Notes:

58 may] might 1674.

241 Avenger] Avengers 1674.

397 those] these 1674.

827 they acquitted] they then acquitted 1674.

The End Of The Tenth Book.

BOOK XI.

THE ARGUMENT.

The Son of God presents to his Father the Prayers of our first Parents

now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares

that they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a Band of

Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things:

Michaels coming down, Adam shews to Eve certain ominous signs; he

discerns Michaels approach, goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces

thir departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: The Angel

leads him up to a high Hill, sets before him in a vision what shall

happ'n till the Flood.

Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stood

Praying, for from the Mercie-seat above

Prevenient Grace descending had remov'd

The stonie from thir hearts, and made new flesh

Regenerat grow instead, that sighs now breath'd

Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer

Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight

Then loudest Oratorie: yet thir port

Not of mean suiters, nor important less

Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair 10

In Fables old, less ancient yet then these,

Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha to restore

The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine

Of Themis stood devout. To Heav'n thir prayers

Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious windes

Blow'n vagabond or frustrate: in they passd

Dimentionless through Heav'nly dores; then clad

With incense, where the Golden Altar fum'd,

By thir great Intercessor, came in sight

Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son 20

Presenting, thus to intercede began.

See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung

From thy implanted Grace in Man, these Sighs

And Prayers, which in this Golden Censer, mixt

With Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring,

Fruits of more pleasing savour from thy seed

Sow'n with contrition in his heart, then those

Which his own hand manuring all the Trees

Of Paradise could have produc't, ere fall'n

From innocence. Now therefore bend thine eare 30

To supplication, heare his sighs though mute;

Unskilful with what words to pray, let mee

Interpret for him, mee his Advocate

And propitiation, all his works on mee

Good or not good ingraft, my Merit those

Shall perfet, and for these my Death shall pay.

Accept me, and in mee from these receave

The smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live

Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days

Numberd, though sad, till Death, his doom (which I 40

To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)

To better life shall yeeld him, where with mee

All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss,

Made one with me as I with thee am one.

To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene.

All thy request for Man, accepted Son,

Obtain, all thy request was my Decree:

But longer in that Paradise to dwell,

The Law I gave to Nature him forbids:

Those pure immortal Elements that know 50

No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule,

Eject him tainted now, and purge him off

As a distemper, gross to aire as gross,

And mortal food, as may dispose him best

For dissolution wrought by Sin, that first

Distemperd all things, and of incorrupt

Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts

Created him endowd, with Happiness

And Immortalitie: that fondly lost,

This other serv'd but to eternize woe; 60

Till I provided Death; so Death becomes

His final remedie, and after Life

Tri'd in sharp tribulation, and refin'd

By Faith and faithful works, to second Life,

Wak't in the renovation of the just,

Resignes him up with Heav'n and Earth renewd.

But let us call to Synod all the Blest

Through Heav'ns wide bounds; from them I will not hide

My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed,

As how with peccant Angels late they saw; 70

And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmd.

He ended, and the Son gave signal high

To the bright Minister that watchd, hee blew

His Trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps

When God descended, and perhaps once more

To sound at general Doom. Th' Angelic blast

Filld all the Regions: from thir blissful Bowrs

Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring,

By the waters of Life, where ere they sate

In fellowships of joy: the Sons of Light 80

Hasted, resorting to the Summons high,

And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supream

Th' Almighty thus pronounced his sovran Will.

O Sons, like one of us Man is become

To know both Good and Evil, since his taste

Of that defended Fruit; but let him boast

His knowledge of Good lost, and Evil got,

Happier, had it suffic'd him to have known

Good by it self, and Evil not at all.

He sorrows now, repents, and prayes contrite, 90

My motions in him, longer then they move,

His heart I know, how variable and vain

Self-left. Least therefore his now bolder hand

Reach also of the Tree of Life, and eat,

And live for ever, dream at least to live

Forever, to remove him I decree,

And send him from the Garden forth to Till

The Ground whence he was taken, fitter soile.

Michael, this my behest have thou in charge,

Take to thee from among the Cherubim 100

Thy choice of flaming Warriours, least the Fiend

Or in behalf of Man, or to invade

Vacant possession som new trouble raise:

Hast thee, and from the Paradise of God

Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair,

From hallowd ground th' unholie, and denounce

To them and to thir Progenie from thence

Perpetual banishment. Yet least they faint

At the sad Sentence rigorously urg'd,

For I behold them soft'nd and with tears 110

Bewailing thir excess, all terror hide.

If patiently thy bidding they obey,

Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveale

To Adam what shall come in future dayes,

As I shall thee enlighten, intermix

My Cov'nant in the Womans seed renewd;

So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:

And on the East side of the Garden place,

Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbes,

Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame 120

Wide waving, all approach farr off to fright,

And guard all passage to the Tree of Life:

Least Paradise a receptacle prove

To Spirits foule, and all my Trees thir prey,

With whose stol'n Fruit Man once more to delude.

He ceas'd; and th' Archangelic Power prepar'd

For swift descent, with him the Cohort bright

Of watchful Cherubim; four faces each

Had, like a double Janus, all thir shape

Spangl'd with eyes more numerous then those 130

Of Argus, and more wakeful then to drouze,

Charm'd with Arcadian Pipe, the Pastoral Reed

Of Hermes, or his opiate Rod. Meanwhile

To resalute the World with sacred Light

Leucothea wak'd, and with fresh dews imbalmd

The Earth, when Adam and first Matron Eve

Had ended now thir Orisons, and found,

Strength added from above, new hope to spring

Out of despaire, joy, but with fear yet linkt;

Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewd. 140

Eve, easily may Faith admit, that all

The good which we enjoy, from Heav'n descends

But that from us ought should ascend to Heav'n

So prevalent as to concerne the mind

Of God high blest, or to incline his will,

Hard to belief may seem; yet this will Prayer,

Or one short sigh of humane breath, up-borne

Ev'n to the Seat of God. For since I saught

By Prayer th' offended Deitie to appease,

Kneel'd and before him humbl'd all my heart, 150

Methought I saw him placable and mild,

Bending his eare; perswasion in me grew

That I was heard with favour; peace returnd

Home to my brest, and to my memorie

His promise, that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe;

Which then not minded in dismay, yet now

Assures me that the bitterness of death

Is past, and we shall live. Whence Haile to thee,

Eve rightly call'd, Mother of all Mankind,

Mother of all things living, since by thee 160

Man is to live, and all things live for Man.

To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek.

Ill worthie I such title should belong

To me transgressour, who for thee ordaind

A help, became thy snare; to mee reproach

Rather belongs, distrust and all dispraise:

But infinite in pardon was my Judge,

That I who first brought Death on all, am grac't

The sourse of life; next favourable thou,

Who highly thus to entitle me voutsaf't, 170

Farr other name deserving. But the Field

To labour calls us now with sweat impos'd,

Though after sleepless Night; for see the Morn,

All unconcern'd with our unrest, begins

Her rosie progress smiling; let us forth,

I never from thy side henceforth to stray,

Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind

Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,

What can be toilsom in these pleasant Walkes?

Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content. 180

So spake, so wish'd much-humbl'd Eve, but Fate

Subscrib'd not; Nature first gave Signs, imprest

On Bird, Beast, Aire, Aire suddenly eclips'd

After short blush of Morn; nigh in her sight

The Bird of Jove, stoopt from his aerie tour,

Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove:

Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods,

First Hunter then, pursu'd a gentle brace,

Goodliest of all the Forrest, Hart and Hinde;

Direct to th' Eastern Gate was bent thir flight. 190

Adam observ'd, and with his Eye the chase

Pursuing, not unmov'd to Eve thus spake.

O Eve, some furder change awaits us nigh,

Which Heav'n by these mute signs in Nature shews

Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn

Us haply too secure of our discharge

From penaltie, because from death releast

Some days; how long, and what till then our life,

Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust,

And thither must return and be no more. 200

Why else this double object in our sight

Of flight pursu'd in th' Air and ore the ground

One way the self-same hour? why in the East

Darkness ere Dayes mid-course, and Morning light

More orient in yon Western Cloud that draws

O're the blew Firmament a radiant white,

And slow descends, with somthing heav'nly fraught.

He err'd not, for by this the heav'nly Bands

Down from a Skie of Jasper lighted now

In Paradise, and on a Hill made alt, 210

A glorious Apparition, had not doubt

And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adams eye.

Not that more glorious, when the Angels met

Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw

The field Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright;

Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd

In Dothan, cover'd with a Camp of Fire,

Against the Syrian King, who to surprize

One man, Assassin-like had levied Warr,

Warr unproclam'd. The Princely Hierarch 220

In thir bright stand, there left his Powers to seise

Possession of the Garden; hee alone,

To finde where Adam shelterd, took his way,

Not unperceav'd of Adam, who to Eve,

While the great Visitant approachd, thus spake.

Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps

Of us will soon determin, or impose

New Laws to be observ'd; for I descrie

From yonder blazing Cloud that veils the Hill

One of the heav'nly Host, and by his Gate 230

None of the meanest, some great Potentate

Or of the Thrones above, such Majestie

Invests him coming; yet not terrible,

That I should fear, nor sociably mild,

As Raphael, that I should much confide,

But solemn and sublime, whom not to offend,

With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.

He ended; and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,

Not in his shape Celestial, but as Man

Clad to meet Man; over his lucid Armes 240

A militarie Vest of purple flowd

Livelier then Meliboean, or the graine

Of Sarra, worn by Kings and Hero's old

In time of Truce; Iris had dipt the wooff;

His starrie Helme unbuckl'd shew'd him prime

In Manhood where Youth ended; by his side

As in a glistering Zodiac hung the Sword,

Satans dire dread, and in his hand the Spear.

Adam bowd low, hee Kingly from his State

Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd. 250

Adam, Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs:

Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard, and Death,

Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,

Defeated of his seisure many dayes

Giv'n thee of Grace, wherein thou may'st repent,

And one bad act with many deeds well done

Mayst cover: well may then thy Lord appeas'd

Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claimes;

But longer in this Paradise to dwell

Permits not; to remove thee I am come, 260

And send thee from the Garden forth to till

The ground whence thou wast tak'n, fitter Soile.

He added not, for Adam at the newes

Heart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow stood,

That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen

Yet all had heard, with audible lament

Discover'd soon the place of her retire.

O unexpected stroke, worse then of Death!

Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave

Thee Native Soile, these happie Walks and Shades, 270

Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend,

Quiet though sad, the respit of that day

That must be mortal to us both. O flours,

That never will in other Climate grow,

My early visitation, and my last

At Eev'n, which I bred up with tender hand

From the first op'ning bud, and gave ye Names,

Who now shall reare ye to the Sun, or ranke

Your Tribes, and water from th' ambrosial Fount?

