Paradise Lost - Book IV

O for that warning voice, which he who saw     Th Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,     Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,     Came furious down to be revengd on men,     Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now,     While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd     The coming of thir secret foe, and scapd     Haply so scapd his mortal snare; for now     Satan, now first inflamd with rage, came down,     The Tempter ere th Accuser of man-kind,     To wreck on innocent frail man his loss     Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:     Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,     Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,     Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth     Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest,     And like a devillish Engine back recoiles     Upon himself; horror and doubt distract     His troubld thoughts, and from the bottom stirr     The Hell within him, for within him Hell     He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell     One step no more then from himself can fly     By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair     That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie     Of what he was, what is, and what must be     Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.     Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view     Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,     Sometimes towards Heavn and the full-blazing Sun,     Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre:     Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.     O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd,     Lookst from thy sole Dominion like the God     Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs     Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call,     But with no friendly voice, and add thy name     O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams     That bring to my remembrance from what state     I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare;     Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down     Warring in Heavn against Heavns matchless King:     Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return     From me, whom he created what I was     In that bright eminence, and with his good     Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.     What could be less then to afford him praise,     The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,     How due! yet all his good provd ill in me,     And wrought but malice; lifted up so high     I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher     Would set me highest, and in a moment quit     The debt immense of endless gratitude,     So burthensome, still paying, still to ow;     Forgetful what from him I still receivd,     And understood not that a grateful mind     By owing owes not, but still pays, at once     Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?     O had his powerful Destiny ordaind     Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood     Then happie; no unbounded hope had raisd     Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power     As great might have aspird, and me though mean     Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great     Fell not, but stand unshakn, from within     Or from without, to all temptations armd.     Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?     Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,     But Heavns free Love dealt equally to all?     Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,     To me alike, it deals eternal woe.     Nay cursd be thou; since against his thy will     Chose freely what it now so justly rues.     Me miserable! which way shall I flie     Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire?     Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell;     And in the lowest deep a lower deep     Still threatning to devour me opens wide,     To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heavn.     O then at last relent: is there no place     Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?     None left but by submission; and that word     Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame     Among the spirits beneath, whom I seducd     With other promises and other vaunts     Then to submit, boasting I could subdue     Th Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know     How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,     Under what torments inwardly I groane;     While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,     With Diadem and Scepter high advancd     The lower still I fall, onely Supream     In miserie; such joy Ambition findes.     But say I could repent and could obtaine     By Act of Grace my former state; how soon     Would highth recal high thoughts, how soon unsay     What feignd submission swore: ease would recant     Vows made in pain, as violent and void.     For never can true reconcilement grow     Where wounds of deadly hate have peircd so deep:     Which would but lead me to a worse relapse     And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare     Short intermission bought with double smart.     This knows my punisher; therefore as farr     From granting hee, as I from begging peace:     All hope excluded thus, behold in stead     Of us out-cast, exild, his new delight,     Mankind created, and for him this World.     So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,     Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;     Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least     Divided Empire with Heavns King I hold     By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;     As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.     Thus while he spake, each passion dimmd his face     Thrice changd with pale, ire, envie and despair,     Which marrd his borrowd visage, and betraid     Him counterfet, if any eye beheld.     For heavnly mindes from such distempers foule     Are ever cleer. Whereof hee soon aware,     Each perturbation smoothd with outward calme,     Artificer of fraud; and was the first     That practisd falshood under saintly shew,     Deep malice to conceale, coucht with revenge:     Yet not anough had practisd to deceive     Uriel once warnd; whose eye pursud him down     The way he went, and on th Assyrian mount     Saw him disfigurd, more then could befall     Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce     He markd and mad demeanour, then alone,     As he supposd, all unobservd, unseen.     So on he fares, and to the border comes     Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,     Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,     As with a rural mound the champain head     Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides     With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde,     Access denid; and over head up grew     Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,     Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm,     A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend     Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre     Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops     The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:     Which to our general Sire gave prospect large     Into his neather Empire neighbouring round.     