askt

Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain?

Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt, 890

And boldly venture to whatever place

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change

Torment with ease, & soonest recompence

Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;

To thee no reason; who knowst only good,

But evil hast not tri'd: and wilt object

His will who bound us? let him surer barr

His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was askt.

The rest is true, they found me where they say; 900

But that implies not violence or harme.

Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,

Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd.

O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise,

Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew,

And now returns him from his prison scap't,

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd;

So wise he judges it to fly from pain 910

However, and to scape his punishment.

So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth,

Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight

Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain

Can equal anger infinite provok't.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee

Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them

Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they

Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief, 920

The first in flight from pain, had'st thou alleg'd

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern.

Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,

Insulting Angel, well thou knowst I stood

Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide

The blasting volied Thunder made all speed

And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear.

But still thy words at random, as before, 930

Argue thy inexperience what behooves

From hard assaies and ill successes past

A faithful Leader, not to hazard all

Through wayes of danger by himself untri'd.

I therefore, I alone first undertook

To wing the desolate Abyss, and spie

This new created World, whereof in Hell

Fame is not silent, here in hope to find

Better abode, and my afflicted Powers

To settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire; 940

Though for possession put to try once more

What thou and thy gay Legions dare against;

Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord

High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymne his Throne,

And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.

To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd.

To say and strait unsay, pretending first

Wise to flie pain, professing next the Spie,

Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't,

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950

O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd!

Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?

Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head;

Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd,

Your military obedience, to dissolve

Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power supream?

And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem

Patron of liberty, who more then thou

Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly ador'd

Heav'ns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope 960

To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne?

But mark what I arreede thee now, avant;

Flie thither whence thou fledst: if from this houre

Within these hallowd limits thou appeer,

Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind,

And Seale thee so, as henceforth not to scorne

The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd.

So threatn'd hee, but Satan to no threats

Gave heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd.

Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines, 970

Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then

Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel

From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,

Us'd to the yoak, draw'st his triumphant wheels

In progress through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd.

While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright

Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes

Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round

With ported Spears, as thick as when a field 980

Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind

Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands

Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves

Prove chaff. On th' other side Satan allarm'd

Collecting all his might dilated stood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:

His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest

Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his graspe

What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds 990

Might have ensu'd, nor onely Paradise

In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope

Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements

At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne

With violence of this conflict, had not soon

Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray

Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion signe,

Wherein all things created first he weighd,

The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire 1000

In counterpoise, now ponders all events,

Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights

The sequel each of parting and of fight;

The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,

Neither our own but giv'n; what follie then

To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more

Then Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubld now

To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, 1010

And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign

Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak,

If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

Notes:

Argument: promises to find him out] promises to find him 1674

627 walks] walk 1674.

928 The] Thy 1674.

The End Of The Fourth Book.

BOOK V.

THE ARGUMENT.

Morning approach't, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream: he likes

it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to thir day labours: Their

Morning Hymn at the Door of their Bower. God to render Man inexcusable

sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of

his enemy near at hand; who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else

may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise; his appearance

describ'd, his coming discern'd by Adam afar off sitting at the door of

his Bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains

him with the choycest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; their

discourse at Table: Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his

state and of his enemy; relates at Adams request who that enemy is, and

how he came to be so, beginning with his first revolt in Heaven and the

occasion thereof; how he drew his Legions after him to the parts of the

North, and there incited them to rebel with him, perswading all but only

Abdiel a Seraph, who in Argument diswades and opposes him, then forsakes

him.

Now Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime

Advancing, sow'd the Earth with Orient Pearle,

When Adam wak't, so customd, for his sleep

Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,

And temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound

Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,

Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill Matin Song

Of Birds on every bough; so much the more

His wonder was to find unwak'nd Eve

With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek, 10

As through unquiet rest: he on his side

Leaning half-rais'd, with looks of cordial Love

Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld

Beautie, which whether waking or asleep,

Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice

Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,

Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake

My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,

Heav'ns last best gift, my ever new delight,

Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field 20

Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring

Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove,

What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed,

How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee

Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet.

Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye

On Adam, whom imbracing, thus she spake.

O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,

My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see

Thy face, and Morn return'd, for I this Night, 30

Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd,

If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,

Works of day pass't, or morrows next designe,

But of offence and trouble, which my mind

Knew never till this irksom night; methought

Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk

With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said,

Why sleepst thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,

The cool, the silent, save where silence yields

To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake 40

Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now reignes

Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light

Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain,

If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes,

Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire,

In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment

Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.

I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;

To find thee I directed then my walk;

And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways 50

That brought me on a sudden to the Tree

Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seem'd,

Much fairer to my Fancie then by day:

And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood

One shap'd and wing'd like one of those from Heav'n

By us oft seen; his dewie locks distill'd

Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd;

And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd,

Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,

Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despis'd? 60

Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?

Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold

Longer thy offerd good, why else set here?

This said he paus'd not, but with ventrous Arme

He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror chil'd

At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold:

But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine,

Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,

Forbidd'n here, it seems, as onely fit

For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: 70

And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more

Communicated, more abundant growes,

The Author not impair'd, but honourd more?

Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic Eve,

Partake thou also; happie though thou art,

Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:

Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods

Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind,

But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes

Ascend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see 80

What life the Gods live there, and such live thou.

So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,

Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part

Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell

So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought,

Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds

With him I flew, and underneath beheld

The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide

And various: wondring at my flight and change

To this high exaltation; suddenly 90

My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,

And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd

To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her Night

Related, and thus Adam answerd sad.

Best Image of my self and dearer half,

The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep

Affects me equally; nor can I like

This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;

Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,

Created pure. But know that in the Soule 100

Are many lesser Faculties that serve

Reason as chief; among these Fansie next

Her office holds; of all external things,

Which the five watchful Senses represent,

She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes,

Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames

All what we affirm or what deny, and call

Our knowledge or opinion; then retires

Into her private Cell when Nature rests.

Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes 110

To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,

Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,

Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.

Som such resemblances methinks I find

Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream,

But with addition strange; yet be not sad.

Evil into the mind of God or Man

May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave

No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope

That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream, 120

Waking thou never wilt consent to do.

Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks

That wont to be more chearful and serene

Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,

And let us to our fresh imployments rise

Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours

That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells

Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store.

So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,

But silently a gentle tear let fall 130

From either eye, and wip'd them with her haire;

Two other precious drops that ready stood,

Each in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell

Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse

And pious awe, that feard to have offended.

So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.

But first from under shadie arborous roof,

Soon as they forth were come to open sight

Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen

With wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim, 140

Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray,

Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East

Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains,

Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began

Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid

In various style, for neither various style

Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise

Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounc't or sung

Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence

Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse, 150

More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp

To add more sweetness, and they thus began.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,

Almightie, thine this universal Frame,

Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then!

Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens

To us invisible or dimly seen

In these thy lowest works, yet these declare

Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:

Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light, 160

Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs

And choral symphonies, Day without Night,

Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heav'n,

On Earth joyn all yee Creatures to extoll

Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.

Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night,

If better thou belong not to the dawn,

Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn

With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare

While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime. 170

Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule,

Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise

In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,

And when high Noon hast gaind, & when thou fallst.

Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now fli'st

With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies,

And yee five other wandring Fires that move

In mystic Dance not without Song, resound

His praise, who out of Darkness call'd up Light.

Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth 180

Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run

Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix

And nourish all things, let your ceasless change

Varie to our great Maker still new praise.

Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise

From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey,

Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,

In honour to the Worlds great Author rise,

Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie,

Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers, 190

Rising or falling still advance his praise.

His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow,

Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,

With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.

Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow,

Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.

Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds,

That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend,

Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise;

Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk 200

The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;

Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven,

To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade

Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.

Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still

To give us onely good; and if the night

Have gathered aught of evil or conceald,

Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.