Thee lastly nuptial Bowre, by mee adornd 280

With what to sight or smell was sweet; from thee

How shall I part, and whither wander down

Into a lower World, to this obscure

And wilde, how shall we breath in other Aire

Less pure, accustomd to immortal Fruits?

Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde.

Lament not Eve, but patiently resigne

What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart,

Thus over fond, on that which is not thine;

Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes 290

Thy Husband, him to follow thou art bound;

Where he abides, think there thy native soile.

Adam by this from the cold sudden damp

Recovering, and his scatterd spirits returnd,

To Michael thus his humble words addressd.

Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or nam'd

Of them the Highest, for such of shape may seem

Prince above Princes, gently hast thou tould

Thy message, which might else in telling wound,

And in performing end us; what besides 300

Of sorrow and dejection and despair

Our frailtie can sustain, thy tidings bring,

Departure from this happy place, our sweet

Recess, and onely consolation left

Familiar to our eyes, all places else

Inhospitable appeer and desolate,

Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer

Incessant I could hope to change the will

Of him who all things can, I would not cease

To wearie him with my assiduous cries: 310

But prayer against his absolute Decree

No more availes then breath against the winde,

Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth:

Therefore to his great bidding I submit.

This most afflicts me, that departing hence,

As from his face I shall be hid, deprivd

His blessed count'nance; here I could frequent,

With worship, place by place where he voutsaf'd

Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate;

On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree 320

Stood visible, among these Pines his voice

I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk'd:

So many grateful Altars I would reare

Of grassie Terfe, and pile up every Stone

Of lustre from the brook, in memorie,

Or monument to Ages, and thereon

Offer sweet smelling Gumms & Fruits and Flours:

In yonder nether World where shall I seek

His bright appearances, or footstep trace?

For though I fled him angrie, yet recall'd 330

To life prolongd and promisd Race, I now

Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts

Of glory, and farr off his steps adore.

To whom thus Michael with regard benigne.

Adam, thou know'st Heav'n his, and all the Earth

Not this Rock onely; his Omnipresence fills

Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives,

Fomented by his virtual power and warmd:

All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule,

No despicable gift; surmise not then 340

His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd

Of Paradise or Eden: this had been

Perhaps thy Capital Seate, from whence had spred

All generations, and had hither come

From all the ends of th' Earth, to celebrate

And reverence thee thir great Progenitor.

But this praeeminence thou hast lost, brought down

To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons:

Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine

God is as here, and will be found alike 350

Present, and of his presence many a signe

Still following thee, still compassing thee round

With goodness and paternal Love, his Face

Express, and of his steps the track Divine.

Which that thou mayst beleeve, and be confirmd,

Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent

To shew thee what shall come in future dayes

To thee and to thy Ofspring; good with bad

Expect to hear, supernal Grace contending

With sinfulness of Men; thereby to learn 360

True patience, and to temper joy with fear

And pious sorrow, equally enur'd

By moderation either state to beare,

Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead

Safest thy life, and best prepar'd endure

Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend

This Hill; let Eve (for I have drencht her eyes)

Here sleep below while thou to foresight wak'st,

As once thou slepst, while Shee to life was formd.

To whom thus Adam gratefully repli'd. 370

Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path

Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Heav'n submit,

However chast'ning, to the evil turne

My obvious breast, arming to overcom

By suffering, and earne rest from labour won,

If so I may attain. So both ascend

In the Visions of God: It was a Hill

Of Paradise the highest, from whose top

The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken

Stretcht out to amplest reach of prospect lay. 380

Not higher that Hill nor wider looking round,

Whereon for different cause the Tempter set

Our second Adam in the Wilderness,

To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory.

His Eye might there command wherever stood

City of old or modern Fame, the Seat

Of mightiest Empire, from the destind Walls

Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can

And Samarchand by Oxus, Temirs Throne,

To Paquin of Sinaean Kings, and thence 390

To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul

Down to the golden Chersonese, or where

The Persian in Ecbatan sate, or since

In Hispahan, or where the Russian Ksar

In Mosco, or the Sultan in Bizance,

Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken

Th' Empire of Negus to his utmost Port

Ercoco and the less Maritine Kings

Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,

And Sofala thought Ophir, to the Realme 400

Of Congo, and Angola fardest South;

Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount

The Kingdoms of Almansor, Fez, and Sus,

Marocco and Algiers, and Tremisen;

On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway

The World: in Spirit perhaps he also saw

Rich Mexico the seat of Motezume,

And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat

Of Atabalipa, and yet unspoil'd

Guiana, whose great Citie Geryons Sons 410

Call El Dorado: but to nobler sights

Michael from Adams eyes the Filme remov'd

Which that false Fruit that promis'd clearer sight

Had bred; then purg'd with Euphrasie and Rue

The visual Nerve, for he had much to see;

And from the Well of Life three drops instill'd.

So deep the power of these Ingredients pierc'd,

Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight,

That Adam now enforc't to close his eyes,

Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst: 420

But him the gentle Angel by the hand

Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd.

Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold

Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought

In some to spring from thee, who never touch'd

Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspir'd,

Nor sinn'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive

Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.

His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field,

Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves 430

New reapt, the other part sheep-walks and foulds;

Ith' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood

Rustic, of grassie sord; thither anon

A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage brought

First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf,

Uncull'd, as came to hand; a Shepherd next

More meek came with the Firstlings of his Flock

Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid

The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew'd,

On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform'd. 440

His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav'n

Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steame;

The others not, for his was not sincere;

Whereat hee inlie rag'd, and as they talk'd,

Smote him into the Midriff with a stone

That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale

Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus'd.

Much at that sight was Adam in his heart

Dismai'd, and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd.

O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n 450

To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd;

Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid?

T' whom Michael thus, hee also mov'd, repli'd.

These two are Brethren, Adam, and to come

Out of thy loyns; th' unjust the just hath slain,

For envie that his Brothers Offering found

From Heav'n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact

Will be aveng'd, and th' others Faith approv'd

Loose no reward, though here thou see him die,

Rowling in dust and gore. To which our Sire. 460

Alas, both for the deed and for the cause!

But have I now seen Death? Is this the way

I must return to native dust? O sight

Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold,

Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!

To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen

In his first shape on man; but many shapes

Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead

To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense

More terrible at th' entrance then within. 470

Some, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die,

By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more

In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shal bring

Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew

Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know

What miserie th' inabstinence of Eve

Shall bring on men. Immediately a place

Before his eyes appeard, sad, noysom, dark,

A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid

Numbers of all diseas'd, all maladies 480

Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualmes

Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds,

Convulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs,

Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs,

Dropsies, and Asthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums.

Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair

Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch;

And over them triumphant Death his Dart

Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invok't

With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope. 490

Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long

Drie-ey'd behold? Adam could not, but wept,

Though not of Woman born; compassion quell'd

His best of Man, and gave him up to tears

A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess,

And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd.

O miserable Mankind, to what fall

Degraded, to what wretched state reserv'd?

Better end heer unborn. Why is life giv'n

To be thus wrested from us? rather why 500

Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew

What we receive, would either not accept

Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down,

Glad to be so dismist in peace. Can thus

Th' Image of God in man created once

So goodly and erect, though faultie since,

To such unsightly sufferings be debas't

Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man,

Retaining still Divine similitude

In part, from such deformities be free, 510

And for his Makers Image sake exempt?

Thir Makers Image, answerd Michael, then

Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd

To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took

His Image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice,

Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.

Therefore so abject is thir punishment,

Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own,

Or if his likeness, by themselves defac't

While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules 520

To loathsom sickness, worthily, since they

Gods Image did not reverence in themselves.

I yeild it just, said Adam, and submit.

But is there yet no other way, besides

These painful passages, how we may come

To Death, and mix with our connatural dust?

There is, said Michael, if thou well observe

The rule of not too much, by temperance taught

In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence

Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, 530

Till many years over thy head return:

So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop

Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease

Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:

This is old age; but then thou must outlive

Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change

To witherd weak & gray; thy Senses then

Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgoe,

To what thou hast, and for the Aire of youth

Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne 540

A melancholly damp of cold and dry

To waigh thy spirits down, and last consume

The Balme of Life. To whom our Ancestor.

Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong

Life much, bent rather how I may be quit

Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge,

Which I must keep till my appointed day

Of rendring up, Michael to him repli'd.

Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livst

Live well, how long or short permit to Heav'n: 550

And now prepare thee for another sight.

He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine, whereon

Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds

Of Cattel grazing: others, whence the sound

Of Instruments that made melodious chime

Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moovd

Thir stops and chords was seen: his volant touch

Instinct through all proportions low and high

Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue.

In other part stood one who at the Forge 560

Labouring, two massie clods of Iron and Brass

Had melted (whether found where casual fire

Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale,

Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot

To som Caves mouth, or whether washt by stream

From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind

Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he formd

First his own Tooles; then, what might else be wrought

Fusile or grav'n in mettle. After these,

But on the hether side a different sort 570

From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat,

Down to the Plain descended: by thir guise

Just men they seemd, and all thir study bent

To worship God aright, and know his works

Not hid, nor those things lost which might preserve

Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain

Long had not walkt, when from the Tents behold

A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay

In Gems and wanton dress; to the Harp they sung

Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on: 580

The Men though grave, ey'd them, and let thir eyes

Rove without rein, till in the amorous Net

Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose;

And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star

Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat

They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke

Hymen, then first to marriage Rites invok't;

With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound.

Such happy interview and fair event

Of love & youth not lost, Songs, Garlands, Flours, 590

And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart

Of Adam, soon enclin'd to admit delight,

The bent of Nature; which he thus express'd.

True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest,

Much better seems this Vision, and more hope

Of peaceful dayes portends, then those two past;

Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse,

Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends.

To whom thus Michael. Judg not what is best

By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, 600

Created, as thou art, to nobler end

Holie and pure, conformitie divine.

Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents

Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his Race

Who slew his Brother; studious they appere

Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare,

Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit

Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none.

Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget;

For that fair femal Troop thou sawst, that seemd 610

Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,

Yet empty of all good wherein consists

Womans domestic honour and chief praise;

Bred onely and completed to the taste

Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,

To dress, and troule the Tongue, and roule the Eye.

To these that sober Race of Men, whose lives

Religious titl'd them the Sons of God,

Shall yeild up all thir vertue, all thir fame

Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles 620

Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,

(Erelong to swim at larg) and laugh; for which

The world erelong a world of tears must weepe.

To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft.

O pittie and shame, that they who to live well

Enterd so faire, should turn aside to tread

Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!

But still I see the tenor of Mans woe

Holds on the same, from Woman to begin.

From Mans effeminate slackness it begins, 630

Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place

By wisdome, and superiour gifts receavd.