And higher then that Wall a circling row     Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,     Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue     Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:     On which the Sun more glad impressd his beams     Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,     When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd     That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire     Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires     Vernal delight and joy, able to drive     All sadness but despair: now gentle gales     Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense     Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole     Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile     Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past     Mozambic, off at Sea North-East windes blow     Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare     Of Arabie the blest, with such delay     Well pleasd they slack thir course, and many a League     Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles.     So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend     Who came thir bane, though with them better pleasd     Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume,     That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse     Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent     From Media post to gypt, there fast bound.     Now to th ascent of that steep savage Hill     Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;     But further way found none, so thick entwind,     As one continud brake, the undergrowth     Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext     All path of Man or Beast that past that way:     One Gate there onely was, and that lookd East     On th other side: which when th arch-fellon saw     Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt,     At one slight bound high overleapd all bound     Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within     Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,     Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,     Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve     In hurdld Cotes amid the field secure,     Leaps ore the fence with ease into the Fould:     Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash     Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,     Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault,     In at the window climbes, or ore the tiles;     So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:     So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe.     Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,     The middle Tree and highest there that grew,     Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life     Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death     To them who livd; nor on the vertue thought     Of that life-giving Plant, but only usd     For prospect, what well usd had bin the pledge     Of immortalitie. So little knows     Any, but God alone, to value right     The good before him, but perverts best things     To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.     Beneath him with new wonder now he views     To all delight of human sense exposd     In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,     A Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise     Of God the Garden was, by him in the East     Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line     From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs     Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings,     Or where the Sons of Eden long before     Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile     His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind;     Out of the fertil ground he causd to grow     All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;     And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,     High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit     Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life     Our Death the Tree of knowledge grew fast by,     Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.     Southward through Eden went a River large,     Nor changd his course, but through the shaggie hill     Passd underneath ingulft, for God had thrown     That Mountain as his Garden mould high raisd     Upon the rapid current, which through veins     Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,     Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill     Waterd the Garden; thence united fell     Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood,     Which from his darksom passage now appeers,     And now divided into four main Streams,     Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme     And Country whereof here needs no account,     But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,     How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks,     Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,     With mazie error under pendant shades     Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed     Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art     In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon     Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plaine,     Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote     The open field, and where the unpierct shade     Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place,     A happy rural seat of various view;     Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme,     Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rinde     Hung amiable, Hesperian Fables true,     If true, here onely, and of delicious taste:     Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks     Grasing the tender herb, were interposd,     Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap     Of som irriguous Valley spread her store,     Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:     Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves     Of coole recess, ore which the mantling Vine     Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps     Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall     Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake,     That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd,     Her chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams.     The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires,     Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune     The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan     Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance     Led on th Eternal Spring. Not that faire field     Of Enna, where Proserpin gathring flours     Her self a fairer Floure by gloomie Dis     Was gatherd, which cost Ceres all that pain     To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove     Of Daphne by Orontes, and th inspird     Castalian Spring might with this Paradise     Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian Ile     Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham,     Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove,     Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son     Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rheas eye;     Nor where Abassin Kings thir issue Guard,     Mount Amara, though this by som supposd     True Paradise under the Ethiop Line     By Nilus head, enclosd with shining Rock,     A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote     From this Assyrian Garden, where the Fiend     Saw undelighted all delight, all kind     Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:     Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,     Godlike erect, with native Honour clad     In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all,     And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine     The image of thir glorious Maker shon,     Truth, Wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure,     Severe, but in true filial freedom plact;     Whence true autoritie in men; though both     Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;     For contemplation hee and valour formd,     For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace,     Hee for God only, shee for God in him:     His fair large Front and Eye sublime declard     Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks     Round from his parted forelock manly hung     Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:     Shee as a vail down to the slender waste     Her unadorned golden tresses wore     Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wavd     As the Vine curles her tendrils, which implid     Subjection, but requird with gentle sway,     And by her yeilded, by him best receivd,     Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride,     And sweet reluctant amorous delay.     Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald,     Then was not guiltie shame, dishonest shame     Of natures works, honor dishonorable,     Sin-bred, how have ye troubld all mankind     With shews instead, meer shews of seeming pure,     And banisht from mans life his happiest life,     Simplicitie and spotless innocence.     So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight     Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill:     So hand in hand they passd, the lovliest pair     That ever since in loves imbraces met,     Adam the goodliest man of men since borne     His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters Eve.     Under a tuft of shade that on a green     Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side     They sat them down, and after no more toil     Of thir sweet Gardning labour then sufficd     To recommend coole Zephyr, and made ease     More easie, wholsom thirst and appetite     More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell,     Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughes     Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline     On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours:     The savourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde     Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;     Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles     Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems     Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League,     Alone as they. About them frisking playd     All Beasts of th Earth, since wilde, and of all chase     In Wood or Wilderness, Forrest or Den;     Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw     Dandld the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards     Gambold before them, th unwieldy Elephant     To make them mirth usd all his might, and wreathd     His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly     Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine     His breaded train, and of his fatal guile     Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass     Coucht, and now fild with pasture gazing sat,     Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun     Declind was hasting now with prone carreer     To th Ocean Iles, and in th ascending Scale     Of Heavn the Starrs that usher Evening rose:     When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,     Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad.     O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold,     Into our room of bliss thus high advanct     Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,     Not Spirits, yet to heavnly Spirits bright     Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue     With wonder, and could love, so lively shines     In them Divine resemblance, and such grace     The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd.     Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh     Your change approaches, when all these delights     Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,     More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;     Happie, but for so happie ill securd     Long to continue, and this high seat your Heavn     Ill fenct for Heavn to keep out such a foe     As now is enterd; yet no purposd foe     To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne     Though I unpittied: League with you I seek,     And mutual amitie so streight, so close,     That I with you must dwell, or you with me     Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please     Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such     Accept your Makers work; he gave it me,     Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfould,     To entertain you two, her widest Gates,     And send forth all her Kings; there will be room,     Not like these narrow limits, to receive     Your numerous ofspring; if no better place,     Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge     On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd.     And should I at your harmless innocence     Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just,     Honour and Empire with revenge enlargd,     By conquering this new World, compels me now     To do what else though damnd I should abhorre.     So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie,     The Tyrants plea, excusd his devilish deeds.     Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree     Down he alights among the sportful Herd     Of those fourfooted kindes, himself now one,     Now other, as thir shape servd best his end     Neerer to view his prey, and unespid     To mark what of thir state he more might learn     By word or action markt: about them round     A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare,     Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spid     In some Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play,     Strait couches close, then rising changes oft     His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground     Whence rushing he might surest seise them both     Gript in each paw: when Adam first of men     To first of women Eve thus moving speech,     Turnd him all eare to heare new utterance flow.     Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,     Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power     That made us, and for us this ample World     Be infinitly good, and of his good     As liberal and free as infinite,     That raisd us from the dust and plact us here     In all this happiness, who at his hand     Have nothing merited, nor can performe     Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires     From us no other service then to keep     This one, this easie charge, of all the Trees     In Paradise that beare delicious fruit     So various, not to taste that onely Tree     Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,     So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is,     Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowst     God hath pronounct it death to taste that Tree,     The only sign of our obedience left     Among so many signes of power and rule     Conferrd upon us, and Dominion givn     Over all other Creatures that possesse     Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard     One easie prohibition, who enjoy     Free leave so large to all things else, and choice     Unlimited of manifold delights:     But let us ever praise him, and extoll     His bountie, following our delightful task     To prune these growing Plants, and tend these Flours,     Which were it toilsom, yet with thee were sweet.     