So pray'd they innocent, and to thir thoughts

Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm. 210

On to thir mornings rural work they haste

Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row

Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr

Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check

Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine

To wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines

Her mariageable arms, and with her brings

Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn

His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld

With pittie Heav'ns high King, and to him call'd 220

Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd

To travel with Tobias, and secur'd

His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid.

Raphael, said hee, thou hear'st what stir on Earth

Satan from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf

Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd

This night the human pair, how he designes

In them at once to ruin all mankind.

Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend

Converse with Adam, in what Bowre or shade 230

Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd,

To respit his day-labour with repast,

Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,

As may advise him of his happie state,

Happiness in his power left free to will,

Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,

Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware

He swerve not too secure: tell him withall

His danger, and from whom, what enemie

Late falln himself from Heav'n, is plotting now 240

The fall of others from like state of bliss;

By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,

But by deceit and lies; this let him know,

Least wilfully transgressing he pretend

Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd.

So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld

All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint

After his charge receivd, but from among

Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood

Vaild with his gorgeous wings, up springing light 250

Flew through the midst of Heav'n; th' angelic Quires

On each hand parting, to his speed gave way

Through all th' Empyreal road; till at the Gate

Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-opend wide

On golden Hinges turning, as by work

Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd.

From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight,

Starr interpos'd, however small he sees,

Not unconform to other shining Globes,

Earth and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crownd 260

Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass

Of Galileo, less assur'd, observes

Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon:

Or Pilot from amidst the Cyclades

Delos or Samos first appeering kenns

A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight

He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie

Sailes between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing

Now on the polar windes, then with quick Fann

Winnows the buxom Air; till within soare 270

Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems

A Phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird

When to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's

Bright Temple, to Aegyptian Theb's he flies.

At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise

He lights, and to his proper shape returns

A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade

His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad

Each shoulder broad, came mantling o're his brest

With regal Ornament; the middle pair 280

Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round

Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold

And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet

Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile

Skie-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's son he stood,

And shook his Plumes, that Heav'nly fragrance filld

The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands

Of Angels under watch; and to his state,

And to his message high in honour rise;

For on som message high they guessd him bound. 290

Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come

Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe,

And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balme;

A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here

Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will

Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet,

Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss.

Him through the spicie Forrest onward com

Adam discernd, as in the dore he sat

Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun 300

Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme

Earths inmost womb, more warmth then Adam needs;

And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd

For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please

True appetite, and not disrelish thirst

Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream,

Berrie or Grape: to whom thus Adam call'd.

Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold

Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape

Comes this way moving; seems another Morn 310

Ris'n on mid-noon; som great behest from Heav'n

To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe

This day to be our Guest. But goe with speed,

And what thy stores contain, bring forth and poure

Abundance, fit to honour and receive

Our Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford

Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow

From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies

Her fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows

More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 320

To whom thus Eve. Adam, earths hallowd mould,

Of God inspir'd, small store will serve, where store,

All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;

Save what by frugal storing firmness gains

To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:

But I will haste and from each bough and break,

Each Plant & juciest Gourd will pluck such choice

To entertain our Angel guest, as hee

Beholding shall confess that here on Earth

God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heav'n. 330

So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste

She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent

What choice to chuse for delicacie best,

What order, so contriv'd as not to mix

Tastes, not well joynd, inelegant, but bring

Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change,

Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk

Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds

In India East or West, or middle shoare

In Pontus or the Punic Coast, or where 340

Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kindes, in coate,

Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell

She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board

Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape

She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes

From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest

She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold

Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground

With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd.

Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet 350

His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train

Accompani'd then with his own compleat

Perfections, in himself was all his state,

More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits

On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long

Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold

Dazles the croud, and sets them all agape.

Neerer his presence Adam though not awd,

Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,

As to a superior Nature, bowing low, 360

Thus said. Native of Heav'n, for other place

None can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain;

Since by descending from the Thrones above,

Those happie places thou hast deignd a while

To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us

Two onely, who yet by sov'ran gift possess

This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre

To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears

To sit and taste, till this meridian heat

Be over, and the Sun more coole decline. 370

Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde.

Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such

Created, or such place hast here to dwell,

As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n

To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre

Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise

I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge

They came, that like Pomona's Arbour smil'd

With flourets deck't and fragrant smells; but Eve

Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair 380

Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd

Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove,

Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no vaile

Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme

Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel Haile

Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd

Long after to blest Marie, second Eve.

Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb

Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons

Then with these various fruits the Trees of God 390

Have heap'd this Table. Rais'd of grassie terf

Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round,

And on her ample Square from side to side

All Autumn pil'd, though Spring and Autumn here

Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold;

No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began

Our Authour. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste

These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom

All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends,

To us for food and for delight hath caus'd 400

The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps

To spiritual Natures; only this I know,

That one Celestial Father gives to all.

To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives

(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part

Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found

No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure

Intelligential substances require

As doth your Rational; and both contain

Within them every lower facultie 410

Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,

Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,

And corporeal to incorporeal turn.

For know, whatever was created, needs

To be sustaind and fed; of Elements

The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,

Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires

Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon;

Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd

Vapours not yet into her substance turnd. 420

Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale

From her moist Continent to higher Orbes.

The Sun that light imparts to all, receives

From all his alimental recompence

In humid exhalations, and at Even

Sups with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees

Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines

Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn

We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground

Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here 430

Varied his bounty so with new delights,

As may compare with Heaven; and to taste

Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat,

And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly

The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss

Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch

Of real hunger, and concoctive heate

To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires

Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire

Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist 440

Can turn, or holds it possible to turn

Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold

As from the Mine. Mean while at Table Eve

Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups

With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence

Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,

Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin

Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts

Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousie

Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell. 450

Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd,

Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose

In Adam, not to let th' occasion pass

Given him by this great Conference to know

Of things above his World, and of thir being

Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he saw

Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms

Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far

Exceeded human, and his wary speech

Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd. 460

Inhabitant with God, now know I well

Thy favour, in this honour done to man,

Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't

To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,

Food not of Angels, yet accepted so,

As that more willingly thou couldst not seem

At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?

To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd.

O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom

All things proceed, and up to him return, 470

If not deprav'd from good, created all

Such to perfection, one first matter all,

Indu'd with various forms, various degrees

Of substance, and in things that live, of life;

But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure,

As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending

Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds

Proportiond to each kind. So from the root

Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 480

More aerie, last the bright consummate floure

Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit

Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd

To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,

To intellectual, give both life and sense,

Fansie and understanding, whence the soule

Reason receives, and reason is her being,

Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse

Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,

Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 490

Wonder not then, what God for you saw good

If I refuse not, but convert, as you,

To proper substance; time may come when men

With Angels may participate, and find

No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare:

And from these corporal nutriments perhaps

Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit

Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend

Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice

Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell; 500

If ye be found obedient, and retain

Unalterably firm his love entire

Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy

Your fill what happiness this happie state

Can comprehend, incapable of more.

To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd.

O favourable spirit, propitious guest,

Well hast thou taught the way that might direct

Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set

From center to circumference, whereon 510

In contemplation of created things

By steps we may ascend to God. But say,

What meant that caution joind, If Ye Be Found

Obedient? can wee want obedience then

To him, or possibly his love desert

Who formd us from the dust, and plac'd us here

Full to the utmost measure of what bliss

Human desires can seek or apprehend?

To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth,

Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God; 520

That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self,

That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.

This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd.

God made thee perfet, not immutable;

And good he made thee, but to persevere

He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will

By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate

Inextricable, or strict necessity;

Our voluntarie service he requires,

Not our necessitated, such with him 530

Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how

Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve

Willing or no, who will but what they must

By Destinie, and can no other choose?

My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand

In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state

Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;

On other surety none; freely we serve.

Because wee freely love, as in our will

To love or not; in this we stand or fall: 540

And som are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n,

And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall

From what high state of bliss into what woe!