But now prepare thee for another Scene.

He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred

Before him, Towns, and rural works between,

Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs,

Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr,

Giants of mightie Bone, and bould emprise;

Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed,

Single or in Array of Battel rang'd 640

Both Horse and Foot, nor idely mustring stood;

One way a Band select from forage drives

A herd of Beeves, faire Oxen and faire Kine

From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock,

Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine,

Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds flye,

But call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray;

With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine;

Where Cattel pastur'd late, now scatterd lies

With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field 650

Deserted: Others to a Citie strong

Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine,

Assaulting; others from the Wall defend

With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and sulfurous Fire;

On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.

In other part the scepter'd Haralds call

To Council in the Citie Gates: anon

Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt,

Assemble, and Harangues are heard, but soon

In factious opposition, till at last 660

Of middle Age one rising, eminent

In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong,

Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace,

And Judgement from above: him old and young

Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands,

Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence

Unseen amid the throng: so violence

Proceeded, and Oppression, and Sword-Law

Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found.

Adam was all in tears, and to his guide 670

Lamenting turnd full sad; O what are these,

Deaths Ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death

Inhumanly to men, and multiply

Ten thousand fould the sin of him who slew

His Brother; for of whom such massacher

Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men?

But who was that Just Man, whom had not Heav'n

Rescu'd, had in his Righteousness bin lost?

To whom thus Michael; These are the product

Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st; 680

Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves

Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt,

Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind.

Such were these Giants, men of high renown;

For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd,

And Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd;

To overcome in Battel, and subdue

Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite

Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch

Of human Glorie, and for Glorie done 690

Of triumph, to be styl'd great Conquerours,

Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods,

Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men.

Thus Fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth,

And what most merits fame in silence hid.

But hee the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst

The onely righteous in a World perverse,

And therefore hated, therefore so beset

With Foes for daring single to be just,

And utter odious Truth, that God would come 700

To judge them with his Saints: Him the most High

Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds

Did, as thou sawst, receave, to walk with God

High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss,

Exempt from Death; to shew thee what reward

Awaits the good, the rest what punishment;

Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold.

He look'd, & saw the face of things quite chang'd;

The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar,

All now was turn'd to jollitie and game, 710

To luxurie and riot, feast and dance,

Marrying or prostituting, as befell,

Rape or Adulterie, where passing faire

Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles.

At length a Reverend Sire among them came,

And of thir doings great dislike declar'd,

And testifi'd against thir wayes; hee oft

Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met,

Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preachd

Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls 720

In prison under Judgements imminent:

But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd

Contending, and remov'd his Tents farr off;

Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall,

Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk,

Measur'd by Cubit, length, & breadth, and highth,

Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a dore

Contriv'd, and of provisions laid in large

For Man and Beast: when loe a wonder strange!

Of everie Beast, and Bird, and Insect small 730

Came seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught

Thir order; last the Sire, and his three Sons

With thir four Wives, and God made fast the dore.

Meanwhile the Southwind rose, & with black wings

Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove

From under Heav'n; the Hills to their supplie

Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist,

Sent up amain; and now the thick'nd Skie

Like a dark Ceeling stood; down rush'd the Rain

Impetuous, and continu'd till the Earth 740

No more was seen; the floating Vessel swum

Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow

Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else

Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp

Deep under water rould; Sea cover'd Sea,

Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces

Where luxurie late reign'd, Sea-monsters whelp'd

And stabl'd; of Mankind, so numerous late,

All left, in one small bottom swum imbark't.

How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold 750

The end of all thy Ofspring, end so sad,

Depopulation; thee another Floud,

Of tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd,

And sunk thee as thy Sons; till gently reard

By th' Angel, on thy feet thou stoodst at last,

Though comfortless, as when a Father mourns

His Childern, all in view destroyd at once;

And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint.

O Visions ill foreseen! better had I

Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne 760

My part of evil onely, each dayes lot

Anough to bear; those now, that were dispenst

The burd'n of many Ages, on me light

At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth

Abortive, to torment me ere thir being,

With thought that they must be. Let no man seek

Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall

Him or his Childern, evil he may be sure,

Which neither his foreknowing can prevent,

And hee the future evil shall no less 770

In apprehension then in substance feel

Grievous to bear: but that care now is past,

Man is not whom to warne: those few escap't

Famin and anguish will at last consume

Wandring that watrie Desert: I had hope

When violence was ceas't, and Warr on Earth,

All would have then gon well, peace would have crownd

With length of happy days the race of man;

But I was farr deceav'd; for now I see

Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste. 780

How comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide,

And whether here the Race of man will end.

To whom thus Michael. Those whom last thou sawst

In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they

First seen in acts of prowess eminent

And great exploits, but of true vertu void;

Who having spilt much blood, and don much waste

Subduing Nations, and achievd thereby

Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey,

Shall change thir course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, 790

Surfet, and lust, till wantonness and pride

Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace.

The conquerd also, and enslav'd by Warr

Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose

And feare of God, from whom thir pietie feign'd

In sharp contest of Battel found no aide

Against invaders; therefore coold in zeale

Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure,

Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lords

Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' Earth shall bear 800

More then anough, that temperance may be tri'd:

So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd,

Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot;

One Man except, the onely Son of light

In a dark Age, against example good,

Against allurement, custom, and a World

Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,

Or violence, hee of thir wicked wayes

Shall them admonish, and before them set

The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, 810

And full of peace, denouncing wrauth to come

On thir impenitence; and shall returne

Of them derided, but of God observd

The one just Man alive; by his command

Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst,

To save himself and houshold from amidst

A World devote to universal rack.

No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast

Select for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd,

And shelterd round, but all the Cataracts 820

Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre

Raine day and night, all fountaines of the Deep

Broke up, shall heave the Ocean to usurp

Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise

Above the highest Hills: then shall this Mount

Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd

Out of his place, pushd by the horned floud,

With all his verdure spoil'd, and Trees adrift

Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf,

And there take root an Iland salt and bare, 830

The haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang.

To teach thee that God attributes to place

No sanctitie, if none be thither brought

By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell.

And now what further shall ensue, behold.

He lookd, and saw the Ark hull on the floud,

Which now abated, for the Clouds were fled,

Drivn by a keen North-winde, that blowing drie

Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge, as decai'd;

And the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glass 840

Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh Wave largely drew,

As after thirst, which made thir flowing shrink

From standing lake to tripping ebbe, that stole

With soft foot towards the deep, who now had stopt

His Sluces, as the Heav'n his windows shut.

The Ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground

Fast on the top of som high mountain fixt.

And now the tops of Hills as Rocks appeer;

With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive

Towards the retreating Sea thir furious tyde. 850

Forthwith from out the Arke a Raven flies,

And after him, the surer messenger,

A Dove sent forth once and agen to spie

Green Tree or ground whereon his foot may light;

The second time returning, in his Bill

An Olive leafe he brings, pacific signe:

Anon drie ground appeers, and from his Arke

The ancient Sire descends with all his Train;

Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,

Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds 860

A dewie Cloud, and in the Cloud a Bow

Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay,

Betok'ning peace from God, and Cov'nant new.

Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad

Greatly rejoyc'd, and thus his joy broke forth.

O thou that future things canst represent

As present, Heav'nly instructer, I revive

At this last sight, assur'd that Man shall live

With all the Creatures, and thir seed preserve.

Farr less I now lament for one whole World 870

Of wicked Sons destroyd, then I rejoyce

For one Man found so perfet and so just,

That God voutsafes to raise another World

From him, and all his anger to forget.

But say, what mean those colourd streaks in Heavn,

Distended as the Brow of God appeas'd,

Or serve they as a flourie verge to binde

The fluid skirts of that same watrie Cloud,

Least it again dissolve and showr the Earth?

To whom th' Archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st; 880

So willingly doth God remit his Ire,

Though late repenting him of Man deprav'd,

Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw

The whole Earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh

Corrupting each thir way; yet those remoov'd,

Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight,

That he relents, not to blot out mankind,

And makes a Covenant never to destroy

The Earth again by flood, nor let the Sea

Surpass his bounds, nor Rain to drown the World 890

With Man therein or Beast; but when he brings

Over the Earth a Cloud, will therein set

His triple-colour'd Bow, whereon to look

And call to mind his Cov'nant: Day and Night,

Seed time and Harvest, Heat and hoary Frost

Shall hold thir course, till fire purge all things new,

Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.

Notes:

484 After this line, 1674 adds:

Daemoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie

And Moon struck madness, pining Atrophie,

Marasmus, and wide wasting Pestilence,

548 Of rendring up, and patiently attend

My dissolution. Michael repli'd 1674.

647 tacks] makes 1674.

866 that] who 1674.

The end of the Eleventh Book.

BOOK XII.

THE ARGUMENT.

The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall succeed;

then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain who that

Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall;

his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Ascention; the state of the

Church till his second Coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by

these Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael; wakens Eve,

who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to

quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out

of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking

thir Stations to guard the Place.

[As one who in his journey bates at Noone

Though bent on speed, so heer the Archangel' paus'd

Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor'd,

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;

Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes]

Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end;

And Man as from a second stock proceed.

Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceave

Thy mortal sight to faile; objects divine

Must needs impaire and wearie human sense: 10

Henceforth what is to com I will relate,

Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.

This second sours of Men, while yet but few,

And while the dread of judgement past remains

Fresh in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie,

With some regard to what is just and right

Shall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace,

Labouring the soile, and reaping plenteous crop,

Corn wine and oyle; and from the herd or flock,

Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid, 20

With large Wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred Feast

Shal spend thir dayes in joy unblam'd, and dwell

Long time in peace by Families and Tribes

Under paternal rule; till one shall rise

Of proud ambitious heart, who not content

With fair equalitie, fraternal state,

Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'd

Over his brethren, and quite dispossess

Concord and law of Nature from the Earth;

Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall be his game) 30

With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse

Subjection to his Empire tyrannous:

A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'd

Before the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n,

Or from Heav'n claming second Sovrantie;

And from Rebellion shall derive his name,

Though of Rebellion others he accuse.

Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns

With him or under him to tyrannize,

Marching from Eden towards the West, shall finde 40

The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge

Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;

Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build

A Citie & Towre, whose top may reach to Heav'n;

And get themselves a name, least far disperst

In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost,

Regardless whether good or evil fame.

But God who oft descends to visit men

Unseen, and through thir habitations walks

To mark thir doings, them beholding soon, 50

Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower

Obstruct Heav'n Towrs, and in derision sets

Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase

Quite out thir Native Language, and instead

To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:

Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud

Among the Builders; each to other calls

Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,

As mockt they storm; great laughter was in Heav'n

And looking down, to see the hubbub strange 60

And hear the din; thus was the building left

Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.

Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd.

O execrable Son so to aspire

Above his Brethren, to himself affirming

Authoritie usurpt, from God not giv'n:

He gave us onely over Beast, Fish, Fowl

Dominion absolute; that right we hold

By his donation; but Man over men

He made not Lord; such title to himself 70

Reserving, human left from human free.

But this Usurper his encroachment proud

Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends

Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food

Will he convey up thither to sustain

Himself and his rash Armie, where thin Aire

Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gross,

And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread?

To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorr'st

That Son, who on the quiet state of men 80

Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue

Rational Libertie; yet know withall,

Since thy original lapse, true Libertie

Is lost, which alwayes with right Reason dwells

Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:

Reason in man obscur'd, or not obeyd,

Immediately inordinate desires

And upstart Passions catch the Government

From Reason, and to servitude reduce

Man till then free. Therefore since hee permits 90

Within himself unworthie Powers to reign

Over free Reason, God in Judgement just

Subjects him from without to violent Lords;

Who oft as undeservedly enthrall

His outward freedom: Tyrannie must be,

Though to the Tyrant thereby no excuse.

Yet somtimes Nations will decline so low

From vertue, which is reason, that no wrong,

But Justice, and some fatal curse annext

Deprives them of thir outward libertie, 100

Thir inward lost: Witness th' irreverent Son

Of him who built the Ark, who for the shame

Don to his Father, heard this heavie curse,

Servant Of Servants, on his vitious Race.

Thus will this latter, as the former World,

Still tend from bad to worse, till God at last

Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw

His presence from among them, and avert

His holy Eyes; resolving from thenceforth

To leave them to thir own polluted wayes; 110

And one peculiar Nation to select

From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd,

A Nation from one faithful man to spring:

Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,

Bred up in Idol-worship; O that men

(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,

While yet the Patriark liv'd, who scap'd the Flood,

As to forsake the living God, and fall

To-worship thir own work in Wood and Stone

For Gods! yet him God the most High voutsafes 120

To call by Vision from his Fathers house,

His kindred and false Gods, into a Land

Which he will shew him, and from him will raise

A mightie Nation, and upon him showre

His benediction so, that in his Seed

All Nations shall be blest; hee straight obeys,

Not knowing to what Land, yet firm believes:

I see him, but thou canst not, with what Faith

He leaves his Gods, his Friends, and native Soile

Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the Ford 130

To Haran, after him a cumbrous Train

Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous servitude;

Not wandring poor, but trusting all his wealth

With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown.

Canaan he now attains, I see his Tents

Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine

Of Moreb; there by promise he receaves

Gift to his Progenie of all that Land;

From Hamath Northward to the Desert South

(Things by thir names I call, though yet unnam'd) 140

From Hermon East to the great Western Sea,

Mount Hermon, yonder Sea, each place behold

In prospect, as I point them; on the shoare

Mount Carmel; here the double-founted stream

Jordan, true limit Eastward; but his Sons

Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of Hills.

This ponder, that all Nations of the Earth

Shall in his Seed be blessed; by that Seed

Is meant thy great deliverer, who shall bruise

The Serpents head; whereof to thee anon 150

Plainlier shall be reveald. This Patriarch blest,

Whom Faithful Abraham due time shall call,

A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves,

Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown;

The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increast, departs

From Canaan, to a Land hereafter call'd

Egypt, divided by the River Nile;

See where it flows, disgorging at seaven mouthes

Into the Sea: to sojourn in that Land

He comes invited by a yonger Son 160

In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy deeds

Raise him to be the second in that Realme

Of Pharao: there he dies, and leaves his Race

Growing into a Nation, and now grown

Suspected to a sequent King, who seeks

To stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guests

Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves

Inhospitably, and kills thir infant Males:

Till by two brethren (those two brethren call

Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claime 170

His people from enthralment, they return

With glory and spoile back to thir promis'd Land.

But first the lawless Tyrant, who denies

To know thir God, or message to regard,

Must be compelld by Signes and Judgements dire;

To blood unshed the Rivers must be turnd,

Frogs, Lice and Flies must all his Palace fill

With loath'd intrusion, and fill all the land;

His Cattel must of Rot and Murren die,

Botches and blaines must all his flesh imboss, 180

And all his people; Thunder mixt with Haile,

Haile mixt with fire must rend th' Egyptian Skie

And wheel on th' Earth, devouring where it rouls;

What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or Graine,

A darksom Cloud of Locusts swarming down

Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green:

Darkness must overshadow all his bounds,

Palpable darkness, and blot out three dayes;

Last with one midnight stroke all the first-born

Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds 190

This River-dragon tam'd at length submits

To let his sojourners depart, and oft

Humbles his stubborn heart, but still as Ice

More hard'nd after thaw, till in his rage

Pursuing whom he late dismissd, the Sea

Swallows him with his Host, but them lets pass

As on drie land between two christal walls,

Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to stand

Divided, till his rescu'd gain thir shoar:

Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend, 200

Though present in his Angel, who shall goe

Before them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire,

To guide them in thir journey, and remove

Behinde them, while th' obdurat King pursues:

All night he will pursue, but his approach

Darkness defends between till morning Watch;

Then through the Firey Pillar and the Cloud

God looking forth will trouble all his Host

And craze thir Chariot wheels: when by command

Moses once more his potent Rod extends 210

Over the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys;

On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves return,

And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race elect

Safe towards Canaan from the shoar advance

Through the wilde Desert, not the readiest way,

Least entring on the Canaanite allarmd

Warr terrifie them inexpert, and feare

Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather

Inglorious life with servitude; for life

To noble and ignoble is more sweet 220

Untraind in Armes, where rashness leads not on.

This also shall they gain by thir delay

In the wide Wilderness, there they shall found

Thir government, and thir great Senate choose

Through the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws ordaind:

God from the Mount of Sinai, whose gray top

Shall tremble, he descending, will himself

In Thunder Lightning and loud Trumpets sound

Ordaine them Lawes; part such as appertaine

To civil Justice, part religious Rites 230

Of sacrifice, informing them, by types

And shadowes, of that destind Seed to bruise

The Serpent, by what meanes he shall achieve

Mankinds deliverance. But the voice of God

To mortal eare is dreadful; they beseech

That Moses might report to them his will,

And terror cease; he grants them thir desire,

Instructed that to God is no access

Without Mediator, whose high Office now

Moses in figure beares, to introduce 240

One greater, of whose day he shall foretell,

And all the Prophets in thir Age the times

Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus Laws and Rites

Establisht, such delight hath God in Men

Obedient to his will, that he voutsafes

Among them to set up his Tabernacle,

The holy One with mortal Men to dwell:

By his prescript a Sanctuary is fram'd

Of Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein

An Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony, 250

The Records of his Cov'nant, over these

A Mercie-seat of Gold between the wings

Of two bright Cherubim, before him burn

Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing

The Heav'nly fires; over the Tent a Cloud

Shall rest by Day, a fierie gleame by Night,

Save when they journie, and at length they come,

Conducted by his Angel to the Land

Promisd to Abraham and his Seed: the rest

Were long to tell, how many Battels fought, 260

How many Kings destroyd, and Kingdoms won,

Or how the Sun shall in mid Heav'n stand still

A day entire, and Nights due course adjourne,

Mans voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon stand,

And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon,

Till Israel overcome; so call the third

From Abraham, Son of Isaac, and from him

His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.

Here Adam interpos'd. O sent from Heav'n,

Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things 270

Thou hast reveald, those chiefly which concerne

Just Abraham and his Seed: now first I finde

Mine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd,

Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becom

Of mee and all Mankind; but now I see

His day, in whom all Nations shall be blest,

Favour unmerited by me, who sought

Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means.

This yet I apprehend not, why to those

Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth 280

So many and so various Laws are giv'n;

So many Laws argue so many sins

Among them; how can God with such reside?

To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin

Will reign among them, as of thee begot;

And therefore was Law given them to evince

Thir natural pravitie, by stirring up

Sin against Law to fight; that when they see

Law can discover sin, but not remove,

Save by those shadowie expiations weak, 290

The bloud of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude

Some bloud more precious must be paid for Man,

Just for unjust, that in such righteousness

To them by Faith imputed, they may finde

Justification towards God, and peace

Of Conscience, which the Law by Ceremonies

Cannot appease, nor Man the moral part

Perform, and not performing cannot live.

So Law appears imperfet, and but giv'n

With purpose to resign them in full time 300

Up to a better Cov'nant, disciplin'd

From shadowie Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit,

From imposition of strict Laws, to free

Acceptance of large Grace, from servil fear

To filial, works of Law to works of Faith.

And therefore shall not Moses, though of God

Highly belov'd, being but the Minister

Of Law, his people into Canaan lead;

But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call,

His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell 310

The adversarie Serpent, and bring back

Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man

Safe to eternal Paradise of rest.

Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac't

Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins

National interrupt thir public peace,

Provoking God to raise them enemies:

From whom as oft he saves them penitent

By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom

The second, both for pietie renownd 320

And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive

Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne

For ever shall endure; the like shall sing

All Prophecie, That of the Royal Stock

Of David (so I name this King) shall rise

A Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold,

Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust

All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings

The last, for of his Reign shall be no end.

But first a long succession must ensue, 330

And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd,

The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents

Wandring, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine.

Such follow him, as shall be registerd

Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle,

Whose foul Idolatries, and other faults

Heapt to the popular summe, will so incense

God, as to leave them, and expose thir Land,

Thir Citie, his Temple, and his holy Ark

With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 340

To that proud Citie, whose high Walls thou saw'st

Left in confusion, Babylon thence call'd.

There in captivitie he lets them dwell

The space of seventie years, then brings them back,

Remembring mercie, and his Cov'nant sworn

To David, stablisht as the dayes of Heav'n.

Returnd from Babylon by leave of Kings

Thir Lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God

They first re-edifie, and for a while

In mean estate live moderate, till grown 350

In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;

But first among the Priests dissension springs,

Men who attend the Altar, and should most

Endeavour Peace: thir strife pollution brings

Upon the Temple it self: at last they seise

The Scepter, and regard not Davids Sons,

Then loose it to a stranger, that the true

Anointed King Messiah might be born

Barr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a Starr

Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com, 360

And guides the Eastern Sages, who enquire

His place, to offer Incense, Myrrh, and Gold;

His place of birth a solemn Angel tells

To simple Shepherds, keeping watch by night;

They gladly thither haste, and by a Quire

Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung.

A Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire

The Power of the most High; he shall ascend

The Throne hereditarie, and bound his Reign

With earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heav'ns. 370

He ceas'd, discerning Adam with such joy

Surcharg'd, as had like grief bin dew'd in tears,

Without the vent of words, which these he breathd.