To whom thus Eve replid. O thou for whom     And from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh,     And without whom am to no end, my Guide     And Head, what thou hast said is just and right.     For wee to him indeed all praises owe,     And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy     So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee     Preminent by so much odds, while thou     Like consort to thy self canst no where find.     That day I oft remember, when from sleep     I first awakt, and found my self reposd     Under a shade on flours, much wondring where     And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.     Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound     Of waters issud from a Cave and spread     Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmovd     Pure as th expanse of Heavn; I thither went     With unexperienct thought, and laid me downe     On the green bank, to look into the cleer     Smooth Lake, that to me seemd another Skie.     As I bent down to look, just opposite,     A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd     Bending to look on me, I started back,     It started back, but pleasd I soon returnd,     Pleasd it returnd as soon with answering looks     Of sympathie and love, there I had fixt     Mine eyes till now, and pind with vain desire,     Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest,     What there thou seest fair Creature is thy self,     With thee it came and goes: but follow me,     And I will bring thee where no shadow staies     Thy coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee     Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy     Inseparablie thine, to him shalt beare     Multitudes like thy self, and thence be calld     Mother of human Race: what could I doe,     But follow strait, invisibly thus led?     Till I espid thee, fair indeed and tall,     Under a Platan, yet methought less faire,     Less winning soft, less amiablie milde,     Then that smooth watry image; back I turnd,     Thou following crydst aloud, Return fair Eve,     Whom flist thou? whom thou flist, of him thou art,     His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent     Out of my side to thee, neerest my heart     Substantial Life, to have thee by my side     Henceforth an individual solace dear;     Part of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim     My other half: with that thy gentle hand     Seisd mine, I yeilded, and from that time see     How beauty is excelld by manly grace     And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.     So spake our general Mother, and with eyes     Of conjugal attraction unreprovd,     And meek surrender, half imbracing leand     On our first Father, half her swelling Breast     Naked met his under the flowing Gold     Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight     Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms     Smild with superior Love, as Jupiter     On Juno smiles, when he impregns the Clouds     That shed May Flowers; and pressd her Matron lip     With kisses pure: aside the Devil turnd     For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne     Eyd them askance, and to himself thus plaind.     Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two     Imparadist in one anothers arms     The happier Eden, shall enjoy thir fill     Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,     Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,     Among our other torments not the least,     Still unfulfilld with pain of longing pines;     Yet let me not forget what I have gaind     From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems:     One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge calld,     Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbiddn?     Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir Lord     Envie them that? can it be sin to know,     Can it be death? and do they onely stand     By Ignorance, is that thir happie state,     The proof of thir obedience and thir faith?     O fair foundation laid whereon to build     Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds     With more desire to know, and to reject     Envious commands, invented with designe     To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt     Equal with Gods; aspiring to be such,     They taste and die: what likelier can ensue?     But first with narrow search I must walk round     This Garden, and no corner leave unspid;     A chance but chance may lead where I may meet     Some wandring Spirit of Heavn, by Fountain side,     Or in thick shade retird, from him to draw     What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,     Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return,     Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.     So saying, his proud step he scornful turnd,     But with sly circumspection, and began     Through wood, through waste, ore hil, ore dale his roam.     Mean while in utmost Longitude, where Heavn     With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun     Slowly descended, and with right aspect     Against the eastern Gate of Paradise     Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock     Of Alablaster, pild up to the Clouds,     Conspicuous farr, winding with one ascent     Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;     The rest was craggie cliff, that overhung     Still as it rose, impossible to climbe.     Betwixt these rockie Pillars Gabriel sat     Chief of th Angelic Guards, awaiting night;     About him exercisd Heroic Games     Th unarmed Youth of Heavn, but nigh at hand     Celestial Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares     Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold.     Thither came Uriel, gliding through the Eeven     On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr     In Autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fird     Impress the Air, and shews the Mariner     From what point of his Compass to beware     Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.     Gabriel, to thee thy course by Lot hath givn     Charge and strict watch that to this happie place     No evil thing approach or enter in;     This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare     A Spirit, zealous, as he seemd, to know     More of th Almighties works, and chiefly Man     Gods latest Image: I describd his way     Bent all on speed, and markt his Aerie Gate;     But in the Mount that lies from Eden North,     Where he first lighted, soon discernd his looks     Alien from Heavn, with passions foul obscurd:     Mine eye pursud him still, but under shade     Lost sight of him; one of the banisht crew     I fear, hath venturd from the deep, to raise     New troubles; him thy care must be to find.     To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd:     Uriel, no wonder if thy perfet sight,     Amid the Suns bright circle where thou sitst,     See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pass     The vigilance here plact, but such as come     Well known from Heavn; and since Meridian hour     No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort,     So minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds     On purpose, hard thou knowst it to exclude     Spiritual substance with corporeal barr.     