To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words

Attentive, and with more delighted eare

Divine instructer, I have heard, then when

Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills

Aereal Music send: nor knew I not

To be both will and deed created free;

Yet that we never shall forget to love 550

Our maker, and obey him whose command

Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts

Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst

Hath past in Heav'n, som doubt within me move,

But more desire to hear, if thou consent,

The full relation, which must needs be strange,

Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard;

And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun

Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins

His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n. 560

Thus Adam made request, and Raphael

After short pause assenting, thus began.

High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,

Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate

To human sense th' invisible exploits

Of warring Spirits; how without remorse

The ruin of so many glorious once

And perfet while they stood; how last unfould

The secrets of another world, perhaps

Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 570

This is dispenc't, and what surmounts the reach

Of human sense, I shall delineate so,

By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms,

As may express them best, though what if Earth

Be but the shaddow of Heav'n, and things therein

Each to other like, more then on earth is thought?

As yet this world was not, and Chaos wilde

Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl, where Earth now rests

Upon her Center pois'd, when on a day

(For Time, though in Eternitie, appli'd 580

To motion, measures all things durable

By present, past, and future) on such day

As Heav'ns great Year brings forth, th' Empyreal Host

Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd,

Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne

Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd

Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright

Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd,

Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare

Streame in the Aire, and for distinction serve 590

Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees;

Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd

Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love

Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes

Of circuit inexpressible they stood,

Orb within Orb, the Father infinite,

By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,

Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whose top

Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.

Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light, 600

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,

Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand.

This day I have begot whom I declare

My onely Son, and on this holy Hill

Him have anointed, whom ye now behold

At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;

And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow

All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord:

Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide

United as one individual Soule 610

For ever happie: him who disobeyes

Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day

Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls

Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place

Ordaind without redemption, without end.

So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words

All seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all.

That day, as other solem dayes, they spent

In song and dance about the sacred Hill,

Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare 620

Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles

Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,

Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular

Then most, when most irregular they seem:

And in thir motions harmonie Divine

So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear

Listens delighted. Eevning approachd

(For we have also our Eevning and our Morn,

We ours for change delectable, not need)

Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 630

Desirous, all in Circles as they stood,

Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd

With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows:

In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold,

Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heav'n.

They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet

Are fill'd, before th' all bounteous King, who showrd

With copious hand, rejoycing in thir joy.

Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd

From that high mount of God, whence light & shade 640

Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had changd

To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there

In darker veile) and roseat Dews dispos'd

All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest,

Wide over all the Plain, and wider farr

Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred,

(Such are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng

Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend

By living Streams among the Trees of Life,

Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard, 650

Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept

Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course

Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne

Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd

Satan, so call him now, his former name

Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first,

If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power,

In favour and praeeminence, yet fraught

With envie against the Son of God, that day

Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd 660

Messiah King anointed, could not beare

Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird.

Deep malice thence conceiving & disdain,

Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre

Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd

With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave

Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supream

Contemptuous, and his next subordinate

Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.

Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close 670

Thy eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree

Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips

Of Heav'ns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts

Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;

Both waking we were one; how then can now

Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest impos'd;

New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise

In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate

What doubtful may ensue, more in this place

To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 680

Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief;

Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night

Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste,

And all who under me thir Banners wave,

Homeward with flying march where we possess

The Quarters of the North, there to prepare

Fit entertainment to receive our King

The great Messiah, and his new commands,

Who speedily through all the Hierarchies

Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws. 690

So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd

Bad influence into th' unwarie brest

Of his Associate; hee together calls,

Or several one by one, the Regent Powers,

Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught,

That the most High commanding, now ere Night,

Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n,

The great Hierarchal Standard was to move;

Tells the suggested cause, and casts between

Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 700

Or taint integritie; but all obey'd

The wonted signal, and superior voice

Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed

His name, and high was his degree in Heav'n;

His count'nance, as the Morning Starr that guides

The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with lyes

Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host:

Mean while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discernes

Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount

And from within the golden Lamps that burne 710

Nightly before him, saw without thir light

Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spred

Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes

Were banded to oppose his high Decree;

And smiling to his onely Son thus said.

Son, thou in whom my glory I behold

In full resplendence, Heir of all my might,

Neerly it now concernes us to be sure

Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms

We mean to hold what anciently we claim 720

Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe

Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne

Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North;

Nor so content, hath in his thought to trie

In battel, what our Power is, or our right.

Let us advise, and to this hazard draw

With speed what force is left, and all imploy

In our defence, lest unawares we lose

This our high place, our Sanctuarie, our Hill.

To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer 730

Light'ning Divine, ineffable, serene,

Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes

Justly hast in derision, and secure

Laugh'st at thir vain designes and tumults vain,

Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate

Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power

Giv'n me to quell thir pride, and in event

Know whether I be dextrous to subdue

Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n.

So spake the Son, but Satan with his Powers 740

Farr was advanc't on winged speed, an Host

Innumerable as the Starrs of Night,

Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun

Impearls on every leaf and every flouer.

Regions they pass'd, the mightie Regencies

Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones

In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which

All thy Dominion, Adam, is no more

Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,

And all the Sea, from one entire globose 750

Stretcht into Longitude; which having pass'd

At length into the limits of the North

They came, and Satan to his Royal seat

High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount

Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs

From Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold,

The Palace of great Lucifer, (so call

That Structure in the Dialect of men

Interpreted) which not long after, hee

Affecting all equality with God, 760

In imitation of that Mount whereon

Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heav'n,

The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;

For thither he assembl'd all his Train,

Pretending so commanded to consult

About the great reception of thir King,

Thither to come, and with calumnious Art

Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears.

Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers,

If these magnific Titles yet remain 770

Not meerly titular, since by Decree

Another now hath to himself ingross't

All Power, and us eclipst under the name

Of King anointed, for whom all this haste

Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,

This onely to consult how we may best

With what may be devis'd of honours new

Receive him coming to receive from us

Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,

Too much to one, but double how endur'd, 780

To one and to his image now proclaim'd?

But what if better counsels might erect

Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?

Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend

The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust

To know ye right, or if ye know your selves

Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before

By none, and if not equal all, yet free,

Equally free; for Orders and Degrees

Jarr not with liberty, but well consist. 790

Who can in reason then or right assume

Monarchie over such as live by right

His equals, if in power and splendor less,

In freedome equal? or can introduce

Law and Edict on us, who without law

Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord,

And look for adoration to th' abuse

Of those Imperial Titles which assert

Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve?

Thus farr his bold discourse without controule 800

Had audience, when among the Seraphim

Abdiel, then whom none with more zeale ador'd

The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd,

Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe

The current of his fury thus oppos'd.

O argument blasphemous, false and proud!

Words which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n

Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate

In place thy self so high above thy Peeres.

Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne 810

The just Decree of God, pronounc't and sworn,

That to his only Son by right endu'd

With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heav'n

Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due

Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist

Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free,

And equal over equals to let Reigne,

One over all with unsucceeded power.

Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute

With him the points of libertie, who made 820

Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n

Such as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being?

Yet by experience taught we know how good,

And of our good, and of our dignitie

How provident he is, how farr from thought

To make us less, bent rather to exalt

Our happie state under one Head more neer

United. But to grant it thee unjust,

That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:

Thy self though great & glorious dost thou count, 830

Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,

Equal to him begotten Son, by whom

As by his Word the mighty Father made

All things, ev'n thee, and all the Spirits of Heav'n

By him created in thir bright degrees,

Crownd them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers

Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscur'd,

But more illustrious made, since he the Head

One of our number thus reduc't becomes, 840

His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done

Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,

And tempt not these; but hast'n to appease

Th' incensed Father, and th' incensed Son,

While Pardon may be found in time besought.

So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale

None seconded, as out of season judg'd,

Or singular and rash, whereat rejoic'd

Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus repli'd.

That we were formd then saist thou? & the work 850

Of secondarie hands, by task transferd

From Father to his Son? strange point and new!

Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw

When this creation was? rememberst thou

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?

We know no time when we were not as now;

Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd

By our own quick'ning power, when fatal course

Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature

Of this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons. 860

Our puissance is our own, our own right hand

Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try

Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold

Whether by supplication we intend

Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne

Beseeching or besieging. This report,

These tidings carrie to th' anointed King;

And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

He said, and as the sound of waters deep

Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause 870

Through the infinite Host, nor less for that

The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone

Encompass'd round with foes, thus answerd bold.

O alienate from God, O spirit accurst,

Forsak'n of all good; I see thy fall

Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd

In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred

Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth

No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke

Of Gods Messiah; those indulgent Laws 880

Will not be now voutsaf't, other Decrees

Against thee are gon forth without recall;

That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject

Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake

Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,

Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly

These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrauth

Impendent, raging into sudden flame

Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel

His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 890

Then who created thee lamenting learne,

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.

So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found,

Among the faithless, faithful only hee;

Among innumerable false, unmov'd,

Unshak'n, unseduc'd, unterrifi'd

His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale;

Nor number, nor example with him wrought

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind

Though single. From amidst them forth he passd, 900

Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind

Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;

And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd

On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd.

Notes:

627: Eevning approachd] Eevning now approachd 1674

636-639: On flours repos'd, and with fresh flourets crown'd

They eate, they drink, and in communion sweet

Quaff immortalitie and joy, secure

Of surfet where full measure onely bounds

Excess, before th'all bounteous King, who showrd 1674.

The End Of The Fifth Book.

BOOK VI.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent forth to

Battel against Satan and his Angels. The first Fight describ'd: Satan

and his Powers retire under Night: he calls a Councel, invents devilish

Engines, which in the second dayes Fight put Michael and his Angels to

some disorder; But they at length pulling up Mountains overwhelm'd both

the force and Machins of Satan: Yet the Tumult not so ending, God on the

third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom he had reserv'd the glory of

that Victory. Hee in the Power of his Father coming to the place, and

causing all his Legions to stand still on either side, with his Chariot

and Thunder driving into the midst of his Enemies, pursues them unable

to resist towards the wall of Heaven; which opening, they leap down with

horror and confusion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in

the Deep: Messiah returns with triumph to his Father.

All night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd

Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way, till Morn,

Wak't by the circling Hours, with rosie hand

Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave

Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,

Where light and darkness in perpetual round

Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav'n

Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;

Light issues forth, and at the other dore

Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre 10

To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might well

Seem twilight here; and now went forth the Morn

Such as in highest Heav'n, arrayd in Gold

Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,

Shot through with orient Beams: when all the Plain

Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright,

Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds

Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:

Warr he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found

Already known what he for news had thought 20

To have reported: gladly then he mixt

Among those friendly Powers who him receav'd

With joy and acclamations loud, that one

That of so many Myriads fall'n, yet one

Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill

They led him high applauded, and present

Before the seat supream; from whence a voice

From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.

Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought

The better fight, who single hast maintaind 30

Against revolted multitudes the Cause

Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;

And for the testimonie of Truth hast born

Universal reproach, far worse to beare

Then violence: for this was all thy care

To stand approv'd in sight of God, though Worlds

Judg'd thee perverse: the easier conquest now

Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,

Back on thy foes more glorious to return

Then scornd thou didst depart, and to subdue 40

By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,

Right reason for thir Law, and for thir King

Messiah, who by right of merit Reigns.

Goe Michael of Celestial Armies Prince,

And thou in Military prowess next

Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my Sons

Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints

By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight;

Equal in number to that Godless crew

Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms 50

Fearless assault, and to the brow of Heav'n

Pursuing drive them out from God and bliss,

Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf

Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide

His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall.

So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began

To darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl

In duskie wreathes, reluctant flames, the signe

Of wrauth awak't: nor with less dread the loud

Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow: 60

At which command the Powers Militant,

That stood for Heav'n, in mighty Quadrate joyn'd

Of Union irresistible, mov'd on

In silence thir bright Legions, to the sound

Of instrumental Harmonie that breath'd

Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds

Under thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause

Of God and his Messiah. On they move

Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill,

Nor streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides 70

Thir perfet ranks; for high above the ground

Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore

Thir nimble tread; as when the total kind

Of Birds in orderly array on wing

Came summond over Eden to receive

Thir names of thee; so over many a tract

Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a Province wide

Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last

Farr in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd

From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht 80

In battailous aspect, and neerer view

Bristl'd with upright beams innumerable

Of rigid Spears, and Helmets throng'd, and Shields

Various, with boastful Argument portraid,

The banded Powers of Satan hasting on

With furious expedition; for they weend

That self same day by fight, or by surprize

To win the Mount of God, and on his Throne

To set the envier of his State, the proud

Aspirer, but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain 90

In the mid way: though strange to us it seemd

At first, that Angel should with Angel warr,

And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet

So oft in Festivals of joy and love

Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire

Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout

Of Battel now began, and rushing sound

Of onset ended soon each milder thought.

High in the midst exalted as a God

Th' Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate 100

Idol of Majestie Divine, enclos'd

With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;

Then lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now

'Twixt Host and Host but narrow space was left,

A dreadful interval, and Front to Front

Presented stood in terrible array

Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van,

On the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd,

Satan with vast and haughtie strides advanc't,

Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold; 110

Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood

Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,

And thus his own undaunted heart explores.

O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest

Should yet remain, where faith and realtie

Remain not; wherfore should not strength & might

There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove

Where boldest; though to sight unconquerable?

His puissance, trusting in th' Almightie's aide,

I mean to try, whose Reason I have tri'd 120

Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,

That he who in debate of Truth hath won,

Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike

Victor; though brutish that contest and foule,

When Reason hath to deal with force, yet so

Most reason is that Reason overcome.

So pondering, and from his armed Peers

Forth stepping opposite, half way he met

His daring foe, at this prevention more

Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd. 130

Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht

The highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd,

The Throne of God unguarded, and his side

Abandond at the terror of thy Power

Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain

Against th' Omnipotent to rise in Arms;

Who out of smallest things could without end

Have rais'd incessant Armies to defeat

Thy folly; or with solitarie hand

Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow 140

Unaided could have finisht thee, and whelmd

Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest

All are not of thy Train; there be who Faith

Prefer, and Pietie to God, though then

To thee not visible, when I alone

Seemd in thy World erroneous to dissent

From all: my Sect thou seest, now learn too late

How few somtimes may know, when thousands err.

Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance

Thus answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre 150

Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst

From flight, seditious Angel, to receave

Thy merited reward, the first assay

Of this right hand provok't, since first that tongue

Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose

A third part of the Gods, in Synod met

Thir Deities to assert, who while they feel

Vigour Divine within them, can allow

Omnipotence to none. But well thou comst

Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 160

From me som Plume, that thy success may show

Destruction to the rest: this pause between

(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;

At first I thought that Libertie and Heav'n

To heav'nly Soules had bin all one; but now

I see that most through sloth had rather serve,

Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;

Such hast thou arm'd, the Minstrelsie of Heav'n,

Servilitie with freedom to contend,

As both thir deeds compar'd this day shall prove. 170

To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern repli'd.

Apostat, still thou errst, nor end wilt find

Of erring, from the path of truth remote:

Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name

Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains,

Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,

When he who rules is worthiest, and excells

Them whom he governs. This is servitude,

To serve th' unwise, or him who hath rebelld

Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 180

Thy self not free, but to thy self enthrall'd;

Yet leudly dar'st our ministring upbraid.

Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve

In Heav'n God ever blessed, and his Divine

Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd,

Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while

From mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,

This greeting on thy impious Crest receive.