O Prophet of glad tidings, finisher

Of utmost hope! now clear I understand

What oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain,

Why our great expectation should be call'd

The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Haile,

High in the love of Heav'n, yet from my Loynes

Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son 380

Of God most High; So God with man unites.

Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise

Expect with mortal paine: say where and when

Thir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel.

To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight,

As of a Duel, or the local wounds

Of head or heel: not therefore joynes the Son

Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil

Thy enemie; nor so is overcome

Satan, whose fall from Heav'n, a deadlier bruise, 390

Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound:

Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,

Not by destroying Satan, but his works

In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be,

But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,

Obedience to the Law of God, impos'd

On penaltie of death, and suffering death,

The penaltie to thy transgression due,

And due to theirs which out of thine will grow:

So onely can high Justice rest appaid. 400

The Law of God exact he shall fulfill

Both by obedience and by love, though love

Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment

He shall endure by coming in the Flesh

To a reproachful life and cursed death,

Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe

In his redemption, and that his obedience

Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits

To save them, not thir own, though legal works.

For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, 410

Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemnd

A shameful and accurst, naild to the Cross

By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life;

But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies,

The Law that is against thee, and the sins

Of all mankinde, with him there crucifi'd,

Never to hurt them more who rightly trust

In this his satisfaction; so he dies,

But soon revives, Death over him no power

Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light 420

Returne, the Starres of Morn shall see him rise

Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,

Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,

His death for Man, as many as offerd Life

Neglect not, and the benefit imbrace

By Faith not void of works: this God-like act

Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dy'd,

In sin for ever lost from life; this act

Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength

Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes, 430

And fix farr deeper in his head thir stings

Then temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel,

Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep,

A gentle wafting to immortal Life.

Nor after resurrection shall he stay

Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer

To his Disciples, Men who in his Life

Still follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge

To teach all nations what of him they learn'd

And his Salvation, them who shall beleeve 440

Baptizing in the profluent streame, the signe

Of washing them from guilt of sin to Life

Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,

For death, like that which the redeemer dy'd.

All Nations they shall teach; for from that day

Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines

Salvation shall be Preacht, but to the Sons

Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world;

So in his seed all Nations shall be blest.

Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend 450

With victory, triumphing through the aire

Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise

The Serpent, Prince of aire, and drag in Chaines

Through all his realme, & there confounded leave;

Then enter into glory, and resume

His Seat at Gods right hand, exalted high

Above all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come,

When this worlds dissolution shall be ripe,

With glory and power to judge both quick & dead,

To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward 460

His faithful, and receave them into bliss,

Whether in Heav'n or Earth, for then the Earth

Shall all be Paradise, far happier place

Then this of Eden, and far happier daies.

So spake th' Archangel Michael, then paus'd,

As at the Worlds great period; and our Sire

Replete with joy and wonder thus repli'd.

O goodness infinite, goodness immense!

That all this good of evil shall produce,

And evil turn to good; more wonderful 470

Then that which by creation first brought forth

Light out of darkness! full of doubt I stand,

Whether I should repent me now of sin

By mee done and occasiond, or rejoyce

Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring,

To God more glory, more good will to Men

From God, and over wrauth grace shall abound.

But say, if our deliverer up to Heav'n

Must reascend, what will betide the few

His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd, 480

The enemies of truth; who then shall guide

His people, who defend? will they not deale

Wors with his followers then with him they dealt?

Be sure they will, said th' Angel; but from Heav'n

Hee to his own a Comforter will send,

The promise of the Father, who shall dwell

His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith

Working through love, upon thir hearts shall write,

To guide them in all truth, and also arme

With spiritual Armour, able to resist 490

Satans assaults, and quench his fierie darts

What Man can do against them, not affraid,

Though to the death, against such cruelties

With inward consolations recompenc't,

And oft supported so as shall amaze

Thir proudest persecuters: for the Spirit

Powrd first on his Apostles, whom he sends

To evangelize the Nations, then on all

Baptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endue

To speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles, 500

As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win

Great numbers of each Nation to receave

With joy the tidings brought from Heav'n: at length

Thir Ministry perform'd, and race well run,

Thir doctrine and thir story written left,

They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne,

Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous Wolves,

Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'n

To thir own vile advantages shall turne

Of lucre and ambition, and the truth 510

With superstitions and traditions taint,

Left onely in those written Records pure,

Though not but by the Spirit understood.

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,

Places and titles, and with these to joine

Secular power, though feigning still to act

By spiritual, to themselves appropriating

The Spirit of God, promisd alike and giv'n

To all Beleevers; and from that pretense,

Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force 520

On every conscience; Laws which none shall finde

Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within

Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then

But force the Spirit of Grace it self, and binde

His consort Libertie; what, but unbuild

His living Temples, built by Faith to stand,

Thir own Faith not anothers: for on Earth

Who against Faith and Conscience can be heard

Infallible? yet many will presume:

Whence heavie persecution shall arise 530

On all who in the worship persevere

Of Spirit and Truth; the rest, farr greater part,

Will deem in outward Rites and specious formes

Religion satisfi'd; Truth shall retire

Bestuck with slandrous darts, and works of Faith

Rarely be found: so shall the World goe on,

To good malignant, to bad men benigne,

Under her own waight groaning, till the day

Appeer of respiration to the just,

And vengeance to the wicked, at return 540

Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid,

The Womans seed, obscurely then foretold,

Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,

Last in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveald

In glory of the Father, to dissolve

Satan with his perverted World, then raise

From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd,

New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date

Founded in righteousness and peace and love,

To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss. 550

He ended; and thus Adam last reply'd.

How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,

Measur'd this transient World, the Race of time,

Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss,

Eternitie, whose end no eye can reach.

Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,

Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill

Of knowledge, what this vessel can containe;

Beyond which was my folly to aspire.

Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best, 560

And love with feare the onely God, to walk

As in his presence, ever to observe

His providence, and on him sole depend,

Merciful over all his works, with good

Still overcoming evil, and by small

Accomplishing great things, by things deemd weak

Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise

By simply meek; that suffering for Truths sake

Is fortitude to highest victorie,

And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life; 570

Taught this by his example whom I now

Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.

To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd:

This having learnt, thou hast attaind the summe

Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Starrs

Thou knewst by name, and all th' ethereal Powers,

All secrets of the deep, all Natures works,

Or works of God in Heav'n, Air, Earth, or Sea,

And all the riches of this World enjoydst,

And all the rule, one Empire; onely add 580

Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith,

Add Vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love,

By name to come call'd Charitie, the soul

Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath

To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess

A Paradise within thee, happier farr.

Let us descend now therefore from this top

Of Speculation; for the hour precise

Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards,

By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect 590

Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword,

In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;

We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;

Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'd

Portending good, and all her spirits compos'd

To meek submission: thou at season fit

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,

Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,

The great deliverance by her Seed to come

(For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind. 600

That ye may live, which will be many dayes,

Both in one Faith unanimous though sad,

With cause for evils past, yet much more cheer'd

With meditation on the happie end.

He ended, and they both descend the Hill;

Descended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve

Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak't;

And thus with words not sad she him receav'd.

Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know;

For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise, 610

Which he hath sent propitious, some great good

Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress

Wearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;

In mee is no delay; with thee to goe,

Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,

Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee

Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou,

Who for my wilful crime art banisht hence.

This further consolation yet secure

I carry hence; though all by mee is lost, 620

Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft,

By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.

So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard

Well pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh

Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill

To thir fixt Station, all in bright array

The Cherubim descended; on the ground

Gliding meteorous, as Ev'ning Mist

Ris'n from a River o're the marish glides,

And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel 630

Homeward returning. High in Front advanc't,

The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd

Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,

And vapour as the Libyan Air adust,

Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat

In either hand the hastning Angel caught

Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate

Let them direct, and down the Cliff as fast

To the subjected Plaine; then disappeer'd.

They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld 640

Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,

Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

With dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes:

Som natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon;

The World was all before them, where to choose

Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:

They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,

Through Eden took thir solitarie way.

Notes:

Argument: The Angel.... seed] Thence from the Flood relates,

and by degrees explains who that seed 1667.

1-5 These five lines were added in the Second Edition (1674) when

the original tenth book was divided into an eleventh and twelfth.

The End.

Transcriber's Note: Title page of first edition of Paradise

Regained follows:

PARADISE

REGAIND.

A

POEM.

In IV BOOKS

To which is added

SAMSON AGONISTES

------------------------------------------------------------

The Author

JOHN MILTON

------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------

LONDON.

Printed by J.M. for John Starkey at the

Mitre in Fleetstreet, near Temple-Bar.

MDCLXXI

PARADISE REGAIN'D.

The First Book.

I WHO e're while the happy Garden sung,

By one mans disobedience lost, now sing

Recover'd Paradise to all mankind,

By one mans firm obedience fully tri'd

Through all temptation, and the Tempter foil'd

In all his wiles, defeated and repuls't,

And Eden rais'd in the wast Wilderness.

Thou Spirit who ledst this glorious Eremite

Into the Desert, his Victorious Field

Against the Spiritual Foe, and broughtst him thence 10

By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,

As thou art wont, my prompted Song else mute,

And bear through highth or depth of natures bounds

With prosperous wing full summ'd to tell of deeds

Above Heroic, though in secret done,

And unrecorded left through many an Age,

Worthy t' have not remain'd so long unsung.

Now had the great Proclaimer with a voice

More awful then the sound of Trumpet, cri'd

Repentance, and Heavens Kingdom nigh at hand 20

To all Baptiz'd: to his great Baptism flock'd

With aw the Regions round, and with them came

From Nazareth the Son of Joseph deem'd

To the flood Jordan, came as then obscure,

Unmarkt, unknown; but him the Baptist soon

Descri'd, divinely warn'd, and witness bore

As to his worthier, and would have resign'd

To him his Heavenly Office, nor was long

His witness unconfirm'd: on him baptiz'd

Heaven open'd, and in likeness of a Dove 30

The Spirit descended, while the Fathers voice

From Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved Son

That heard the Adversary, who roving still

About the world, at that assembly fam'd

Would not be last, and with the voice divine

Nigh Thunder-struck, th' exalted man, to whom

Such high attest was giv'n, a while survey'd

With wonder, then with envy fraught and rage

Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air

To Councel summons all his mighty Peers, 40

Within thick Clouds and dark ten-fold involv'd,

A gloomy Consistory; and them amidst

With looks agast and sad he thus bespake.