But if within the circuit of these walks     In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom     Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know.     So promisd hee, and Uriel to his charge     Returnd on that bright beam, whose point now raisd     Bore him slope downward to the Sun now falln     Beneath th Azores; whither the prime Orb,     Incredible how swift, had thither rowld     Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth     By shorter flight to th East, had left him there     Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold     The Clouds that on his Western Throne attend:     Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray     Had in her sober Liverie all things clad;     Silence accompanied, for Beast and Bird,     They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests     Were slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale;     She all night long her amorous descant sung;     Silence was pleasd: now glowd the Firmament     With living Saphirs: Hesperus that led     The starrie Host, rode brightest, till the Moon     Rising in clouded Majestie, at length     Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light,     And ore the dark her Silver Mantle threw.     When Adam thus to Eve: Fair Consort, th hour     Of night, and all things now retird to rest     Mind us of like repose, since God hath set     Labour and rest, as day and night to men     Successive, and the timely dew of sleep     Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines     Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long     Rove idle unimploid, and less need rest;     Man hath his daily work of body or mind     Appointed, which declares his Dignitie,     And the regard of Heavn on all his waies;     While other Animals unactive range,     And of thir doings God takes no account.     Tomorrow ere fresh Morning streak the East     With first approach of light, we must be risn,     And at our pleasant labour, to reform     Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green,     Our walks at noon, with branches overgrown,     That mock our scant manuring, and require     More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth:     Those Blossoms also, and those dropping Gumms,     That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth,     Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;     Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us rest.     To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd.     My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst     Unargud I obey; so God ordains,     God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more     Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise.     With thee conversing I forget all time,     All seasons and thir change, all please alike.     Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,     With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun     When first on this delightful Land he spreads     His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,     Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth     After soft showers; and sweet the coming on     Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night     With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,     And these the Gemms of Heavn, her starrie train:     But neither breath of Morn when she ascends     With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun     On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure,     Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,     Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night     With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,     Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.     But wherfore all night long shine these, for whom     This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?     To whom our general Ancestor replid.     Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht Eve,     Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth,     By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land     In order, though to Nations yet unborn,     Ministring light prepard, they set and rise;     Least total darkness should by Night regaine     Her old possession, and extinguish life     In Nature and all things, which these soft fires     Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate     Of various influence foment and warme,     Temper or nourish, or in part shed down     Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow     On Earth, made hereby apter to receive     Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray.     These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,     Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none,     That heavn would want spectators, God want praise;     Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth     Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:     All these with ceasless praise his works behold     Both day and night: how often from the steep     Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard     Celestial voices to the midnight air,     Sole, or responsive each to others note     Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands     While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk     With Heavnly touch of instrumental sounds     In full harmonic number joind, thir songs     Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.     Thus talking hand in hand alone they passd     On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place     Chosn by the sovran Planter, when he framd     All things to mans delightful use; the roofe     Of thickest covert was inwoven shade     Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew     Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side     Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub     Fencd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour,     Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin     Reard high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought     Mosaic; underfoot the Violet,     Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay     Broiderd the ground, more colourd then with stone     Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here     Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;     Such was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower     More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,     Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph,     Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess     With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs     Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed,     And heavnly Quires the Hymenan sung,     What day the genial Angel to our Sire     Brought her in naked beauty more adornd,     More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods     Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like     In sad event, when to the unwiser Son     Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnard     Mankind with her faire looks, to be avengd     On him who had stole Joves authentic fire.     Thus at thir shadie Lodge arrivd, both stood,     Both turnd, and under opn Skie adord     The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth and Heavn     Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe     And starrie Pole: Thou also madst the Night,     Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day,     Which we in our appointed work imployd     Have finisht happie in our mutual help     And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss     Ordaind by thee, and this delicious place     For us too large, where thy abundance wants     Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.     