So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,

Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 190

On the proud Crest of Satan, that no sight,

Nor motion of swift thought, less could his Shield

Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge

He back recoild; the tenth on bended knee

His massie Spear upstaid; as if on Earth

Winds under ground or waters forcing way

Sidelong, had push't a Mountain from his seat

Half sunk with all his Pines. Amazement seis'd

The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see

Thus foil'd thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout, 200

Presage of Victorie and fierce desire

Of Battel: whereat Michael bid sound

Th' Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav'n

It sounded, and the faithful Armies rung

Hosanna to the Highest: nor stood at gaze

The adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn'd

The horrid shock: now storming furie rose,

And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now

Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd

Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles 210

Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise

Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss

Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,

And flying vaulted either Host with fire.

So under fierie Cope together rush'd

Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault

And inextinguishable rage; all Heav'n

Resounded, and had Earth bin then, all Earth

Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when

Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought 220

On either side, the least of whom could weild

These Elements, and arm him with the force

Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power

Armie against Armie numberless to raise

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,

Though not destroy, thir happie Native seat;

Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent

From his strong hold of Heav'n high over-rul'd

And limited thir might; though numberd such

As each divided Legion might have seemd 230

A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand

A Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd

Each Warriour single as in Chief, expert

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway

Of Battel, open when, and when to close

The ridges of grim Warr; no thought of flight,

None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

That argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd,

As onely in his arm the moment lay

Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame 240

Were don, but infinite: for wide was spred

That Warr and various; somtimes on firm ground

A standing fight, then soaring on main wing

Tormented all the Air; all Air seemd then

Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale

The Battel hung; till Satan, who that day

Prodigious power had shewn, and met in Armes

No equal, raunging through the dire attack

Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length

Saw where the Sword of Michael smote, and fell'd 250

Squadrons at once, with huge two-handed sway

Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down

Wide wasting; such destruction to withstand

He hasted, and oppos'd the rockie Orb

Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield

A vast circumference: At his approach

The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile

Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end

Intestine War in Heav'n, the arch foe subdu'd

Or Captive drag'd in Chains, with hostile frown 260

And visage all enflam'd first thus began.

Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,

Unnam'd in Heav'n, now plenteous, as thou seest

These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

Though heaviest by just measure on thy self

And thy adherents: how hast thou disturb'd

Heav'ns blessed peace, and into Nature brought

Miserie, uncreated till the crime

Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instill'd

Thy malice into thousands, once upright 270

And faithful, now prov'd false. But think not here

To trouble Holy Rest; Heav'n casts thee out

From all her Confines. Heav'n the seat of bliss

Brooks not the works of violence and Warr.

Hence then, and evil go with thee along

Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell,

Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles,

Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome,

Or som more sudden vengeance wing'd from God

Precipitate thee with augmented paine. 280

So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus

The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind

Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds

Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these

To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee

That thou shouldst hope, imperious, & with threats

To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end

The strife which thou call'st evil, but wee style

The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, 290

Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell

Thou fablest, here however to dwell free,

If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force,

And join him nam'd Almightie to thy aid,

I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh.

They ended parle, and both addrest for fight

Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue

Of Angels, can relate, or to what things

Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift

Human imagination to such highth 300

Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd,

Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms

Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n.

Now wav'd thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire

Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields

Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood

In horror; from each hand with speed retir'd

Where erst was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng,

And left large field, unsafe within the wind

Of such commotion, such as to set forth 310

Great things by small, If Natures concord broke,

Among the Constellations warr were sprung,

Two Planets rushing from aspect maligne

Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,

Should combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound.

Together both with next to Almightie Arme,

Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd

That might determine, and not need repeate,

As not of power, at once; nor odds appeerd

In might or swift prevention; but the sword 320

Of Michael from the Armorie of God

Was giv'n him temperd so, that neither keen

Nor solid might resist that edge: it met

The sword of Satan with steep force to smite

Descending, and in half cut sheere, nor staid,

But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring shar'd

All his right side; then Satan first knew pain,

And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore

The griding sword with discontinuous wound

Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance clos'd 330

Not long divisible, and from the gash

A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd

Sanguin, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed,

And all his Armour staind ere while so bright.

Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run

By Angels many and strong, who interpos'd

Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields

Back to his Chariot; where it stood retir'd

From off the files of warr; there they him laid

Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame 340

To find himself not matchless, and his pride

Humbl'd by such rebuke, so farr beneath

His confidence to equal God in power.

Yet soon he heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout

Vital in every part, not as frail man

In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines,

Cannot but by annihilating die;

Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound

Receive, no more then can the fluid Aire:

All Heart they live, all Head, all Eye, all Eare, 350

All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,

They Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size

Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd

Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,

And with fierce Ensignes pierc'd the deep array

Of Moloc furious King, who him defi'd,

And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound

Threatn'd, nor from the Holie One of Heav'n

Refrein'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon 360

Down clov'n to the waste, with shatterd Armes

And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing

Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe,

Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,

Vanquish'd Adramelec, and Asmadai,

Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods

Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight,

Mangl'd with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile.

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

The Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow 370

Ariel and Arioc, and the violence

Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.

I might relate of thousands, and thir names

Eternize here on Earth; but those elect

Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n

Seek not the praise of men: the other sort

In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr,

Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome

Canceld from Heav'n and sacred memorie,

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 380

For strength from Truth divided and from Just,

Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise

And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires

Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame:

Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome.

And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swerv'd,

With many an inrode gor'd; deformed rout

Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground

With shiverd armour strow'n, and on a heap

Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd 390

And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld

Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host

Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surpris'd,

Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of paine

Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

By sinne of disobedience, till that hour

Not liable to fear or flight or paine.

Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints

In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc't entire,

Invulnerable, impenitrably arm'd: 400

Such high advantages thir innocence

Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd,

Not to have disobei'd; in fight they stood

Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd

By wound, though from thir place by violence mov'd.

Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n

Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd,

And silence on the odious dinn of Warr:

Under her Cloudie covert both retir'd,

Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field 410

Michael and his Angels prevalent

Encamping, plac'd in Guard thir Watches round,

Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part

Satan with his rebellious disappeerd,

Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest,

His Potentates to Councel call'd by night;

And in the midst thus undismai'd began.

O now in danger tri'd, now known in Armes

Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare,

Found worthy not of Libertie alone, 420

Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,

Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne,

Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight,

(And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?)

What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send

Against us from about his Throne, and judg'd

Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,

Of future we may deem him, though till now

Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 430

Some disadvantage we endur'd and paine,

Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd,

Since now we find this our Empyreal forme

Incapable of mortal injurie

Imperishable, and though peirc'd with wound,

Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd.

Of evil then so small as easie think

The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,

Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440

Or equal what between us made the odds,

In Nature none: if other hidden cause

Left them Superiour, while we can preserve

Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound,

Due search and consultation will disclose.

He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood

Nisroc, of Principalities the prime;

As one he stood escap't from cruel fight,

Sore toild, his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn,

And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. 450

Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free

Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard

For Gods, and too unequal work we find

Against unequal armes to fight in paine,

Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil

Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes

Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain

Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands

Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well

Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460

But live content, which is the calmest life:

But pain is perfet miserie, the worst

Of evils, and excessive, overturnes

All patience. He who therefore can invent

With what more forcible we may offend

Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme

Our selves with like defence, to mee deserves

No less then for deliverance what we owe.

Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd.

Not uninvented that, which thou aright 470

Beleivst so main to our success, I bring;

Which of us who beholds the bright surface

Of this Ethereous mould whereon we stand,

This continent of spacious Heav'n, adornd

With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold,

Whose Eye so superficially surveyes

These things, as not to mind from whence they grow

Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,

Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht

With Heav'ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth 480

So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light.

These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep

Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame,

Which into hallow Engins long and round

Thick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fire

Dilated and infuriate shall send forth

From far with thundring noise among our foes

Such implements of mischief as shall dash

To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands

Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd 490

The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.

Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne,

Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive;

Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind

Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird.

He ended, and his words thir drooping chere

Enlightn'd, and thir languisht hope reviv'd.

Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how hee

To be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemd

Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 500

Impossible: yet haply of thy Race

In future dayes, if Malice should abound,

Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd

With dev'lish machination might devise

Like instrument to plague the Sons of men

For sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent.

Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew,

None arguing stood, innumerable hands

Were ready, in a moment up they turnd

Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath 510

Th' originals of Nature in thir crude

Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame

They found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art,

Concocted and adusted they reduc'd

To blackest grain, and into store conveyd:

Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this Earth

Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone,

Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls

Of missive ruin; part incentive reed

Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520

So all ere day spring, under conscious Night

Secret they finish'd, and in order set,

With silent circumspection unespi'd.

Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd

Up rose the Victor Angels, and to Arms

The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood

Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host,

Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills

Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure,

Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe, 530

Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,

In motion or in alt: him soon they met

Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow

But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail

Zephiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,

Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd.

Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand,

Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit

This day, fear not his flight; so thick a Cloud

He comes, and settl'd in his face I see 540

Sad resolution and secure: let each

His Adamantine coat gird well, and each

Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield,

Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down,

If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr,

But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.

So warnd he them aware themselves, and soon

In order, quit of all impediment;

Instant without disturb they took Allarm,

And onward move Embattelld; when behold 550

Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe

Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube

Training his devilish Enginrie, impal'd

On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep,

To hide the fraud. At interview both stood

A while, but suddenly at head appeerd

Satan: And thus was heard Commanding loud.

Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould;

That all may see who hate us, how we seek

Peace and composure, and with open brest 560

Stand readie to receive them, if they like

Our overture, and turn not back perverse;

But that I doubt, however witness Heaven,

Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge

Freely our part: yee who appointed stand

Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch

What we propound, and loud that all may hear.

So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce

Had ended; when to Right and Left the Front

Divided, and to either Flank retir'd. 570

Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange,

A triple-mounted row of Pillars laid

On Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seem'd

Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr

With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd)

Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthes

With hideous orifice gap't on us wide,

Portending hollow truce; at each behind

A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed

Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, 580

Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd,

Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds

Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd

With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

But soon obscur'd with smoak, all Heav'n appeerd,

From those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roar

Emboweld with outragious noise the Air,

And all her entrails tore, disgorging foule

Thir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail

Of Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host 590

Level'd, with such impetuous furie smote,

That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand,

Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fell

By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd;

The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they might

Have easily as Spirits evaded swift

By quick contraction or remove; but now

Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout;

Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files.

What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse 600

Repeated, and indecent overthrow

Doubl'd, would render them yet more despis'd,

And to thir foes a laughter; for in view

Stood rankt of Seraphim another row

In posture to displode thir second tire

Of Thunder: back defeated to return

They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld thir plight,

And to his Mates thus in derision call'd.

O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud?

Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, 610

To entertain them fair with open Front

And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms

Of composition, strait they chang'd thir minds,

Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemd

Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps

For joy of offerd peace: but I suppose

If our proposals once again were heard

We should compel them to a quick result.

To whom thus Belial in like gamesom mood. 620

Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight,

Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home,

Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,

And stumbl'd many, who receives them right,

Had need from head to foot well understand;

Not understood, this gift they have besides,

They shew us when our foes walk not upright.

So they among themselves in pleasant veine

Stood scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond

All doubt of Victorie, eternal might 630

To match with thir inventions they presum'd

So easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn,

And all his Host derided, while they stood

A while in trouble; but they stood not long,

Rage prompted them at length, & found them arms

Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.

Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power

Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd)

Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills

(For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n 640

Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale)

Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew,

From thir foundations loosning to and fro

They pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load,

Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops

Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,

Be sure, and terrour seis'd the rebel Host,

When coming towards them so dread they saw

The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd,

Till on those cursed Engins triple-row 650

They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidence

Under the weight of Mountains buried deep,

Themselves invaded next, and on thir heads

Main Promontories flung, which in the Air

Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions arm'd,

Thir armor help'd thir harm, crush't in and brus'd

Into thir substance pent, which wrought them pain

Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,

Long strugling underneath, ere they could wind

Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 660

Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.

The rest in imitation to like Armes

Betook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore;

So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills

Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,

That under ground they fought in dismal shade;

Infernal noise; Warr seem'd a civil Game

To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt

Upon confusion rose: and now all Heav'n

Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, 670

Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits

Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure,

Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen

This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd:

That his great purpose he might so fulfill,

To honour his Anointed Son aveng'd

Upon his enemies, and to declare

All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son

Th' Assessor of his Throne he thus began.

Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov'd, 680

Son in whose face invisible is beheld

Visibly, what by Deitie I am,

And in whose hand what by Decree I doe,

Second Omnipotence, two dayes are past,

Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav'n,

Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame

These disobedient; sore hath been thir fight,

As likeliest was, when two such Foes met arm'd;

For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst,

Equal in their Creation they were form'd, 690

Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wrought

Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom;

Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last

Endless, and no solution will be found:

Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do,

And to disorder'd rage let loose the reines,

With Mountains as with Weapons arm'd, which makes

Wild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to the maine.

Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine;

For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus farr 700

Have sufferd, that the Glorie may be thine

Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou

Can end it. Into thee such Vertue and Grace

Immense I have transfus'd, that all may know

In Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare,

And this perverse Commotion governd thus,

To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir

Of all things, to be Heir and to be King

By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right.

Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might, 710

Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles

That shake Heav'ns basis, bring forth all my Warr,

My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie Arms

Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh;

Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them out

From all Heav'ns bounds into the utter Deep:

There let them learn, as likes them, to despise

God and Messiah his anointed King.

He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct

Shon full, he all his Father full exprest 720

Ineffably into his face receiv'd,

And thus the filial Godhead answering spake.

O Father, O Supream of heav'nly Thrones,

First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekst

To glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee,

As is most just; this I my Glorie account,

My exaltation, and my whole delight,

That thou in me well pleas'd, declarst thy will

Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss.

Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume, 730

And gladlier shall resign, when in the end

Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee

For ever, and in mee all whom thou lov'st:

But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on

Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,

Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,

Armd with thy might, rid heav'n of these rebell'd,

To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven down

To chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm,

That from thy just obedience could revolt, 740

Whom to obey is happiness entire.

Then shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th' impure

Farr separate, circling thy holy Mount

Unfained Halleluiahs to thee sing,

Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.

So said, he o're his Scepter bowing, rose

From the right hand of Glorie where he sate,

And the third sacred Morn began to shine

Dawning through Heav'n: forth rush'd with whirlwind sound

The Chariot of Paternal Deitie, 750

Flashing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn,

It self instinct with Spirit, but convoyd

By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each

Had wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all

And Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels

Of Beril, and careering Fires between;

Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament,

Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pure

Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch.

Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd 760

Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,

Ascended, at his right hand Victorie

Sate Eagle-wing'd, beside him hung his Bow

And Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stor'd,

And from about him fierce Effusion rowld

Of smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire;

Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,

He onward came, farr off his coming shon,

And twentie thousand (I thir number heard)

Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen: 770

Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime

On the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thron'd.

Illustrious farr and wide, but by his own

First seen, them unexpected joy surpriz'd,

When the great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd

Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n:

Under whose Conduct Michael soon reduc'd

His Armie, circumfus'd on either Wing,

Under thir Head imbodied all in one.

Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd; 780

At his command the uprooted Hills retir'd

Each to his place, they heard his voice and went

Obsequious, Heav'n his wonted face renewd,

And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd.

This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdur'd,

And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers

Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.

In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?