O ancient Powers of Air and this wide world,

For much more willingly I mention Air,

This our old Conquest, then remember Hell

Our hated habitation; well ye know

How many Ages, as the years of men,

This Universe we have possest, and rul'd

In manner at our will th' affairs of Earth, 50

Since Adam and his facil consort Eve

Lost Paradise deceiv'd by me, though since

With dread attending when that fatal wound

Shall be inflicted by the Seed of Eve

Upon my head, long the decrees of Heav'n

Delay, for longest time to him is short;

And now too soon for us the circling hours

This dreaded time have compast, wherein we

Must bide the stroak of that long threatn'd wound,

At least if so we can, and by the head 60

Broken be not intended all our power

To be infring'd, our freedom and our being

In this fair Empire won of Earth and Air;

For this ill news I bring, the Womans seed

Destin'd to this, is late of woman born,

His birth to our just fear gave no small cause,

But his growth now to youths full flowr, displaying

All vertue, grace and wisdom to atchieve

Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.

Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70

His coming is sent Harbinger, who all

Invites, and in the Consecrated stream

Pretends to wash off sin and fit them so

Purified to receive him pure, or rather

To do him honour as their King; all come,

And he himself among them was baptiz'd,

Not thence to be more pure, but to receive

The testimony of Heaven, that who he is

Thenceforth the Nations may not doubt; I saw

The Prophet do him reverence, on him rising 80

Out of the water, Heav'n above the Clouds

Unfold her Crystal Dores, thence on his head

A perfect Dove descend, what e're it meant

And out of Heav'n the Sov'raign voice I heard,

This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd.

His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire,

He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n,

And what will he not do to advance his Son?

His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,

When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90

Who this is we must learn, for man he seems

In all his lineaments, though in his face

The glimpses of his Fathers glory shine.

Ye see our danger on the utmost edge

Of hazard, which admits no long debate,

But must with something sudden be oppos'd,

Not force, but well couch't fraud, well woven snares,

E're in the head of Nations he appear

Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth.

I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100

The dismal expedition to find out

And ruine Adam, and the exploit perform'd

Successfully; a calmer voyage now

Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once

Induces best to hope of like success.

He ended, and his words impression left

Of much amazement to th' infernal Crew,

Distracted and surpriz'd with deep dismay

At these sad tidings; but no time was then

For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110

Unanimous they all commit the care

And management of this main enterprize

To him their great Dictator, whose attempt

At first against mankind so well had thriv'd

In Adam's overthrow, and led thir march

From Hell's deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light,

Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea gods

Of many a pleasant Realm and Province wide.

So to the Coast of Jordan he directs

His easie steps; girded with snaky wiles, 120

Where he might likeliest find this new-declar'd,

This man of men, attested Son of God,

Temptation and all guile on him to try;

So to subvert whom he suspected rais'd

To end his Raign on Earth so long enjoy'd:

But contrary unweeting he fulfill'd

The purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixt

Of the most High, who in full frequence bright

Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake.

Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130

Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth

With man or mens affairs, how I begin

To verifie that solemn message late,

On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure

In Galilee, that she should bear a Son

Great in Renown, and call'd the Son of God;

Then toldst her doubting how these things could be

To her a Virgin, that on her should come

The Holy Ghost, and the power of the highest

O're-shadow her: this man born and now up-grown, 140

To shew him worthy of his birth divine

And high prediction, henceforth I expose

To Satan; let him tempt and now assay

His utmost subtilty, because he boasts

And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng

Of his Apostasie; he might have learnt

Less over-weening, since he fail'd in Job,

Whose constant perseverance overcame

Whate're his cruel malice could invent.

He now shall know I can produce a man 150

Of female Seed, far abler to resist

All his sollicitations, and at length

All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell,

Winning by Conquest what the first man lost

By fallacy surpriz'd. But first I mean

To exercise him in the Wilderness,

There he shall first lay down the rudiments

Of his great warfare, e're I send him forth

To conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes,

By Humiliation and strong Sufferance: 160

His weakness shall o'recome Satanic strength

And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;

That all the Angels and Aetherial Powers,

They now, and men hereafter may discern,

From what consummate vertue I have chose

This perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son,

To earn Salvation for the Sons of men.

So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven

Admiring stood a space, then into Hymns

Burst forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd, 170

Circling the Throne and Singing, while the hand

Sung with the voice, and this the argument.

Victory and Triumph to the Son of God

Now entring his great duel, not of arms,

But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles.

The Father knows the Son; therefore secure

Ventures his filial Vertue, though untri'd,

Against whate're may tempt, whate're seduce,

Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.

Be frustrate all ye stratagems of Hell, 180

And devilish machinations come to nought.

So they in Heav'n their Odes and Vigils tun'd:

Mean while the Son of God, who yet some days

Lodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd,

Musing and much revolving in his brest,

How best the mighty work he might begin

Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first

Publish his God-like office now mature,

One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading;

And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190

With solitude, till far from track of men,

Thought following thought, and step by step led on,

He entred now the bordering Desert wild,

And with dark shades and rocks environ'd round,

His holy Meditations thus persu'd.

O what a multitude of thoughts at once

Awakn'd in me swarm, while I consider

What from within I feel my self and hear

What from without comes often to my ears,

Ill sorting with my present state compar'd. 200

When I was yet a child, no childish play

To me was pleasing, all my mind was set

Serious to learn and know, and thence to do

What might be publick good; my self I thought

Born to that end, born to promote all truth,

All righteous things: therefore above my years,

The Law of God I read, and found it sweet,

Made it my whole delight, and in it grew

To such perfection, that e're yet my age

Had measur'd twice six years, at our great Feast 210

I went into the Temple, there to hear

The Teachers of our Law, and to propose

What might improve my knowledge or their own;

And was admir'd by all, yet this not all

To which my Spirit aspir'd, victorious deeds

Flam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one while

To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke,

Thence to subdue and quell o're all the earth

Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r,

Till truth were freed, and equity restor'd: 220

Yet held it more humane, more heavenly first

By winning words to conquer willing hearts,

And make perswasion do the work of fear;

At least to try, and teach the erring Soul

Not wilfully mis-doing, but unware

Misled: the stubborn only to subdue.

These growing thoughts my Mother soon perceiving

By words at times cast forth inly rejoyc'd,

And said to me apart, high are thy thoughts

O Son, but nourish them and let them soar 230

To what highth sacred vertue and true worth

Can raise them, though above example high;

By matchless Deeds express thy matchless Sire.

For know, thou art no Son of mortal man,

Though men esteem thee low of Parentage,

Thy Father is the Eternal King, who rules

All Heaven and Earth, Angels and Sons of men,

A messenger from God fore-told thy birth

Conceiv'd in me a Virgin, he fore-told

Thou shouldst be great and sit on David's Throne. 240

And of thy Kingdom there should be no end.

At thy Nativity a glorious Quire

Of Angels in the fields of Bethlehem sung

To Shepherds watching at their folds by night,

And told them the Messiah now was born,

Where they might see him, and to thee they came;

Directed to the Manger where thou lais't,

For in the Inn was left no better room:

A Star, not seen before in Heaven appearing

Guided the Wise Men thither from the East, 250

To honour thee with Incense, Myrrh, and Gold,

By whose bright course led on they found the place,

Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heaven,

By which they knew thee King of Israel born.

Just Simeon and Prophetic Anna, warn'd

By Vision, found thee in the Temple, and spake

Before the Altar and the vested Priest,

Like things of thee to all that present stood.

This having heard, strait I again revolv'd

The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ 260

Concerning the Messiah, to our Scribes

Known partly, and soon found of whom they spake

I am; this chiefly, that my way must lie

Through many a hard assay even to the death,

E're I the promis'd Kingdom can attain,

Or work redemption for mankind, whose sins

Full weight must be transferr'd upon my head.

Yet neither thus disheartn'd or dismay'd,

The time prefixt I waited, when behold

The Baptist, (of whose birth I oft had heard, 270

Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come

Before Messiah and his way prepare.

I as all others to his Baptism came,

Which I believ'd was from above; but he

Strait knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'd

Me him (for it was shew'n him so from Heaven)

Me him whose Harbinger he was; and first

Refus'd on me his Baptism to confer,

As much his greater, and was hardly won;

But as I rose out of the laving stream, 280

Heaven open'd her eternal doors, from whence

The Spirit descended on me like a Dove,

And last the sum of all, my Father's voice,

Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his,

Me his beloved Son, in whom alone

He was well pleas'd; by which I knew the time

Now full, that I no more should live obscure,

But openly begin, as best becomes

The Authority which I deriv'd from Heaven.

And now by some strong motion I am led 290

Into this wilderness, to what intent

I learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;

For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.

So spake our Morning Star then in his rise,

And looking round on every side beheld

A pathless Desert, dusk with horrid shades;

The way he came not having mark'd, return

Was difficult, by humane steps untrod;

And he still on was led, but with such thoughts

Accompanied of things past and to come 300

Lodg'd in his brest, as well might recommend

Such Solitude before choicest Society.

Full forty days he pass'd, whether on hill

Sometimes, anon in shady vale, each night

Under the covert of some ancient Oak,

Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew,

Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd;

Nor tasted humane food, nor hunger felt

Till those days ended, hunger'd then at last

Among wild Beasts: they at his sight grew mild, 310

Nor sleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walk

The fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm,

The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof.

But now an aged man in Rural weeds,

Following, as seem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe,

Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might serve

Against a Winters day when winds blow keen,

To warm him wet return'd from field at Eve,

He saw approach, who first with curious eye

Perus'd him, then with words thus utt'red spake. 320

Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place

So far from path or road of men, who pass

In Troop or Caravan, for single none

Durst ever, who return'd, and dropt not here

His Carcass, pin'd with hunger and with droughth?

I ask the rather and the more admire,

For that to me thou seem'st the man, whom late

Our new baptizing Prophet at the Ford

Of Jordan honour'd so, and call'd thee Son

Of God: I saw and heard, for we sometimes 330

Who dwell this wild, constrain'd by want, come forth

To Town or Village nigh (nighest is far)

Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,

What happ'ns new; Fame also finds us out.

To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hither

Will bring me hence, no other Guide I seek,

By Miracle he may, reply'd the Swain,

What other way I see not, for we here

Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inur'd

More then the Camel, and to drink go far, 340

Men to much misery and hardship born;

But if thou be the Son of God, Command

That out of these hard stones be made thee bread;

So shalt thou save thy self and us relieve

With Food, whereof we wretched seldom taste.

He ended, and the Son of God reply'd.

Think'st thou such force in Bread? is it not written

(For I discern thee other then thou seem'st)

Man lives not by Bread only, but each Word

Proceeding from the mouth of God; who fed 350

Our Fathers here with Manna; in the Mount

Moses was forty days, nor eat nor drank,

And forty days Eliah without food

Wandred this barren waste, the same I now:

Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust,

Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?

Whom thus answer'd th' Arch Fiend now undisguis'd.