But thou hast promisd from us two a Race     To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll     Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,     And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.     This said unanimous, and other Rites     Observing none, but adoration pure     Which God likes best, into thir inmost bower     Handed they went; and easd the putting off     These troublesom disguises which wee wear,     Strait side by side were laid, nor turnd I weene     Adam from his fair Spouse, nor Eve the Rites     Mysterious of connubial Love refusd:     Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk     Of puritie and place and innocence,     Defaming as impure what God declares     Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all.     Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain     But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?     Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source     Of human ofspring, sole proprietie,     In Paradise of all things common else.     By thee adulterous lust was drivn from men     Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee     Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure,     Relations dear, and all the Charities     Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known.     Farr be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,     Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,     Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets,     Whose Bed is undefild and chast pronounct,     Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs usd.     Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights     His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,     Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile     Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard,     Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours     Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal,     Or Serenate, which the starvd Lover sings     To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.     These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept,     And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof     Showrd Roses, which the Morn repaird. Sleep on,     Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek     No happier state, and know to know no more.     Now had night measurd with her shaddowie Cone     Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault,     And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim     Forth issuing at th accustomd hour stood armd     To thir night watches in warlike Parade,     When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.     Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the South     With strictest watch; these other wheel the North,     Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part     Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear.     From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld     That neer him stood, and gave them thus in charge.     Ithuriel and Zephon, with wingd speed     Search through this Garden, leav unsearcht no nook,     But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge,     Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harme.     This Eevning from the Suns decline arrivd     Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen     Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escapd     The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:     Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.     So saying, on he led his radiant Files,     Dazling the Moon; these to the Bower direct     In search of whom they sought: him there they found     Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve;     Assaying by his Devilish art to reach     The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge     Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,     Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint     Th animal Spirits that from pure blood arise     Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise     At least distemperd, discontented thoughts,     Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate desires     Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.     Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear     Touchd lightly; for no falshood can endure     Touch of Celestial temper, but returns     Of force to its own likeness: up he starts     Discoverd and surprizd. As when a spark     Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid     Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store     Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine     With sudden blaze diffusd, inflames the Aire:     So started up in his own shape the Fiend.     Back stept those two fair Angels half amazd     So sudden to behold the grieslie King;     Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon.     Which of those rebell Spirits adjudgd to Hell     Comst thou, escapd thy prison, and transformd,     Why satst thou like an enemie in waite     Here watching at the head of these that sleep?     Know ye not then said Satan, filld with scorn,     Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate     For you, there sitting where ye durst not soare;     Not to know mee argues your selves unknown,     The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,     Why ask ye, and superfluous begin     Your message, like to end as much in vain?     To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.     Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,     Or undiminisht brightness, to be known     As when thou stoodst in Heavn upright and pure;     That Glorie then, when thou no more wast good,     Departed from thee, and thou resemblst now     Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule.     But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account     To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep     This place inviolable, and these from harm.     So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke     Severe in youthful beautie, added grace     Invincible: abasht the Devil stood,     And felt how awful goodness is, and saw     Vertue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pind     His loss; but chiefly to find here observd     His lustre visibly impard; yet seemd     Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,     Best with the best, the Sender not the sent,     Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn,     Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold,     Will save us trial what the least can doe     Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.     The Fiend replid not, overcome with rage;     But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on,     Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie     He held it vain; awe from above had quelld     His heart, not else dismaid. Now drew they nigh     The western point, where those half-rounding guards     Just met, and closing stood in squadron joind     Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief     Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud.     O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet     Hasting this way, and now by glimps discerne     Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,     And with them comes a third of Regal port,     But faded splendor wan; who by his gate     And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,     Not likely to part hence without contest;     Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.     