But to convince the proud what Signs availe,

Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent? 790

They hard'nd more by what might most reclame,

Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight

Took envie, and aspiring to his highth,

Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by force or fraud

Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile

Against God and Messiah, or to fall

In universal ruin last, and now

To final Battel drew, disdaining flight,

Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God

To all his Host on either hand thus spake. 800

Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand

Ye Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest;

Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of God

Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause,

And as ye have receivd, so have ye don

Invincibly; but of this cursed crew

The punishment to other hand belongs,

Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints;

Number to this dayes work is not ordain'd

Nor multitude, stand onely and behold 810

Gods indignation on these Godless pourd

By mee; not you but mee they have despis'd,

Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage,

Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supream

Kingdom and Power and Glorie appertains,

Hath honourd me according to his will.

Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd;

That they may have thir wish, to trie with mee

In Battel which the stronger proves, they all,

Or I alone against them, since by strength 820

They measure all, of other excellence

Not emulous, nor care who them excells;

Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.

So spake the Son, and into terrour chang'd

His count'nance too severe to be beheld

And full of wrauth bent on his Enemies.

At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings

With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes

Of his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the sound

Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. 830

Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove,

Gloomie as Night; under his burning Wheeles

The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout,

All but the Throne it self of God. Full soon

Among them he arriv'd; in his right hand

Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent

Before him, such as in thir Soules infix'd

Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost,

All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd;

O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode 840

Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,

That wish'd the Mountains now might be again

Thrown on them as a shelter from his ire.

Nor less on either side tempestuous fell

His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Foure,

Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels,

Distinct alike with multitude of eyes,

One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye

Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire

Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength, 850

And of thir wonted vigour left them draind,

Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.

Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd

His Thunder in mid Volie, for he meant

Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n:

The overthrown he rais'd, and as a Heard

Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd

Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'd

With terrors and with furies to the bounds

And Chrystall wall of Heav'n, which op'ning wide, 860

Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd

Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight

Strook them with horror backward, but far worse

Urg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they threw

Down from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauth

Burnt after them to the bottomless pit.

Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw

Heav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fled

Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep

Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870

Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard,

And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall

Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout

Incumberd him with ruin: Hell at last

Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clos'd,

Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire

Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine.

Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repaird

Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld.

Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes 880

Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd:

To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood

Eye witnesses of his Almightie Acts,

With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they went,

Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright,

Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,

Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv'n,

Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode

Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the Courts

And Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd 890

On high; who into Glorie him receav'd,

Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.

Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth

At thy request, and that thou maist beware

By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd

What might have else to human Race bin hid;

The discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'n

Among th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fall

Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld

With Satan, hee who envies now thy state, 900

Who now is plotting how he may seduce

Thee also from obedience, that with him

Bereavd of happiness thou maist partake

His punishment, Eternal miserie;

Which would be all his solace and revenge,

As a despite don against the most High,

Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe.

But list'n not to his Temptations, warne

Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard

By terrible Example the reward 910

Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,

Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.

The End Of The Sixth Book.

BOOK VII.

THE ARGUMENT.

Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was

first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out

of Heaven, declar'd his pleasure to create another World and other

Creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with Glory and attendance of

Angels to perform the work of Creation in six dayes: the Angels

celebrate with Hymns the performance thereof, and his reascention into

Heaven.

Descend from Heav'n Urania, by that name

If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine

Following, above th' Olympian Hill I soare,

Above the flight of Pegasean wing.

The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou

Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top

Of old Olympus dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,

Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,

Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,

Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play 10

In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd

With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee

Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,

An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,

Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down

Return me to my Native Element:

Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once

Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime)

Dismounted, on th' Aleian Field I fall

Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne. 20

Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound

Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;

Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,

More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd

To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,

On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;

In darkness, and with dangers compast round,

And solitude; yet not alone, while thou

Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn

Purples the East: still govern thou my Song, 30

Urania, and fit audience find, though few.

But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance

Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race

Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard

In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares

To rapture, till the savage clamor dround

Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend

Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:

For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame.

Say Goddess, what ensu'd when Raphael, 40

The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd

Adam by dire example to beware

Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven

To those Apostates, least the like befall

In Paradise to Adam or his Race,

Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,

If they transgress, and slight that sole command,

So easily obeyd amid the choice

Of all tasts else to please thir appetite,

Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve 50

The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd

With admiration, and deep Muse to heare

Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought

So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,

And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss

With such confusion: but the evil soon

Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those

From whom it sprung, impossible to mix

With Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'd

The doubts that in his heart arose: and now 60

Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know

What neerer might concern him, how this World

Of Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began,

When, and whereof created, for what cause,

What within Eden or without was done

Before his memorie, as one whose drouth

Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,

Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,

Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.

Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, 70

Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd

Divine Interpreter, by favour sent

Down from the Empyrean to forewarne

Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,

Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:

For which to the infinitly Good we owe

Immortal thanks, and his admonishment

Receave with solemne purpose to observe

Immutably his sovran will, the end

Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf't 80

Gently for our instruction to impart

Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd

Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,

Deign to descend now lower, and relate

What may no less perhaps availe us known,

How first began this Heav'n which we behold

Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd

Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills

All space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'd

Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause 90

Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest

Through all Eternitie so late to build

In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon

Absolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfould

What wee, not to explore the secrets aske

Of his Eternal Empire, but the more

To magnifie his works, the more we know.

And the great Light of Day yet wants to run

Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n

Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, 100

And longer will delay to heare thee tell

His Generation, and the rising Birth

Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:

Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon

Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring

Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,

Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song

End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.

Thus Adam his illustrous Guest besought:

And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. 110

This also thy request with caution askt

Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works

What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,

Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?

Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve

To glorifie the Maker, and inferr

Thee also happier, shall not be withheld

Thy hearing, such Commission from above

I have receav'd, to answer thy desire

Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 120

To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope

Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,

Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,

To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:

Anough is left besides to search and know.

But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less

Her Temperance over Appetite, to know

In measure what the mind may well contain,

Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns

Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde. 130

Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n

(So call him, brighter once amidst the Host

Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)

Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep

Into his place, and the great Son returnd

Victorious with his Saints, th' Omnipotent

Eternal Father from his Throne beheld

Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.

At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought

All like himself rebellious, by whose aid 140

This inaccessible high strength, the seat

Of Deitie supream, us dispossest,

He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud

Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more;

Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,

Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retaines

Number sufficient to possess her Realmes

Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent

With Ministeries due and solemn Rites:

But least his heart exalt him in the harme 150

Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n,

My damage fondly deem'd, I can repaire

That detriment, if such it be to lose

Self-lost, and in a moment will create

Another World, out of one man a Race

Of men innumerable, there to dwell,

Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'd

They open to themselves at length the way

Up hither, under long obedience tri'd,

And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth, 160

One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.

Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,

And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee

This I perform, speak thou, and be it don:

My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee

I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep

Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,

Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill

Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.

Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire, 170

And put not forth my goodness, which is free

To act or not, Necessitie and Chance

Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate.

So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spake

His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.

Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift

Then time or motion, but to human ears

Cannot without process of speech be told,

So told as earthly notion can receave.

Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n 180

When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;

Glorie they sung to the most High, good will

To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:

Glorie to him whose just avenging ire

Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight

And th' habitations of the just; to him

Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd

Good out of evil to create, in stead

Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring

Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse 190

His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.

So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son

On his great Expedition now appeer'd,

Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd

Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love

Immense, and all his Father in him shon.

About his Chariot numberless were pour'd

Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,

And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,

From the Armoury of God, where stand of old 200

Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd

Against a solemn day, harnest at hand,

Celestial Equipage; and now came forth

Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,

Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide

Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound

On golden Hinges moving, to let forth

The King of Glorie in his powerful Word

And Spirit coming to create new Worlds.

On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore 210

They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss

Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,

Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes

And surging waves, as Mountains to assault

Heav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.

Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,

Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:

Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim

Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode

Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn; 220

For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine

Follow'd in bright procession to behold

Creation, and the wonders of his might.

Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand

He took the golden Compasses, prepar'd

In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe

This Universe, and all created things:

One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd

Round through the vast profunditie obscure,

And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds, 230

This be thy just Circumference, O World.

Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,

Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound

Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calme

His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,

And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth

Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'd

The black tartareous cold infernal dregs

Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd

Like things to like, the rest to several place 240

Disparted, and between spun out the Air,

And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung.

Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light

Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure

Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East

To journie through the airie gloom began,

Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun

Was not; shee in a cloudie Tabernacle

Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;

And light from darkness by the Hemisphere 250

Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night

He nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:

Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung

By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light

Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;

Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout

The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd,

And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'd

God and his works, Creatour him they sung,

Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn. 260

Again, God said, let ther be Firmament

Amid the Waters, and let it divide

The Waters from the Waters: and God made

The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,

Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'd

In circuit to the uttermost convex

Of this great Round: partition firm and sure,

The Waters underneath from those above

Dividing: for as Earth, so hee the World

Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide 270

Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule

Of Chaos farr remov'd, least fierce extreames

Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:

And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'n

And Morning Chorus sung the second Day.

The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet

Of Waters, Embryon immature involv'd,

Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth

Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme

Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe, 280

Fermented the great Mother to conceave,

Satiate with genial moisture, when God said

Be gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n

Into one place, and let dry Land appeer.

Immediately the Mountains huge appeer

Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave

Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:

So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low

Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,

Capacious bed of Waters: thither they 290

Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld

As drops on dust conglobing from the drie;

Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,

For haste; such flight the great command impress'd

On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call

Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)

Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,

Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,

If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,

Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill, 300

But they, or under ground, or circuit wide

With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,

And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;

Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,

All but within those banks, where Rivers now

Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.

The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle

Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas:

And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth

Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed, 310

And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;

Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.

He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then

Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,

Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure clad

Her Universal Face with pleasant green,

Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd

Op'ning thir various colours, and made gay

Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,

Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept 320

The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed

Embattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub,

And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last

Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred

Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd

Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd,

With tufts the vallies & each fountain side,

With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now

Seemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell,

Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 330

Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd

Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground

None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist

Went up and waterd all the ground, and each

Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth

God made, and every Herb, before it grew

On the green stemm; God saw that it was good:

So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.

Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights

High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide 340

The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,

For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,

And let them be for Lights as I ordaine

Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n

To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.

And God made two great Lights, great for thir use

To Man, the greater to have rule by Day,

The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,

And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n

To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day 350

In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,

And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,

Surveying his great Work, that it was good:

For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun

A mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,

Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the Moon

Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,

And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:

Of Light by farr the greater part he took,

Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd 360

In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive

And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine

Her gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light.

Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs

Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,

And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;

By tincture or reflection they augment

Thir small peculiar, though from human sight

So farr remote, with diminution seen.

First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen, 370

Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round

Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run

His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the gray

Dawn, and the Pleiades before him danc'd

Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,

But opposite in leveld West was set

His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light

From him, for other light she needed none

In that aspect, and still that distance keepes

Till night, then in the East her turn she shines, 380

Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her Reign

With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,

With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd

Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd

With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,

Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day.

And God said, let the Waters generate

Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:

And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings

Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n. 390

And God created the great Whales, and each

Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously

The waters generated by thir kindes,

And every Bird of wing after his kinde;

And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying,

Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas

And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;

And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth.

Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay

With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales 400

Of Fish that with thir Finns & shining Scales

Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft

Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate

Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves

Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance

Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold,

Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend

Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food

In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,

And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk 410

Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate

Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan

Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep

Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,

And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles

Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.

Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares

Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon

Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd

Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge 420

They summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublime

With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud

In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork

On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:

Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise

In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,

Intelligent of seasons, and set forth

Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's

Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing

Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane 430

Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire

Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes:

From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song

Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings

Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal

Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes:

Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd

Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck

Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes

Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit 440

The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre

The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground

Walk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds

The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine

Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue

Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus

With Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle,

Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day.

The Sixt, and of Creation last arose

With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said, 450

Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde,

Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,

Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and strait

Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth

Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,

Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose

As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns

In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;

Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd:

The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green: 460

Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks

Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung:

The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd

The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free

His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,

And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,

The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale

Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw

In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground

Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould 470

Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd

His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose,

As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land

The River Horse and scalie Crocodile.

At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,

Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans

For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact

In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride

With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:

These as a line thir long dimension drew, 480

Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all

Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde

Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd

Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept

The Parsimonious Emmet, provident

Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd,

Pattern of just equalitie perhaps

Hereafter, join'd in her popular Tribes

Of Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'd

The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone 490

Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells

With Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless,

And thou thir Natures know'st, and gav'st them Names,

Needlest to thee repeated; nor unknown

The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,

Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes

And hairie Main terrific, though to thee

Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.

Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld

Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand 500

First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire

Consummate lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth,

By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt

Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd;

There wanted yet the Master work, the end

Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone

And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd

With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect

His Stature, and upright with Front serene

Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence 510

Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n,

But grateful to acknowledge whence his good

Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes

Directed in Devotion, to adore

And worship God Supream, who made him chief

Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent

Eternal Father (For where is not hee

Present) thus to his Son audibly spake.

Let us make now Man in our image, Man

In our similitude, and let them rule 520

Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,

Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,

And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.

This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O Man

Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd

The breath of Life; in his own Image hee

Created thee, in the Image of God

Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul.

Male he created thee, but thy consort

Femal for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said, 530

Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,

Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold

Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire,

And every living thing that moves on the Earth.

Wherever thus created, for no place

Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st

He brought thee into this delicious Grove,

This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,

Delectable both to behold and taste;

And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food 540

Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds,

Varietie without end; but of the Tree

Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,

Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;

Death is the penaltie impos'd, beware,

And govern well thy appetite, least sin

Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.

Here finish'd hee, and all that he had made

View'd, and behold all was entirely good;

So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day: 550

Yet not till the Creator from his work

Desisting, though unwearied, up returnd

Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode,

Thence to behold this new created World

Th' addition of his Empire, how it shew'd

In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,

Answering his great Idea. Up he rode

Followd with acclamation and the sound

Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd

Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Aire 560

Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst)

The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung,

The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood,

While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.

Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,

Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let in

The great Creator from his work returnd

Magnificent, his Six days work, a World;

Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne

To visit oft the dwellings of just Men 570

Delighted, and with frequent intercourse

Thither will send his winged Messengers

On errands of supernal Grace. So sung

The glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n,

That open'd wide her blazing Portals, led

To Gods Eternal house direct the way,

A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold

And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,

Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way

Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest 580

Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seaventh

Eev'ning arose in Eden, for the Sun

Was set, and twilight from the East came on,

Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount

Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne

Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,

The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him down

With his great Father (for he also went

Invisible, yet staid (such priviledge

Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd, 590

Author and end of all things, and from work

Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day,

As resting on that day from all his work,

But not in silence holy kept; the Harp

Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,

And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,

All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire

Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice

Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds

Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount. 600

Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,

Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite

Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue

Relate thee; greater now in thy return

Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day

Thy Thunders magnifi'd; but to create

Is greater then created to destroy.

Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound

Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt

Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine 610

Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought

Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw

The number of thy worshippers. Who seekes

To lessen thee, against his purpose serves

To manifest the more thy might: his evil

Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.

Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n

From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view

On the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea;

Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's 620

Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World

Of destind habitation; but thou know'st

Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,

Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,

Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men,

And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't,

Created in his Image, there to dwell

And worship him, and in reward to rule

Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,

And multiply a Race of Worshippers 630

Holy and just: thrice happie if they know

Thir happiness, and persevere upright.

So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,

With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept.

And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd

How first this World and face of things began,

And what before thy memorie was don

From the beginning, that posteritie

Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst

Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. 640

Notes:

451. Bentley's emendation of soul for fowl should be noted.

See Genesis i. 30 A. V. margin.

563 stations] station 1674

The End of the Seventh Book

BOOK VIII.

THE ARGUMENT.

Adam inquires concerning celestial Motions, is doubtfully answer'd and

exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledg: Adam assents,

and still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remember'd

since his own Creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God

concerning solitude and fit society, his first meeting and Nuptials with

Eve, his discourse with the Angel thereupon; who after admonitions

repeated departs.