'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate,

Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revolt

Kept not my happy Station, but was driv'n 360

With them from bliss to the bottomless deep,

Vet to that hideous place not so confin'd

By rigour unconniving, but that oft

Leaving my dolorous Prison I enjoy

Large liberty to round this Globe of Earth,

Or range in th' Air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'ns

Hath he excluded my resort sometimes.

I came among the Sons of God, when he

Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job

To prove him, and illustrate his high worth; 370

And when to all his Angels he propos'd

To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud

That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,

I undertook that office, and the tongues

Of all his flattering Prophets glibb'd with lyes

To his destruction, as I had in charge.

For what he bids I do; though I have lost

Much lustre of my native brightness, lost

To be belov'd of God, I have not lost

To love, at least contemplate and admire 380

What I see excellent in good, or fair,

Or vertuous, I should so have lost all sense.

What can be then less in me then desire

To see thee and approach thee, whom I know

Declar'd the Son of God, to hear attent

Thy wisdom, and behold thy God-like deeds?

Men generally think me much a foe

To all mankind: why should I? they to me

Never did wrong or violence, by them

I lost not what I lost, rather by them 390

I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them dwell

Copartner in these Regions of the World,

If not disposer; lend them oft my aid,

Oft my advice by presages and signs,

And answers, oracles, portents and dreams,

Whereby they may direct their future life.

Envy they say excites me, thus to gain

Companions of my misery and wo.

At first it may be; but long since with wo

Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof, 400

That fellowship in pain divides not smart,

Nor lightens aught each mans peculiar load.

Small consolation then, were Man adjoyn'd:

This wounds me most (what can it less) that Man,

Man fall'n shall be restor'd, I never more.

To whom our Saviour sternly thus reply'd.

Deservedly thou griev'st, compos'd of lyes

From the beginning, and in lies wilt end;

Who boast'st release from Hell, and leave to come

Into the Heav'n of Heavens; thou com'st indeed, 410

As a poor miserable captive thrall,

Comes to the place where he before had sat

Among the Prime in Splendour, now depos'd,

Ejected, emptyed, gaz'd, unpityed, shun'd,

A spectacle of ruin or of scorn

To all the Host of Heaven; the happy place

Imparts to thee no happiness, no joy,

Rather inflames thy torment, representing

Lost bliss, to thee no more communicable,

So never more in Hell then when in Heaven. 420

But thou art serviceable to Heaven's King.

Wilt thou impute to obedience what thy fear

Extorts, or pleasure to do ill excites?

What but thy malice mov'd thee to misdeem

Of righteous Job, then cruelly to afflict him

With all inflictions, but his patience won?

The other service was thy chosen task,

To be a lyer in four hundred mouths;

For lying is thy sustenance, thy food.

Yet thou pretend'st to truth; all Oracles 430

By thee are giv'n, and what confest more true

Among the Nations? that hath been thy craft,

By mixing somewhat true to vent more lyes.

But what have been thy answers, what but dark

Ambiguous and with double sense deluding,

Which they who ask'd have seldom understood,

And not well understood as good not known?

Who ever by consulting at thy shrine

Return'd the wiser, or the more instruct

To flye or follow what concern'd him most, 440

And run not sooner to his fatal snare?

For God hath justly giv'n the Nations up

To thy Delusions; justly, since they fell

Idolatrous, but when his purpose is

Among them to declare his Providence

To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth,

But from him or his Angels President

In every Province, who themselves disdaining

To approach thy Temples, give thee in command

What to the smallest tittle thou shalt say 450

To thy Adorers; thou with trembling fear,

Or like a Fawning Parasite obey'st;

Then to thy self ascrib'st the truth fore-told.

But this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd;

No more shalt thou by oracling abuse

The Gentiles; henceforth Oracles are ceast,

And thou no more with Pomp and Sacrifice

Shalt be enquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere,

At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute.

God hath now sent his living Oracle 460

Into the World, to teach his final will,

And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell

In pious Hearts, an inward Oracle

To all truth requisite for men to know.

So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend,

Though inly stung with anger and disdain,

Dissembl'd, and this answer smooth return'd.

Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke,

And urg'd me hard with doings, which not will

But misery hath rested from me; where 470

Easily canst thou find one miserable,

And not inforc'd oft-times to part from truth;

If it may stand him more in stead to lye,

Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure?

But thou art plac't above me, thou art Lord;

From thee I can and must submiss endure

Check or reproof, and glad to scape so quit.

Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,

Smooth on the tongue discourst, pleasing to th' ear,

And tuneable as Silvan Pipe or Song; 480

What wonder then if I delight to hear

Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire

Vertue, who follow not her lore: permit me

To hear thee when I come (since no man comes)

And talk at least, though I despair to attain.

Thy Father, who is holy, wise and pure,

Suffers the Hypocrite or Atheous Priest

To tread his Sacred Courts, and minister

About his Altar, handling holy things,

Praying or vowing, and vouchsaf'd his voice 490

To Balaam reprobate, a Prophet yet

Inspir'd; disdain not such access to me.

To whom our Saviour with unalter'd brow

Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope,

I bid not or forbid; do as thou find'st

Permission from above; thou canst not more.

He added not; and Satan bowing low

His gray dissimulation, disappear'd

Into thin Air diffus'd: for now began

Night with her sullen wing to double-shade 500

The Desert Fowls in thir clay nests were couch't;

And now wild Beasts came forth the woods to roam.

The End of the First Book.

The Second Book.

MEAN while the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd

At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen

Him whom they heard so late expresly call'd

Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd,

And on that high Authority had believ'd,

And with him talkt, and with him lodg'd, I mean

Andrew and Simon, famous after known

With others though in Holy Writ not nam'd,

Now missing him thir joy so lately found,

So lately found, and so abruptly gone, 10

Began to doubt, and doubted many days,

And as the days increas'd, increas'd thir doubt:

Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn,

And for a time caught up to God, as once

Moses was in the Mount, and missing long;

And the great Thisbite who on fiery wheels

Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come.

Therefore as those young Prophets then with care

Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these

Nigh to Bethabara; in Jerico 20

The City of Palms, Aenon, and Salem Old,

Machaerus and each Town or City wall'd

On this side the broad lake Genezaret

Or in Perea, but return'd in vain.

Then on the bank of Jordan, by a Creek:

Where winds with Reeds, and Osiers whisp'ring play

Plain Fishermen, no greater men them call,

Close in a Cottage low together got

Thir unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd.

Alas from what high hope to what relapse 30

Unlook'd for are we fall'n, our eyes beheld

Messiah certainly now come, so long

Expected of our Fathers; we have heard

His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth,

Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand,

The Kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd:

Thus we rejoyc'd, but soon our joy is turn'd

Into perplexity and new amaze:

For whither is he gone, what accident

Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire 40

After appearance, and again prolong

Our expectation? God of Israel,

Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come;

Behold the Kings of the Earth how they oppress

Thy chosen, to what highth thir pow'r unjust

They have exalted, and behind them cast

All fear of thee, arise and vindicate

Thy Glory, free thy people from thir yoke,

But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd,

Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him, 50

By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown,

In publick, and with him we have convers'd;

Let us be glad of this, and all our fears

Lay on his Providence; he will not fail

Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall,

Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence,

Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return.

Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume

To find whom at the first they found unsought:

But to his Mother Mary, when she saw 60

Others return'd from Baptism, not her Son,

Nor left at Jordan, tydings of him none;

Within her brest, though calm; her brest though pure,

Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd

Some troubl'd thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad.

O what avails me now that honour high

To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute

Hale highly favour'd, among women blest;

While I to sorrows am no less advanc't,

And fears as eminent, above the lot 70

Of other women, by the birth I bore,

In such a season born when scarce a Shed

Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me

From the bleak air; a Stable was our warmth,

A Manger his, yet soon enforc't to flye

Thence into Egypt, till the Murd'rous King

Were dead, who sought his life, and missing fill'd

With Infant blood the streets of Bethlehem;

From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth

Hath been our dwelling many years, his life 80

Private, unactive, calm, contemplative,

Little suspicious to any King; but now

Full grown to Man, acknowledg'd, as I hear,

By John the Baptist, and in publick shown,

Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice;

I look't for some great change; to Honour? no,

But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold,

That to the fall and rising he should be

Of Many in Israel, and to a sign

Spoken against, that through my very Soul 90

A sword shall pierce, this is my favour'd lot,

My Exaltation to Afflictions high;

Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest;

I will not argue that, nor will repine.

But where delays he now? some great intent

Conceals him: when twelve years he scarce had seen,

I lost him, but so found, as well I saw

He could not lose himself; but went about

His Father's business; what he meant I mus'd,

Since understand; much more his absence now 100

Thus long to some great purpose he obscures.

But I to wait with patience am inur'd;

My heart hath been a store-house long of things

And sayings laid up, portending strange events.

Thus Mary pondering oft, and oft to mind

Recalling what remarkably had pass'd

Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts

Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling:

The while her Son tracing the Desert wild,

Sole but with holiest Meditations fed, 110

Into himself descended, and at once

All his great work to come before him set;

How to begin, how to accomplish best

His end of being on Earth, and mission high:

For Satan with slye preface to return

Had left him vacant, and with speed was gon

Up to the middle Region of thick Air,

Where all his Potentates in Council sate;

There without sign of boast, or sign of joy,

Sollicitous and blank he thus began. 120

Princes, Heavens antient Sons, Aethereal Thrones,

Demonian Spirits now, from the Element

Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd,

Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath,

So may we hold our place and these mild seats

Without new trouble; such an Enemy

Is ris'n to invade us, who no less

Threat'ns then our expulsion down to Hell;

I, as I undertook, and with the vote

Consenting in full frequence was impowr'd, 130

Have found him, view'd him, tasted him, but find

Far other labour to be undergon

Then when I dealt with Adam first of Men,

Though Adam by his Wives allurement fell,

However to this Man inferior far,

If he be Man by Mothers side at least,

With more then humane gifts from Heav'n adorn'd,

Perfections absolute, Graces divine,

And amplitude of mind to greatest Deeds.

Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence 140

Of my success with Eve in Paradise

Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure

Of like succeeding here; I summon all

Rather to be in readiness, with hand

Or counsel to assist; lest I who erst

Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.

So spake the old Serpent doubting, and from all

With clamour was assur'd thir utmost aid

At his command; when from amidst them rose

Belial the dissolutest Spirit that fell 150

The sensuallest, and after Asmodai

The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advis'd.

Set women in his eye and in his walk,

Among daughters of men the fairest found;

Many are in each Region passing fair

As the noon Skie; more like to Goddesses

Then Mortal Creatures, graceful and discreet,

Expert in amorous Arts, enchanting tongues

Perswasive, Virgin majesty with mild

And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach, 160

Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw

Hearts after them tangl'd in Amorous Nets.

Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame

Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow,

Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve,

Draw out with credulous desire, and lead

At will the manliest, resolutest brest,

As the Magnetic hardest Iron draws.

Women, when nothing else, beguil'd the heart

Of wisest Solomon, and made him build, 170

And made him bow to the Gods of his Wives.

To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd

Belial in much uneven scale thou weigh'st

All others by thy self; because of old

Thou thy self doat'st on womankind, admiring

Thir shape, thir colour, and attractive grace,

None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys.

Before the Flood thou with thy lusty Crew,

False titl'd Sons of God, roaming the Earth

Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men, 180

And coupl'd with them, and begot a race.

Have we not seen, or by relation heard,

In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk'st,

In Wood or Grove by mossie Fountain side,

In Valley or Green Meadow to way-lay

Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene,

Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,

Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more

Too long, then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd,

Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan, 190

Satyr, or Fawn, or Silvan? But these haunts

Delight not all; among the Sons of Men,

How many have with a smile made small account

Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd

All her assaults, on worthier things intent?

Remember that Pellean Conquerour,

A youth, how all the Beauties of the East

He slightly view'd, and slightly over-pass'd;

How hee sirnam'd of Africa dismiss'd

In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid. 200

For Solomon he liv'd at ease, and full

Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond

Higher design then to enjoy his State;

Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd;

But he whom we attempt is wiser far

Then Solomon, of more exalted mind,

Made and set wholly on the accomplishment

Of greatest things; what woman will you find,

Though of this Age the wonder and the fame,

On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye 210

Of fond desire? or should she confident,

As sitting Queen ador'd on Beauties Throne,

Descend with all her winning charms begirt

To enamour, as the Zone of Venus once

Wrought that effect on Jove, so Fables tell;

How would one look from his Majestick brow

Seated as on the top of Vertues hill,

Discount'nance her despis'd, and put to rout

All her array; her female pride deject,

Or turn to reverent awe? for Beauty stands 220

In the admiration only of weak minds

Led captive; cease to admire, and all her Plumes

Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy,

At every sudden slighting quite abasht:

Therefore with manlier objects we must try

His constancy, with such as have more shew

Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise;

Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd;

Or that which only seems to satisfie

Lawful desires of Nature, not beyond; 230

And now I know he hungers where no food

Is to be found, in the wide Wilderness;

The rest commit to me, I shall let pass

No advantage, and his strength as oft assay.

He ceas'd, and heard thir grant in loud acclaim;

Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band

Of Spirits likest to himself in guile

To be at hand, and at his beck appear,

If cause were to unfold some active Scene

Of various persons each to know his part; 240

Then to the Desert takes with these his flight;

Where still from shade to shade the Son of God

After forty days fasting had remain'd,

Now hungring first, and to himself thus said.

Where will this end? four times ten days I have pass'd

Wandring this woody maze, and humane food

Nor tasted, nor had appetite: that Fast

To Vertue I impute not, or count part

Of what I suffer here; if Nature need not,

Or God support Nature without repast 250

Though needing, what praise is it to endure?

But now I feel I hunger, which declares,

Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God

Can satisfie that need some other way,

Though hunger still remain: so it remain

Without this bodies wasting, I content me,

And from the sting of Famine fear no harm,

Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed

Mee hungring more to do my Fathers will.

It was the hour of night, when thus the Son 260

Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down

Under the hospitable covert nigh

Of Trees thick interwoven; there he slept,

And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream,

Of meats and drinks, Natures refreshment sweet;

Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood

And saw the Ravens with thir horny beaks

Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn,

Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought:

He saw the Prophet also how he fled 270

Into the Desert, and how there he slept

Under a Juniper; then how awakt,

He found his Supper on the coals prepar'd,

And by the Angel was bid rise and eat,

And eat the second time after repose,

The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days;

Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,

Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse.

Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark

Left his ground-nest, high towring to descry 280

The morns approach, and greet her with his Song:

As lightly from his grassy Couch up rose

Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream,

Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak'd.

Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd,

From whose high top to ken the prospect round,

If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd;

But Cottage, Herd or Sheep-cote none he saw,

Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove,

With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud; 290

Thither he bent his way, determin'd there

To rest at noon, and entr'd soon the shade

High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown

That open'd in the midst a woody Scene,

Natures own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art)

And to a Superstitious eye the haunt

Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round,

When suddenly a man before him stood,

Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad,

As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred, 300

And with fair speech these words to him address'd.

With granted leave officious I return,

But much more wonder that the Son of God

In this wild solitude so long should bide

Of all things destitute, and well I know,

Not without hunger. Others of some note,

As story tells, have trod this Wilderness;

The Fugitive Bond-woman with her Son

Out cast Nebaioth, yet found he relief

By a providing Angel; all the race 310

Of Israel here had famish'd, had not God

Rain'd from Heaven Manna, and that Prophet bold

Native of Thebes wandring here was fed

Twice by a voice inviting him to eat.

Of thee these forty days none hath regard,

Forty and more deserted here indeed.

To whom thus Jesus; what conclud'st thou hence?

They all had need, I as thou seest have none.

How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd,

Tell me if Food were now before thee set, 320

Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like

The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that

Cause thy refusal, said the subtle Fiend,

Hast thou not right to all Created things,

Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee

Duty and Service, nor to stay till bid,

But tender all their power? nor mention I

Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first

To Idols, those young Daniel could refuse;

Nor proffer'd by an Enemy, though who 330

Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold

Nature asham'd, or better to express,

Troubl'd that thou should'st hunger, hath purvey'd

From all the Elements her choicest store

To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord

With honour, only deign to sit and eat.

He spake no dream, for as his words had end,

Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld

In ample space under the broadest shade

A Table richly spred, in regal mode, 340

With dishes pil'd, and meats of noblest sort

And savour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game,

In pastry built, or from the spit, or boyl'd,

Gris-amber-steam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore,

Freshet, or purling Brook, of shell or fin,

And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd

Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coast.

Alas how simple, to these Cates compar'd,

Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!

And at a stately side-board by the wine 350

That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood

Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew

Then Ganymed or Hylas, distant more

Under the Trees now trip'd, now solemn stood

Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades

With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn,

And Ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd

Fairer then feign'd of old, or fabl'd since

Of Fairy Damsels met in Forest wide

By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones, 360

Lancelot or Pelleas, or Pellenore,

And all the while Harmonious Airs were heard

Of chiming strings, or charming pipes and winds

Of gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd

From their soft wings, and flora's earliest smells.

Such was the Splendour, and the Tempter now

His invitation earnestly renew'd.

What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?

These are not Fruits forbidden, no interdict

Defends the touching of these viands pure, 370

Thir taste no knowledge works, at least of evil,

But life preserves, destroys life's enemy,

Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.

All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs,

Thy gentle Ministers, who come to pay

Thee homage, and acknowledge thee thir Lord:

What doubt'st thou Son of God? sit down and eat.

To whom thus Jesus temperately reply'd:

Said'st thou not that to all things I had right?

And who withholds my pow'r that right to use? 380

Shall I receive by gift what of my own,

When and where likes me best, I can command?

I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,

Command a Table in this Wilderness,

And call swift flights of Angels ministrant

Array'd in Glory on my cup to attend:

Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence,

In vain, where no acceptance it can find,

And with my hunger what hast thou to do?

Thy pompous Delicacies I contemn, 390

And count thy specious gifts no gifts but guiles.

To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent:

That I have also power to give thou seest,

If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary

What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd.

And rather opportunely in this place

Chose to impart to thy apparent need,

Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I see

What I can do or offer is suspect;

Of these things others quickly will dispose 400

Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that

Both Table and Provision vanish'd quite

With sound of Harpies wings, and Talons heard;

Only the importune Tempter still remain'd,

And with these words his temptation pursu'd.

By hunger, that each other Creature tames,

Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd;

Thy temperance invincible besides,

For no allurement yields to appetite,

And all thy heart is set on high designs, 410

High actions: but wherewith to be atchiev'd?

Great acts require great means of enterprise,

Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,

A Carpenter thy Father known, thy self

Bred up in poverty and streights at home;

Lost in a Desert here and hunger-bit:

Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire

To greatness? whence Authority deriv'st,

What Followers, what Retinue canst thou gain,

Or at thy heels the dizzy Multitude, 420

Longer then thou canst feed them on thy cost?

Money brings Honour, Friends, Conquest, and Realms;

What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,

And his Son Herod plac'd on Juda's Throne;

(Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends?

Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive,

Get Riches first, get Wealth, and Treasure heap,

Not difficult, if thou hearken to me,

Riches are mine, Fortune is in my hand;

They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain, 430

While Virtue, Valour, Wisdom sit in want.

To whom thus Jesus patiently reply'd;

Yet Wealth without these three is impotent,

To gain dominion or to keep it gain'd.

Witness those antient Empires of the Earth,

In highth of all thir flowing wealth dissolv'd:

But men endu'd with these have oft attain'd

In lowest poverty to highest deeds;

Gideon and Jephtha, and the Shepherd lad,

Whose off-spring on the Throne of Juda sat 440

So many Ages, and shall yet regain

That seat, and reign in Israel without end.

Among the Heathen, (for throughout the World

To me is not unknown what hath been done

Worthy of Memorial) canst thou not remember

Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?

For I esteem those names of men so poor

Who could do mighty things, and could contemn

Riches though offer'd from the hand of Kings.

And what in me seems wanting, but that I 450

May also in this poverty as soon

Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?

Extol not Riches then, the toyl of Fools

The wise mans cumbrance if not snare, more apt

To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge,

Then prompt her to do aught may merit praise.

What if with like aversion I reject

Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown,

Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns,

Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights 460

To him who wears the Regal Diadem,

When on his shoulders each mans burden lies;

For therein stands the office of a King,

His Honour, Vertue, Merit and chief Praise,

That for the Publick all this weight he bears.

Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules

Passions, Desires, and Fears, is more a King;

Which every wise and vertuous man attains:

And who attains not, ill aspires to rule

Cities of men, or head-strong Multitudes, 470

Subject himself to Anarchy within,

Or lawless passions in him which he serves.

But to guide Nations in the way of truth

By saving Doctrine, and from errour lead

To know, and knowing worship God aright,

Is yet more Kingly, this attracts the Soul,

Governs the inner man, the nobler part,

That other o're the body only reigns,

And oft by force, which to a generous mind

So reigning can be no sincere delight. 480

Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought

Greater and nobler done, and to lay down

Far more magnanimous, then to assume.

Riches are needless then, both for themselves,

And for thy reason why they should be sought,

To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss't.

Note: 309 he] here 1695.

The End of the Second Book.

The Third Book.