He scarce had ended, when those two approachd     And brief related whom they brought, wher found,     How busied, in what form and posture coucht.     To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.     Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribd     To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge     Of others, who approve not to transgress     By thy example, but have power and right     To question thy bold entrance on this place;     Imploid it seems to violate sleep, and those     Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?     To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.     Gabriel, thou hadst in Heavn th esteem of wise,     And such I held thee; but this question askt     Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain?     Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,     Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt,     And boldly venture to whatever place     Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change     Torment with ease, and soonest recompence     Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;     To thee no reason; who knowst only good,     But evil hast not trid: and wilt object     His will who bound us? let him surer barr     His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay     In that dark durance: thus much what was askt.     The rest is true, they found me where they say;     But that implies not violence or harme.     Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel movd,     Disdainfully half smiling thus replid.     O loss of one in Heavn to judge of wise,     Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew,     And now returns him from his prison scapt,     Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise     Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither     Unlicenct from his bounds in Hell prescribd;     So wise he judges it to fly from pain     However, and to scape his punishment.     So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth,     Which thou incurrst by flying, meet thy flight     Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,     Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain     Can equal anger infinite provokt.     But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee     Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them     Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they     Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief,     The first in flight from pain, hadst thou allegd     To thy deserted host this cause of flight,     Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.     To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern.     Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,     Insulting Angel, well thou knowst I stood     Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide     The blasting volied Thunder made all speed     And seconded thy else not dreaded Spear.     But still thy words at random, as before,     Argue thy inexperience what behooves     From hard assaies and ill successes past     A faithful Leader, not to hazard all     Through wayes of danger by himself untrid.     I therefore, I alone first undertook     To wing the desolate Abyss, and spie     This new created World, whereof in Hell     Fame is not silent, here in hope to find     Better abode, and my afflicted Powers     To settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire;     Though for possession put to try once more     What thou and thy gay Legions dare against;     Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord     High up in Heavn, with songs to hymne his Throne,     And practisd distances to cringe, not fight.     To whom the warriour Angel soon replid.     To say and strait unsay, pretending first     Wise to flie pain, professing next the Spie,     Argues no Leader, but a lyar tract,     Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,     O sacred name of faithfulness profand!     Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?     Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head;     Was this your discipline and faith ingagd,     Your military obedience, to dissolve     Allegeance to th acknowledgd Power supream?     And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem     Patron of liberty, who more then thou     Once fawnd, and cringd, and servilly adord     Heavns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope     To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne?     But mark what I arreede thee now, avant;     Flie thither whence thou fledst: if from this houre     Within these hallowd limits thou appeer,     Back to th infernal pit I drag thee chaind,     And Seale thee so, as henceforth not to scorne     The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd.     So threatnd hee, but Satan to no threats     Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replid.     Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines,     Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then     Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel     From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King     Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,     Usd to the yoak, drawst his triumphant wheels     In progress through the rode of Heavn Star-pavd.     While thus he spake, th Angelic Squadron bright     Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes     Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round     With ported Spears, as thick as when a field     Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends     Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind     Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands     Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves     Prove chaff. On th other side Satan allarmd     Collecting all his might dilated stood,     Like Teneriff or Atlas unremovd:     His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest     Sat horror Plumd; nor wanted in his graspe     What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds     Might have ensud, nor onely Paradise     In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope     Of Heavn perhaps, or all the Elements     At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne     With violence of this conflict, had not soon     Th Eternal to prevent such horrid fray     Hung forth in Heavn his golden Scales, yet seen     Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion signe,     Wherein all things created first he weighd,     The pendulous round Earth with ballanct Aire     In counterpoise, now ponders all events,     Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights     The sequel each of parting and of fight;     The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;     Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.     Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,     Neither our own but givn; what follie then     To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more     Then Heavn permits, nor mine, though doubld now     To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,     And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign     Where thou art weighd, and shown how light, how weak,     If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew     His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled     Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.